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25.01.2022 The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service organised annually by Queensland Churches Together was held in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at St Francis Theological College Brisbane on Tuesday evening 10th May. The theme of the week for 2016 is Called to proclaim the might acts of the Lord (cf. 1 Peter 2:9). The liturgy that was used for the service was prepared by the churches of Latvia. It’s message reminds us that we are all called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lor...d by being, in terms of the Beatitudes in St Matthew’s Gospel, the light of the world and the salt of the earth. This was highlighted in the sermon for the evening by the Rev’d Dr Cathy Thomson, 1st Vice President of QCT and Academic Dean of St Francis Theological College. She spoke of the diversity of the church through its different traditions and people. We all have a place in the life of the church and a contribution to make as we proclaim God’s message of love, forgiveness and care. The service was led by Dr Joe Goodall of the Queensland Congregational Fellowship. Those present were invited during the service to light a candle as a symbol of being a light of the world and to taste some salt as a way of reminding us that we are the salt of the earth. Those present for the service enjoyed supper and fellowship on the verandah of Old Bishopsbourne, the historic house in the grounds of St Francis College where the QCT office is located. We thank everyone who attended and those who contributed to the service during the scripture readings. QCT also thanks Br Dominic O’Sullivan who provided the music for the service.

25.01.2022 Prayer cards are available for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from Queensland Churches Together. Email [email protected]

25.01.2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2015 will be observed in Australia from 17-24 May. Please put this in your diary and begin planning events in your local community. The theme is Jesus said to her: ‘Give me to drink’ and is based on the passage in John’s Gospel of the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42). The international materials and resources for 2015 have been produced by the Christian Chur...ches of Brazil. A small group here in Australia is currently adapting the resources on behalf of the National Council of Churches in Australia. They should be available by the end of December. We would like everyone to share their local events on as they are planned and when they have been held to upload news and photos to this Facebook page. It would be good to recapture the importance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the ecumenical calendar. See more

24.01.2022 Day 2 No longer as a slave but a beloved brother Genesis 1:26-28 God created humankind in God’s own image Psalm 10:1-10 Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Philemon No longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother Luke 10:25-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan... Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which victims are forced or tricked into sex work, child labour and the harvesting of organs for the profit of the exploiters. It is a global, multimillion-dollar industry. It is also a growing problem across the Caribbean. Reformed Churches in the Caribbean have joined with the Council for World Mission and the Caribbean and North American Council for Mission to educate Christian communities to end the scourge of human trafficking. Reflection One of the first things we learn about God in the Hebrew and Christian Bible is that God created humankind in his own image. However, this profound and beautiful truth has often been obscured or denied throughout human history. For instance, in the Roman Empire, the dignity of those enslaved was denied. The Gospel message is entirely different to this. Jesus challenged the social norms that devalued the human dignity of Samaritans, describing the Samaritan as the ‘neighbour’ of the man who had been attacked on the road to Jericho a neighbour to be loved, according to the Law. And Paul, made bold in Christ, describes the once-enslaved Onesimus as ‘a beloved brother’, transgressing the norms of his society and affirming Onesimus’s humanity. Christian love must always be a courageous love that dares to cross borders, recognising in others a dignity equal to our own. Like St Paul, Christians must be ‘bold enough in Christ’ to raise a united voice in clearly recognising trafficked persons as their neighbours and their beloved brothers and sisters, and so work together to end modern-day slavery.

23.01.2022 Day 7 Building family in household and church Exodus 2:1-10 The birth of Moses Psalm 127 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain Hebrews 11:23-24 Moses was hidden by his parents because they saw that the child was beautiful... Matthew 2:13-15 Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt In the Caribbean the family continues to be adversely affected by the legacy of enslavement and by new factors such as the migration of parents, financial problems and domestic violence. Facing this reality, the churches of the Caribbean are working to give support to both nuclear and extended families. Reflection Families are of central importance for the protection and nurture of children. The Bible accounts of the infancies of both Moses and Jesus, who were in mortal danger from the moment they were born because of the murderous orders of angry rulers, illustrate how vulnerable children can be to external forces. These stories also show how action can be taken to protect such little ones. Matthew presents us with a model of fatherhood that is in loving fidelity to the Lord’s command, especially in turbulent times. The Scriptures view children as a blessing and as hope for the future. For the Psalmist, they are ‘like arrows in the hand of a warrior’. As Christians, we share a common calling to live as supportive family networks, relying on the strength of the Lord for the task of building strong communities in which children are protected and can flourish.

