Week of Prayer.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 6, 1 December 1922, Page 424

Week of Prayer.

Attention is drawn to the Universal Week of Prayer to be observed from January 7th to January 13th, 1923. A circular letter from the representatives of the World's Evangelical Alliance reads as follows \.:~ Beloved Brethren m Christ Jesus, It is again the privilege of the World's Evangelical Alliance to call Churches and Christians throughout the world to begin the year with a week of Thansgiving and Prayer. There are many things for whichthe Church may well be grateful as we cross the threshold of another Year. A Christian mind cannot fail to note some signs which refresh our weariness and quicken our vigilance. The disillusioned world, baffled by wounds beyond its own power to heal, is turning with a more open mind to the. message of . Jafeus Christ. The craving for peace is widespread; but the difficulty of securing it by the methods of the past is driving the nations back' on the spiritual way of trust and goodwill, which is the method of our Lord. Combined with this there is a wistful longing for a recovery of personal religion. The interest which certain spasmodic signs of ' revival have awakened both m the Church and m the world is significant of a deej) sense of the need of God stirring at the heart. The religious wistfulness of many outside the Churches betrays a yearning which can only be satisfied by the ancient and abiding forces of the Gospel of Christ.. The opportunity of the Church m face of these things has never been greater than it is to-day. The truth is, the world has become ware that it is a family without the family spirit. How can this spirit be supplied but through the medium of the Christian fellowship? For- fellowship is a Divine creation. It is born of the -vision of Jesus Christ as together we see Him. The sad persistence of suspicion and prejudice reveals the fact .. that these things can only be slam m the shadow of the Cross. Fellowship becomes possible m a community only m the measure m which Christ becomes Lord. Differences can be dissolved only as self-interest gives place to the spirit of love and sympathy. . The barriers between nations and classes cannot be broken down save as we come to realise our oneness m Christ Jesus. The world is yearning for this spirit of fellowship which only the Church- of Christ can create and foster; Men are looking to us for a Christianity united enough to dissolve their baffling differences, and for a loyalty devoted enough to mirror the glory of the Lord |n the authentic radiance of His Spirit.

How shall we face _ this, call for light from "a despairing world? Two things it demands of us. It demands a new perseverance m exploring the way of unity and capturing its spirit by a new loyalty to Christ. And it demands a new perseverance m Prayer, both as a means of personal union with God arid as a task for the Kingdom. For true Prayer is both a means of grace and a task of service, and the one depends on the other. Only as we go out with Chris.t, taking on us with Him the burden of a world warred through sin, can we find him for our own personal fellowship. Only as we revive our allegiance to Him can we become his helpers to bring m His Kingdom -through the ministry of intercession.. (Signed by British and Foreign representatives of the World's Evangelical Alliance: by heads of . Churches m Great Britain and other Countries ; nad by official representatives of* Bible and Missionary Societies, etc., with whose co-operation . the programme .is annually circulated and . used- throughout the world). . An Alliance camp will be held at AVaimarino during the ' week of prayer. Copies of the programme may be obtained from the Rev. F. H. Spencer, Remuera.