Next week, the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle invites the global church to unite in prayer for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and the Chinese mainland.
Organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the cycle fosters solidarity among Christians worldwide. According to the WCC's published guide for the week, this focus recognizes the region's "long and complex histories" and the "determination of Christians in the region to contextualize the church here and now."
The prayer guide encourages believers to give thanks for the rich cultural heritage developed over millennia and the bold witness of those who live out their faith. It also acknowledges the significant "economic growth and development that have lifted many out of poverty" and the increasing efforts to address environmental challenges in the region.
While celebrating progress, the cycle calls for deep reflection and intercession for "communities left behind and further marginalized by rising economic growth," with specific mention of women and farmworkers in rural areas.
Other prayer points include:
- Peace, understanding, and cooperation between these regions and the global community.
- A growth in the "prophetic witness" of local churches.
- Mutual recognition of God-given human dignity.
- Spiritual meaning and freedom from "captivity to economic growth and consumerism."
The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, which guides believers through every region of the world over the course of a year, aims to affirm solidarity with Christians living in diverse situations. Based on the publication Pilgrim Prayer – an Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, the initiative encourages the global church to pray for each place on earth and its people at least once a year.
"Prayer is at the very heart of the ecumenical movement," the introduction to the cycle states. "When we pray with and for one another, we can feel God's gift of unity."