22.01.2022 The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 28 May 4 June, 2017 The theme ‘Reconciliation the Love of Christ compels us’, celebrates the irrevocable reconciliation that we have received through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ’s love becomes the driving force that moves us beyond our division toward acts of reconciliation. The preparatory work on the theme for this year’s week of prayer material was undertaken by a group of representatives of different Christian communities in... Germany. They decided to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation as a Christusfest (an ecumenical celebration of Christ). The Reformation was the occasion of a renewed focus on salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We rejoice in God’s salvation centered on the cross of Christ, who overcomes division and draws us together. Prayer cards @ $12.50 for 25, can be purchased by contacting Jela Virzi at QCT on 07 3369 6792 or [email protected] Download resources at https://goo.gl/MzIEEP Eight Day Reflection (PDF) Order of Service (Microsoft Word .doc format) Sermon Notes (PDF) To Those Organising the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (PDF)

21.01.2022 Prayer Cards are now available from QCT. Email [email protected]

18.01.2022 Day 5 Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land! Deuteronomy 1:19-35 The Lord God goes before you and carried you Psalm 145:9-20 The Lord upholds all who are falling James 1:9-11 The rich will disappear like a flower in the field Luke 18:35-43 Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!... The Caribbean economies have traditionally been based on the production of raw materials for the European market and so have never been self-sustaining. As a consequence, borrowing on the international market became important for development. The requirements of such borrowing impose a reduction of spending on transport, education, health and other public services, which impacts most severely on the poor. The Caribbean Conference of Churches has launched an initiative to address the current debt crisis in the region and through their international networks to come to the aid of the poor. Reflection We can imagine the noise of the crowd as Jesus enters Jericho. Many voices shout down the cry of the blind beggar. He is a distraction and an embarrassment. But through all this tumult Jesus hears the blind man’s voice, just as God always hears the cries of the poor in the Hebrew Scriptures. The Lord who upholds the falling not only hears, he responds. Thereby, the beggar’s life is radically transformed. The disunity of Christians can become part of the world’s tumult and chaos. Like the arguing voices outside Jericho, our divisions can drown out the cry of the poor. However, when we are united we become more fully Christ’s presence in the world, better able to hear, listen and respond. Rather than increasing the volume of discord, we are able to truly listen and so discern the voices that most need to be heard. Questions 1. What raw materials does the Caribbean produce for European and similar markets like Australia? 2. Do you ever give much thought to where the ingredients/components in the products you buy come from? What purchasing ethics do you practise? 3. Who are ‘the falling’ (in the first paragraph of the ‘Reflection’ above) in Australia today, who need to be upheld and whose voices need to be heard? How might churches respond and be Christ’s presence in their situation? Prayer Loving God, you lift up the poor and distressed and restore their dignity. Hear now our cries for the poor of our world. Restore their hope and lift them up, that all your people may be one, and live in security and peace. This we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

17.01.2022 The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally celebrated between 18-25 January (in the northern hemisphere) or at Pentecost (in the southern hemisphere), by congregations and parishes all over the world. We in Australia will be observing the week from 17 24 May 2015. The theme for the 2015 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is; Jesus said to her: Give me to drink (John 4:7) The two bodies that co-sponsor the Week of Prayer invited the National Council of Christ...ian Churches of Brazil (CONIC) to prepare the resources for the week of prayer 2015. CONIC appointed a working group formed by representatives from its member churches and affiliated ecumenical organisations to produce the following material. 2015 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity poster - Word and PDF formats Order of Worship - Word format only (so that people can adapt to their church service) Eight Days Reflections - Word and PDF formats Sermon notes PDF format Resources guidelines PDF format Prayer Cards will also be available from Queensland Churches Together. Orders can be placed by contacting the QCT Office on (07) 3369 6792 or email [email protected] See more

