Justice and only Justice

The theme for this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18-25 January) has been chosen by Christians in Indonesia.

Indonesia is a country consisting of more than 17,000 islands, 1340 ethnic groups and over 740 local languages. The motto of the country is "Unity in Diversity" and Indonesians aim to follow a principle of living in "solidarity by collaboration".  

The Christians in Indonesia have chosen to focus on the call to work together for a more just society and the words from Deuteronomy 16:18-20, "Justice and only justice you shall pursue..." resonated with them. They are a challenge to all of us. This is the call to Christians to work together for a just society and to model unity in diversity and solidarity in collaboration as some of the marks of the Kingdom.

Unity in diversity and solidarity by collaboration, they are phrases which have a powerful resonance. As we look around us at our own community, wherever that is, we might think we would do well to follow those principles. Like those in Indonesia we may also find that it is not always easy. In Indonesia there are tensions between groups and divisions between the rich and the poor which are described in the proverb "a mouse dies of hunger in a barn full of rice"

Many of you will be involved in study groups, acts of worship and other activities during this week of prayer. If you would like to share what you have done with others, send a picture, a brief report or thought to me at eo@methodistchurch.org.uk.

If you want to see the material that has been produced and pray through the week you can find it here in both English and Welsh.

I end with the blessing from the Order of Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:

May God embrace you with love
and make kindness flow out from you.
May God ignite courage within you
and transform you into agents of justice and peace.
May God grant you humility
and give you perseverance to nurture unity.