Organised by the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Ecumenical Dialogue, the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity took place at five host churches from 18 to 25 Jan 2018, strengthening the ecumenical ties between Protestant and Catholic brethren.
The week-long event kicked off with an evening service at Covenant Community Methodist Church (CCMC) on 18 Jan. The church’s pews were filled to capacity with lay people and clergy from various agencies and churches coming together in prayer and praise.
Speaking to the congregation on the freedom that God offers was the Rev Ian Lee of CCMC. The Rev Lee focused on Mark 5:25-34, which describes Jesus’ encounter with the woman who was healed of her chronic medical condition the moment she touched the Messiah’s robe.
In his closing, the Rev Lee emphasised that when God bestows freedom, as exemplified by Jesus’ complete healing of the woman, it is and always will be a total and all-encompassing experience that liberates the believer from bondage: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NIV)
Materials for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity were prepared by Caribbean churches – an ironical product of the brutal subjugation inflicted by foreign colonisers upon the locals – demonstrating how God can turn even the darkest moments into ones that speak of hope, strength, and love.
Jason Woo –
is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he indulges in table-top games or whiles away time watching Internet cat videos.