14.01.2022 Week Of Prayer For Christian Unity Day 1 Let justice roll down like waters (Amos 5:24)... Amos 5:22-25 Psalm 82: 1-4 Luke 11:37-44 Reflection Christians can sometimes be very committed to prayer and worship, but less concerned for the poor and the marginalized. Sometimes we pray in church, but at the same time oppress our fellow human beings or exploit the environment. Christians in Indonesia recognize that in their land there are people who passionately try to practise their faith, but who oppress those of other beliefs, even using violence in doing so. But in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus reminds us that the outward sign of true worship of God is acting justly. Jesus is fierce in his condemnation of those who neglect this obligation. In the prophecy of Amos, God rejects the worship offered by those who neglect justice, until they 'let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream' (5:24). The prophet insists on the absolute link between sincere worship and doing deeds of justice. When Christians work together to listen to the cry of the poor and the oppressed, they grow in communion with one another and with the Triune God. Questions Which other prophets spoke out strongly to God’s people concerning issues of justice? (check out Isaiah 3 & 58; Micah 6; Luke 3) In regard to what issues of social justice is your denomination most committed and most active? Your local congregation? Yourself? How do God’s justice and God’s mercy work together? Prayer God of the widow, the orphan and the stranger, You have shown us the path of justice. Help us to follow your way by doing justice as our worship of you. As Christians together, may we worship you not only with our hearts and minds, but also by our deeds. May the Holy Spirit help and guide us to work for justice wherever we are, so that many people may be strengthened through our works. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

13.01.2022 2015 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity resources

13.01.2022 The 2015 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity resources will be available early next week. Watch this space for further updates.

12.01.2022 Day 6 Let us look to the interests of others Isaiah 25:1-9 Let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation Psalm 82 Maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute Philippians 2:1-4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others Luke 12:13-21 Be on your guard against all kinds of greed... Changing international banking regulations continue to have a negative impact on the trade and commerce of the Caribbean and threaten the economic survival of many families. It has become increasingly difficult for Caribbean people working abroad to send money back to their families. The Churches in the Caribbean introduced the Credit Union movement in order for the poor to have access to finance for economic activity. Reflection The witness of the Scriptures is consistent that God always makes a preferential option for the poor: the right hand of God acts for the powerless against the powerful. Similarly, Jesus consistently warns against the dangers of greed. Despite these warnings, however, the sin of greed often infects our Christian communities and introduces a logic of competition: one community competing against the next. We need to remember that insofar as we fail to differentiate ourselves from the world, but conform to its divisive competing spirit, we fail to offer ‘a refuge for the needy in distress, a shelter from the storm’. For our different churches and confessions, to be rich in the sight of God is not a case of having many members belonging or donating to one’s own community. Rather, it is to recognise that as Christians we have countless brothers and sisters right across the world, united across the economic divisions of ‘North’ and ‘South’. Conscious of this fraternity in Christ, Christians can join hands in promoting economic justice for all. Prayer Almighty God, give courage and strength to your church to continually proclaim justice and righteousness in situations of domination and oppression. As we celebrate our unity in Christ, may your Holy Spirit help us to look to the needs of others. Amen.

12.01.2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 13th-20th May 2018 Resources are available at the NCCA website. http://www.ncca.org.au/faith-and-unity-resources. The resources have been adapted from materials from the Churches in the Carribbean and include a service, sermon notes and Eight days of Biblical Reflections and Prayers- great to use within home groups. Photo: Statue commemorating the Curaçao Slave Revolt of 1795. Courtesy of www.eventscuracao.com

