Home > WPCU 2023

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

January 18 to January 25, 2023

Message from Bishop Mark Hagemoen – LINK
Prayer service from World Council of Churches (PDF) – English / French
CCCB Media Release – LINK – English / French

Eight-Day Bible Study – “Do good; seek justice” (Isaiah: 1:17)

The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism in Saskatoon and the Regina Council of Churches will once again be offering an eight-day online Bible study on the theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Each day will be led by a different Christian leader from across Saskatchewan Jan. 18 to 25 held from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day except Sunday, Jan. 22, when it will begin at 3:00 p.m.
Free registration required by using this link to join by Zoom: https://bit.ly/WPCU-2023-Bible-Study

This Bible Study series will also be available on YouTube at PCE YouTube Channel

Schedule:

Wed, Jan 18 – Rev. Brody Albers, Anglican, Christopher Lake
Thu, Jan 19 – Rev. Dr. Kathleen James-Cavan, United Church, Saskatoon
Fri, Jan 20 – Major Al Hoeft, Salvation Army, Regina
Sat, Jan 21 – Pastor Rachel Wallace, Mennonite, Eigenheim
Sun, Jan 22 (at 3 pm)– Deacon Harry Lafond, Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert
Mon, Jan 23 – Dave Feick, Micah Mission, Saskatoon
Tue, Jan 24 – Rev. Keitha Ogbogu, Free Methodist, Calgary
Wed, Jan 25 – Rev. Dr. Ali Tote, ELCIC, Saskatoon

The 2023 theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, “Do good; seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17), was prepared by the Minnesota Council of Churches. The themes for each day should be familiar to everyone who lives in Canada. The issues facing the churches in the United States affect us because of their proximity to our borders and as they relate to our present situation in Canada. Although Canadians often speak of building a diverse, inclusive, and just society, we know that racism is deeply embedded in our society and that we have seen great violence against people of colour and against ethnic and religious minorities. As we undertake these Bible studies, let us bring the honest questions and reflections that come when the light of the gospel illuminates the truth of both our past and our present. As we seek greater unity, may it be in service to the love and justice God has revealed in Jesus.

De Margerie Series “Ecumenical Log Drivers: Forming Agents of Reconciliation for Church and World”

The 2023 De Margerie Series on Christian Reconciliation and Unity will feature speaker Rt. Rev. Bruce Myers, OGS (Anglican Bishop of Quebec).

In the past century the ecumenical movement has made extraordinary efforts in healing the wounds of division in the church. However, despite efforts to educate and inspire successive generations of Christian leaders about the quest for the church’s visible unity, an ecumenical malaise has set in which ignorance, fear, mistrust, suspicion, stereotypes, caricatures, recrimination, anathematization—even persecution continue in the relations between divided churches. Drawing on decades of reflection on ecumenical reception and formation, Bishop Myers presents an approach to teaching the practical and theological aspects of ecumenism in a way that is both holistic and pragmatic and offers the potential to raise up a new generation of church leaders who are also agents of reconciliation and Christian unity.

Dates, times, locations for the 2023 De Margerie lectures:

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7:00 pm at Campion College, Regina
Thursday Jan. 19 at 7:00 pm at St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon

These are two different lectures, which can be attended in-person OR viewed on video online at: https://youtu.be/DaxTcC9qeoE. Please plan to view or attend both.

About the Speaker – Bishop Bruce Myers has been Anglican bishop of Quebec since 2017. Raised on a farm in Glengarry County, Ontario, he studied at the University of Toronto before a decade as a parliamentary correspondent in Ottawa and Quebec City. He completed his theological studies at McGill University, Montreal Diocesan Theological College, Bossey Ecumenical Institute, and the University of Geneva. He has recently completed a doctor of ministry at St. Paul University in Ottawa. He is a professed member of the Order of the Good Shepherd, an international community of Anglicans who share a common rule of life. Before election as bishop, he served parishes in Quebec City and the Magdalen Islands, and as Coordinator for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations for the Anglican Church of Canada.

The De Margerie Lectures are named in honour of Fr. Bernard de Margerie, a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon who has dedicated his whole life in ministry to the promotion of Christian unity. In this 11th year of the lecture series, we are expanding to offer lectures in both Regina and Saskatoon under the sponsorship of St. Thomas More College, the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, the Archdiocese of Regina, and Campion College.

A Week of Prayer for Christian Unity youth event will be presented by the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism working in partnership with some of the Saskatoon downtown churches, taking place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, starting with supper, followed by a presentation on Restorative Justice from Dave Feick, Executive Director of the Micah Mission in Saskatoon.

Participants must register here – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Ecumenical Youth event