Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reflects on the fountain of life

"With you is the fountain of life" are the words from Psalm 36which have been chosen for reflection and prayer in joint churchservices during 2002, beginning with the Week of Prayer forChristian Unity which starts tomorrow and runs until 25January.

This text and the verses of Psalm 36 leading up to it remind Christians of the need to rediscover the place where thefountain of life is to be found - namely in God and in God's HolyWord.

Across Britain and beyond this weekend, Christian churches ofdifferent denominations will join neighbours in their town orlocality for joint services to pray for closer relationships in thefamily of Christ.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was first proposed byPaul Watson in 1908. It is an enormous privilege to be part of along chain of Christians throughout the world, reflecting on a textand praying together about its implications for the Church and theworld. It is also salutary to be reminded once a year that we mayhave become lukewarm in our struggle for the unity for which Christprayed 'that they all may be oneÉ that the world may believe'.

ChurchesTogether in Britain and Ireland has a website forthe Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which includes usefulworship material for a suggested joint service. The ecumenicalservice was prepared by a group of 15 people appointed by theChurches in these islands and CTBI, which met in Belfast in March2001.