12.01.2022 Day 3 Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Exodus 3:4-10 God frees those who are in human bondage Psalm 24:1-6 Lord, we are the people who seek your face 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 Therefore glorify God in your body Matthew 18:1-7 Woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!... Many Christian churches in the Caribbean share a concern about the issue of pornography, especially via the internet. Pornography has destructive consequences for human dignity, particularly for children and young people. Like slavery, it commodifies human beings, ensnares those addicted to it and damages wholesome loving relationships. Reflection The book of Exodus demonstrates God’s concern for people in human bondage. God’s revelation to Moses at the burning bush was a powerful declaration of his will to free his people. God observed their misery, heard their cry and so came to deliver them. God still hears the cry of those who are subject to enslavement today, and wills to deliver them. While sexuality is a gift of God for human relationships and the expression of intimacy, the misuse of this gift through pornography enslaves and devalues both those caught up in producing it and those who consume it. God is not impervious to their plight and Christians are called to be similarly concerned. St Paul writes that we are called to give glory to God in our own bodies, which means that every part of our lives, including our relationships, can and should be an offering pleasing to God. Christians must work together for the kind of society that upholds human dignity and does not put a stumbling block before any of God’s little ones, but, rather, enables them to live in the freedom which is God’s will for them.

10.01.2022 Here is both sides of the WPCU Prayer Card. Please join us in prayer next week.

09.01.2022 Day 8 He will gather the dispersed from the four corners of the earth Isaiah 11:12-13 Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not be hostile towards Ephraim Psalm 106:1-14, 43-48 Gather us to give thanks to your holy name Ephesians 2:13-19 He has broken down the dividing wall ... John 17:1-12 I have been glorified in them The Caribbean churches work together to heal the wounds in the Body of Christ in the region, which are a legacy left by colonisation. Reconciliation often demands repentance, reparation and the healing of memories. One example is the acts of apology and reparation between Baptists in Britain and the Caribbean. Like Israel, the Church in its unity is called to be both a sign and an active agent of reconciliation. Reflection Throughout the biblical narrative of salvation history, an unmistakable motif is the unrelenting determination of the Lord to form a people whom he could call his own. The formation of such a people united in a sacred covenant with God is integral to the Lord’s plan of salvation and to the glorification and hallowing of God’s Name. The prophets repeatedly remind Israel that the covenant demanded that relationships among its various social groups should be characterised by justice, compassion and mercy. As Jesus prepared to seal the new covenant in his own blood, his earnest prayer to the Father was that those given to him by the Father would be one, just as he and the Father were one. When Christians discover their unity in Jesus they participate in Christ’s glorification in the presence of the Father, with the same glory that he had in the Father’s presence before the world existed. And so, God’s covenanted people must always strive to be a reconciled community one which itself is an effective sign to all the peoples of the earth of how to live in justice and in peace.

07.01.2022 The resources for this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will soon be available as downloads on the Qld Churches Together website and the NCCA website. Will keep you updated. Prayer cards are available for purchase at $10 for 25 cards plus postage. Contact Queensland Churches Together on 07 3369 6792 or [email protected] to place an order.

07.01.2022 The Marian shrine of Annai Velangkanni, Indonesia

06.01.2022 Resources for the 2016 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are available to download at: http://www.qct.org.au/index.php * Poster * Order of Service * Biblical Reflections and Prayers for the Eight Days * Sermon Notes... * Prayer Cards are available for purchase - $10 for 25 cards plus postage. Contact Queensland Churches Together on 07 3369 6792 or [email protected] to place your order. See more

06.01.2022 This year resources for the Week Of Prayer for Christian Unity were produced by Caribbean Churches. Here is some background info: Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power (Ex 15:6) The Caribbean Region Bearing the name of one of the groups of its indigenous peoples the Kalinago people, formerly called the Caribs the contemporary Caribbean region is a complex reality. The region’s vast geographical spread includes both island and mainland territories containing a rich a...nd diverse tapestry of ethnic, linguistic and religious traditions. It is also a complex political reality with a variety of governmental and constitutional arrangements, ranging from colonial dependencies (British, Dutch, French, and American) to republican nation states. The contemporary Caribbean is deeply marked by the dehumanizing project of colonial exploitation. In the aggressive pursuit of mercantile gains, the colonisers codified brutal systems which traded human beings, and their forced labour. Initially, these practices enslaved and decimated and in some cases exterminated the region’s indigenous peoples. This was followed by the enslavement of Africans and the indentureship of people from India and China. At each stage, the systems of the colonisers attempted to strip subjugated peoples of their inalienable rights: their identity, their human dignity, their freedom and their self-determination. The enslavement of Africans was not simply a case of transporting labourers from one location to another. In an affront to God-given human dignity, it commodified the human person, making one human being the property of another. With the understanding of the enslaved as property went other practices that further sought to dehumanize the African. Included among these was the denial of the right to cultural and religious practices and to marriage and family life. Very regrettably, during five hundred years of colonialism and enslavement, Christian missionary activity in the region, with the exception of a few outstanding examples, was closely tied to this dehumanizing system and in many ways rationalized it and reinforced it. Whereas those who brought the Bible to this region used the scriptures to justify their subjugation of a people in bondage, in the hands of the enslaved, it became an inspiration, an assurance that God was on their side, and that God would lead them into freedom. See more

