“Isaiah challenged God’s people in his day to learn to do good together; to seek justice together, to rescue the oppressed together, to defend the orphan and plead for the widow together.  The prophet’s challenge applies equally to us today.  How can we live our unity as Christians so as to confront the evils and injustices of our time?  How can we engage in dialogue, increase awareness, understanding and insight about one another’s lived experiences?”

~ from the Introduction to the The Theme of the Year 2023

The 2023 theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was chosen by a group convened by the Minnesota Council of Churches (USA).  They drafted materials and then worked with an international group jointly sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches to finalize the materials.

The Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity includes an introduction to the theme, background for the development of the theme, a worship service, suggested hymns, a Bible study, and a bit of history of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  It can be downloaded here.

In the northern hemisphere, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally held every year between January 18th (the Feast of the Confession of Saint Peter) and January 25th (the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul).  In the southern hemisphere, it is often celebrated during the Pentecost season.