The World Council of Churches (WCC), a panel of representatives from many denominations, will be conducting a week of prayers at denominational churches throughout the world to promote Christian unity. In Hollister, the event will take place Jan. 18-25.
Each year a theme is chosen along with daily scriptures. The theme for this year’s event is, “Called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord.”
According to an informational flyer: “The power of having the theme and text agreed upon by so many Churches, is in itself an expression of Christian unity. It is an amazing opportunity for Christians world-wide to be praying together on the same days, reading and reflecting on the same scripture passages with mutual love and respect.”
Pastor Ellen Laitinen, geographic elder/pastor at the Gateway City Church in San Jose, sent an email to people who had expressed interest in a Community Prayer Gathering (CPG) to be held Jan. 22 that would focus on the “Sanctity of Life.” However, after meeting with Sister Loretta Guevarra, from the San Juan Mission, Laitinen learned of the annual Week of Prayer. Laitinen stated in her email, “Instead of one night of prayer, we thought this was an amazing opportunity for a whole week of prayer. Christians worldwide, as well as churches locally, will be praying together on the same days, themes, and reflecting on the same scripture passages with mutual love and respect.”
Laitinen asked people to attend each night’s prayer vigil.
“I encourage (you to) enjoy how each hosting church is adding their unique flavor and expression,” she wrote. “It’s going to be an exciting week filled with unified prayer, music, and fellowship in our community. Please mark your calendars and consider coming to all eight nights of prayer or as often as you are able. This should prove to be a very special week of unified prayer and Christian unity here in our community.”
Nightly prayer services will be held from 7:00-8:15 p.m. at a different church in Hollister:
January 18 – St. Benedict’s Church, 1200 Fairview Rd.
January 19 – Community Bible Study Group hosted by South Valley Christian Church, 2350 Technology Pkwy.
January 20 – First Presbyterian Church – Youth Services, 2066 San Benito St.
January 21 – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 720 Monterey St.
January 22 – Community Prayer Gathering hosted by First Presbyterian Church, 2066 San Benito St.
January 23 – TBA
January 24 – Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, 790 Bolsa Rd.
January 25 – Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 680 College St.