03.01.2022 Day 4 Hope and Healing Isaiah 9:2-7a His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace Psalm 34:1-14 Seek peace, and pursue it Revelation 7:13-17 God will wipe away every tear from their eyes John 14:25-27 Peace I leave with you... Within the Caribbean, violence is a problem to which the churches are called to respond. There is an alarmingly high rate of murder, much of which stems from domestic abuse, gang warfare and other forms of criminality. There is also a rising rate of self-harm and suicide in some parts of the region. Reflection The kingdom which God promised, the kingdom which Jesus proclaimed and made manifest in his ministry, is a kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. What does this Good News mean for those trapped in the darkness of violence? In the prophet’s vision, light shone on those who lived in a land of deep darkness. But how can Christians bring the light of Jesus to those living in the darkness of domestic and gang violence? What sense of hope can Christians offer? It is a sad reality that division among Christians is a counter-sign, which hampers the communication of hope. However, the quest for peace and reconciliation between the different churches and confessions is the opposite of that. When Christians strive for unity in a world of conflict, they offer the world a sign of reconciliation. Christians who refuse to enter a logic of privilege and status, who refuse to demean others and their communities, give witness to the peace of God’s kingdom, where the Lamb guides the saints to springs of the water of life. This is a peace the world needs, and one which brings healing and comfort to those afflicted by violence.

02.01.2022 Planting seeds of freedom, hope and love... The Theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2018 Today Caribbean Christians of many different traditions see the hand of God active in the ending of enslavement. It is a uniting experience of the saving action of God which brings freedom. For this reason the choice of the song of Moses and Miriam (Ex 15:1-21), as the motif of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2018 was considered a most appropriate one. It is a song of ...triumph over oppression. This theme has been taken up in a hymn, The Right Hand of God, written in a workshop of the Caribbean Conference of Churches in August 1981, which has become an anthem of the ecumenical movement in the region, translated into a number of different languages. Like the Israelites, the people of the Caribbean have a song of victory and freedom to sing and it is a song which unites them. However, contemporary challenges again threaten to enslave and again threaten the dignity of the human person created in the image and likeness of God. While human dignity is inalienable it is often obscured by both personal sin and social structures of sin. In our fallen world societal relationships too often lack the justice and compassion that honour human dignity. Poverty, violence, injustice, addiction to drugs and pornography, and the pain, grief and anguish which follow, are experiences that distort human dignity. Many of the contemporary challenges are themselves the legacy of a colonial past and slave trade. The wounded collective psyche is manifested today in social problems related to low self-esteem, gang and domestic violence, and damaged familial relationships. Although a legacy of the past, these issues are also exacerbated by the contemporary reality that many would characterize as neo- colonialism. Under existing circumstances it seems almost impossible for many of the nations of this region to pull themselves out of poverty and debt. Moreover, in many places there is a residual legislative framework that continues to be discriminatory. The right hand of God that brought the people out of slavery, gave continued hope and courage to the Israelites, as it continues to bring hope to the Christians of the Caribbean. They are not victims of circumstance. In witnessing to this common hope the churches are working together to minister to all peoples of the region, but particularly the most vulnerable and neglected. In the words of the hymn, the right hand of God is planting in our land, planting seeds of freedom, hope and love. See more