Themes of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

1968-2024

Since 1968, the texts have been prepared by the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. From 1975, the booklet has been produced each year on the basis of a project prepared by a local ecumenical group from a different country.

1968    To the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:14)

1969    Called to freedom (Galatians 5:13)
            (Preparatory meeting held in Rome, Italy)

1970    We are fellow workers for God (1 Corinthians 3:9)
            (Preparatory meeting held at the Monastery of Niederaltaich, Federal Republic of Germany)

1971    ...and the communion of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:13)           
            (Preparatory meeting in Bari, Italy)

1972    I give you a new commandment (John 13:34)
            (Preparatory meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland)

1973    Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11:1)
            (Preparatory meeting held at the Abbey of Montserrat, Spain)

1974    That every tongue confess: Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:1-13)
            (Preparatory meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland)

1975    God’s purpose: all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-10)
            (Material from an Australian group – Preparatory meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland)

1976    We shall be like him (1 John 3:2) or, Called to become what we are
            (Material from Caribbean Conference of Churches. Preparatory meeting held in Rome, Italy)

1977    Enduring together in hope (Romans 5:1-5)
            (Material from Lebanon, in the midst of a civil war. Preparatory meeting held in Geneva)

1978    No longer strangers (Ephesians 2:13-22)
            (Material from an ecumenical team in Manchester, England)

1979    Serve one another to the glory of God (l Peter 4:7-11)
            (Material from Argentina – Preparatory meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland)

1980    Your kingdom come (Matthew 6:10)
            (Material from an ecumenical group in Berlin, German Democratic Republic – Preparatory meeting held in Milan)

1981    One Spirit - many gifts - one body (1 Corinthians 12:3b-13)
            (Material from Graymoor Fathers, USA – Preparatory meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland)

1982    May all find their home in you, O Lord (Psalm 84)
            (Material from Kenya – Preparatory meeting held in Milan, Italy)

1983    Jesus Christ - the life of the world (1 John 1:1-4)
            (Material from an ecumenical group in Ireland – Preparatory meeting held in Céligny (Bossey), Switzerland)

1984    Called to be one through the cross of our Lord (1 Corinthians 2:2 and Colossians 1:20) 
            (Preparatory meeting held in Venice, Italy)

1985    From death to life with Christ (Ephesians 2:4-7)
            (Material from Jamaica – Preparatory meeting held in Grandchamp, Switzerland)

1986    You shall be my witnesses (Acts 1:6-8)
            (Material from Yugoslavia (Slovenia) – Preparatory meeting held in Yugoslavia)

1987    United in Christ - a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-6:4a)
            (Material from England – Preparatory meeting held in Taizé, France)

1988    The love of God casts out fear (1 John 4:18)
            (Material from Italy – Preparatory meeting held in Pinerolo, Italy)

1989    Building community: one body in Christ (Romans 12:5-6a)
            (Material from Canada – Preparatory meeting held in Whaley Bridge, England)

1990    That they all may be one...That the world may believe (John 17)
            (Material from Spain – Preparatory meeting held in Madrid, Spain)

1991    Praise the Lord, all you nations! (Psalm 117 and Romans 15:5-13)
            (Material from Germany – Preparatory meeting held in Rotenburg an der Fulda, Federal Republic of Germany)

1992    I am with you always... Go, therefore (Matthew 28:16-20)
            (Material from Belgium – Preparatory meeting held in Bruges, Belgium)

1993    Bearing the fruit of the Spirit for Christian unity (Galatians 5:22-23)
            (Material from Zaire – Preparatory meeting held near Zurich, Switzerland)

1994    The household of God: called to be one in heart and mind (Acts 4:23-37)
            (Material from Ireland – Preparatory meeting held in Dublin, Republic of Ireland)

1995    Koinonia: communion in God and with one another (John 15:1-17)
            (Material from Faith and Order – Preparatory meeting held in Bristol, England)

