|TOP|The 2006 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a chance for Christians around the world to focus on reconciliation between individuals, peoples and communities through the love of Christ.

The theme of the 2006 Week of Prayer, chosen by a preparatory group in Ireland, will be Matthew 18:20, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them”.

The preparatory group explained its desire “to draw attention to Jesus as the source of our unity” and to underline “the simplicity of two or three coming together in Christian mutual love as a vital means of building up relations between divided peoples and communities” in selecting next year’s theme.

The group added it was “mindful that hope for the future, and peace and reconciliation in the present necessarily involved dealing with painful memories and hurtful grievances in the past”.

|AD|A number of Week of Prayer resources for churches wishing to take part in the event, including an introduction to the theme, a suggested ecumenical worship service that local churches are encouraged to adapt for their own particular liturgical, social and cultural contexts, as well as biblical reflections and prayers for the “eight days”.

The resources also include additional prayers from, as well as an overview of, the ecumenical situation in the particular country that has prepared the material, in this case, Ireland.

It is “in that spirit that all Christians who use these Week of Prayer resources are encouraged to come together in prayer and in mutual love to seek to understand each other amidst differences”.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a joint initiative of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Roman Catholic Church, and is traditionally celebrated from 18 to 25 January, although in the Southern hemisphere other dates are sometimes chosen.

The Week of Prayer has been taking place each year since its foundation in 1968.