Pastor's Note

THE FORM AND SHAPE OF UNITY
January 13th, 2008

On Friday of this week, January 18, we begin the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. For many, this opportunity for prayer is either lost or relegated behind other important issues.
We at Blessed John XXIII Parish need to be especially committed to any effort that may lead us closer to unity. After all, we are the blessed recipients of hospitality by Christ Lutheran Church, Dowling, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Haskins. We worship on a weekly basis in the warm sanctuary of the Dowling church.
Before the second Vatican Council, Catholics were reluctant to interact with Protestant churches. We really didn’t know that much about their teachings and refrained from joining in their prayer or worship.
Unity among Christian churches does not necessarily mean all churches become one huge denomination. But it does mean that we find where we agree theologically and spiritually. It means that we can find ways to worship and pray together. And it means that we learn to work side by side. Even without full unity, we may some day have some unity.
There are three important steps that can be taken for unity. The first is prayer, and that is what is emphasized this week with the theme, Pray Without Ceasing. We need to pray for each other’s churches as well as pray for unity among us.
Secondly, churches need to learn about one another. This is the category of ‘study.’ It requires discipline and work. Sadly, some churches (not usually the mainline churches) will ‘teach’ about other denominations in a put-down or derogatory way. That is not what is meant by study.
Finally, churches can work together in outreach and other responses to social ills. PCU (Perrysburg Christians United) is a fine example of this. There are other wonderful groups like Bread For The World (that works on world hunger) and Pax Christi (working for world peace) that are inter-denominational.
Praying together and working side by side will help us come to know each other better. Not all churches are the same in teachings, practices, and worship. Nevertheless, we must begin the journey towards unity.