1996    Behold, I stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3:14-22)
            (Material from Portugal – Preparatory meeting held in Lisbon, Portugal)

1997    We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20)
            (Material from Nordic Ecumenical Council – Preparatory meeting held in Stockholm, Sweden)

1998    The Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:14-27)
            (Material from France – Preparatory meeting held in Paris, France)

1999    He will dwell with them as their God, they will be his peoples (Revelation 21:1-7)
            (Material from Malaysia – Preparatory meeting held in Monastery of Bose, Italy)

2000    Blessed be God who has blessed us in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14)
            (Material from the Middle East Council of Churches – Preparatory meeting held La Verna, Italy)

2001    I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life (John 14:1-6)
            (Material from Romania – Preparatory meeting held at Vulcan, Romania)

2002    For with you is the fountain of life (Psalm 36:5-9)
            (Material CEEC and CEC – Preparatory meeting near Augsburg, Germany)

2003    We have this treasure in clay jars (2 Corinthians 4:4-18)
            (Material churches in Argentina – Preparatory meeting at Los Rubios, Spain)

2004    My peace I give to you (John 14:23-31; John 14:27)
            (Material from Aleppo, Syria – Preparatory meeting in Palermo, Sicily)

2005    Christ, the one foundation of the church (1 Corinthians 3:1-23)
            (Material from Slovakia – Preparatory meeting in Piestaňy, Slovakia)

2006    Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them (Matthew 18:18-20)
            (Material from Ireland – Preparatory meeting held in Prosperous, Co. Kildare, Ireland)

2007    He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak (Mark 7:31-37)
            (Material from South Africa – Preparatory meeting held in Faverges, France)

2008    Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:(12a) 13b-18)
            (Material from USA – Preparatory meeting held in Graymoor, Garrison, USA)

2009    That they may become one in your hand (Ezekiel 37:15-28)
            (Material from Korea – Preparatory meeting held in Marseilles, France)

2010    You are witnesses of these things (Luke 24:48)
            (Material from Scotland – Preparatory meeting held in Glasgow, Scotland)

2011    One in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer (cf. Acts 2:42)
            (Material from Jerusalem – Preparatory meeting held in Saydnaya, Syria)

2012    We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:51-58)
            (Material from Poland – Preparatory meeting held in Warsaw, Poland)

2013    What does God require of us? (cf. Micah 6:6-8)
            (Material from India – Preparatory meeting held in Bangalore, India)

2014    Has Christ been divided? (1 Corinthians 1:1-17)
            (Material from Canada – Preparatory meeting held in Montréal, Canada)

2015    Jesus said to her: Give me to drink (John 4: 7)
            (Material from Brazil – Preparatory meeting held in São Paulo, Brazil)

2016    Called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord (cf. 1 Peter 2:9)
            (Material from Latvia – Preparatory meeting held in Rīga, Latvia)

2017    Reconcilation - The love of Christ compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14-20)
            (Material from Germany – Preparatory meeting held in Wittenberg, Germany)

2018    Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power (Exodus 15:6)
            (Material from the Caribbean – Preparatory meeting held in Nassau, Bahamas)

2019    Justice and only justice you shall pursue (Deuteronomy 16:18-20)
            (Material from Indonesia – Preparatory meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia)

2020    They showed us unusual kindness (Acts 28:2)
            (Material from Malta – Preparatory meeting held in Rabat, Malta)

2021    Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit (cf. John 15:5-9)
            (Material from Community of Grandchamp – Preparatory meeting held in Grandchamp, Areuse, Switzerland)

2022    We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him (Matthew 2:2)
            (Material from Middle East Council of Churches, Beirut, Lebanon – Preparatory meeting on line)

2023    Do good; seek justice (Isaiah 1:17)
            (Material from Minnesota Council of Churches, USA – Preparatory meeting held in Bossey, Switzerland)

2024    You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself (Luke 10:27)
            (Material from Burkina Faso, coordinated by Chemin Neuf Community – Preparatory meeting held in Rome)