Prayer for Christian Unity
Christian Unity Week was celebrated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace on Jan. 24 with Evening Prayer attended by 13 religious leaders from different denominations including the Episcopal, United Church of Christ, Lutheran, Methodist, and New Life churches. Bishop Larry Silva hosted the service which was also attended by several Hawaii Catholic priests and deacons, and about 75 others. Bishop Murray Finck of the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America gave a reflection at the gathering, saying, “It’s the cross [of Christ] that brings us together tonight.” This is the first ecumenical Christian Unity Week service to be held in many years. Next year’s prayer service is already set for Jan. 21 and will be hosted by the Lutheran Church of Honolulu with Episcopal Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick as the speaker.