Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has a history of over 100 years, in which Christians around the world have taken part in an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity. It is an international Christian ecumenical observance kept annually around Pentecost in the Southern Hemisphere and between 18-25 January in the Northern Hemisphere. Each year ecumenical partners in a different region are asked to prepare the materials, including chiefly an ecumenical opening prayer service and biblical reflections and prayers for the eight-days of the octave, employed by churches around the world.                                                             

CTMR Event 2025

Paradoxes: Listening to the Voices of Young People

 

On Tuesday 21 January, representatives from different Christian denominations came to the St Margaret Clitherow Centre for a networking event on Hearing the voices of Young People.



The event, which started in the late morning, and ended in the afternoon, was opened by Rev Phil Jump, Regional Minister for the North West Baptist Association and Chair of Trustees of Churches Together in the Merseyside Region  - pictured below as he is  addressing the gathering. 



He discussed what would be going on that day, before leading everyone in the Nicene Creed. This year marks 1700 years since the original Nicene Creed was adopted at the first Council of Nicaea in 325.

Three speakers asking challenging questions

After that, three speakers then got up and presented three questions to those in attendance.

The first from Alice Tonks, Salvation Army Youth Worker, who asked, “What are you prepared to sacrifice for the sake of engaging the under 26 generation?”

The second speaker was Mike Sutcliffe, a Children’s Worker in the Methodist Church, who asked, “How can we help people under 26 to know that Jesus is their firm foundation?”

The final speaker, Esther Walters, an intern in the Baptist Church, who was part of the demographic that everyone was aiming towards, asked the final question which was, “What is the biggest barrier in the Church you see to engage with people under 26?”



The tables (see images above) then discussed these points before breaking off for lunch. After which was a chance to put these thoughts down on paper.

Feedback after the event

Rebecca Hooton, Huyton Deanery Schools and Youth Worker, gave the following feedback: “To be able to network, share stories and pray for one another and for the work we do, and others do with young people I am thankful for. I really hope that another gathering like this can take place again to continue these important discussions, opportunities to network and share stories and most importantly to pray for one another and for our young people.”

Asish Varghese, Youth and Children’s Ministry Team Leader at Carmel MarThoma Church, Liverpool, added: “Overall, I left the event feeling encouraged and uplifted. “Spending the day together and listening to insightful inputs, sharing stories, and connecting with others, was a reminder of the strength that comes from unity in diversity. “It was a beautiful reminder of the power of prayer, dialogue, and mutual respect in our journey toward greater Christian unity.” 

By Steven Hughes, Communications Assistant, Archdiocese of Liverpool