Prayer service promotes Christian unity

About a dozen religious leaders gathered with Cardinal Francis George on the steps of St. Hedwig Catholic Church on Sunday evening to pose for a picture that could symbolize the goal they had come to promote: Christian unity.

The clergy and about 150 congregants came to the Polish parish for Chicago's 12th annual ecumenical prayer service for Christian unity. It was organized by Ecumenism Metro Chicago, a coalition of Christian communities, in an effort to deepen relationships among members of varying Christian traditions.

"Jesus said if we are not one, the world will not believe," said George, who has previously talked about the need for the Roman Catholic Church to work with other denominations. "We have an obligation to be a united witness."

The challenges to unity among Christian faith traditions are their differing perspectives on religious doctrine and discipleship, George said. Questions of sexual morality and social justice also continue to divide Christians, he said.

Sunday's service was a continuation of the worldwide Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that usually takes place in January.

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Evermyrtle

Maybe we need some who can speak in parables as did JESUS. There seems to be such a vast lack of understanding of GOD'S WORD in the people who are seeking to understand.

Matt/ 13" 10- 15
10. The disciples came, and said unto HIM, Why do you speak unto them in parables:
11. HE answered and said to the, "Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12. For whosoever has, to him shall be given,, and he shall have more abundance, but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even the he has.
13. Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing, see not: and hearing they her not, neither do they understand.
14. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which said, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive.
15. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
evermyrtle

Isaiah 6517-27
17. For. behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18. But be you glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy,
19. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
20. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
21. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat> for as the days of a tree are th days of my people and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23. They shall not labor in vain nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD,and their offspring with them.
24. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock; and dust shall be the serpents meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, said the LORD
Chris

2000 years and you still cannot agree. More religions every day.

Get a clue – there are no gods. THAT'S why you cannot agree.
- keyboardshark
  
  Chris says: "Get a clue – there are no gods."
  
  Then perhaps you'd care to offer an entirely naturalistic explanation for the existence of the universe. Where did it come from? How did it form? And how did life begin? These are all questions that can only be answered by the Bible, not atheists or evolutionists or followers of false 'gods'.
- evermytle
  
  What kind of clue?, I know about my SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. Maybe you can clue me in about Satan the promoter of all evil.
- http://www.sargee5.blogspot.com The Watchman
  
  It certainly seems to bother you that there is faith, doesn't it? The faithful do not have to agree on doctrine, they only need to agree that Jesus is the only way, He said so himself. Doctrines are man made and arguable, but Christians know there is God, and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Everything else is irrelevant in the scheme of things. If you do not believe, then I can certainly live with that, however denying Christ and dying without being saved, is your choice. It is not your place to demean those of us who do cherish our faith. You are condemning something that you refuse to believe exists, how is that possible, unless you are afraid of what you do not believe in, again, how is that possible?
msjallen

There will be a one world false religion before Jesus Christ returns to earth to reign for 1000 years. Man is already working to accomplish that goal but it will not totally take place until after the exit resurrection of all Church Age believers. Yes, there are many different beliefs among Christianity and religions on this earth. Why? Because man has free will to believe as they so desire instead of being told what to believe by some person — we are not God's puppets. God gives us His Word to live by and it is our responsiblity as believers to learn what it says and follow His mandates to live a happy life here on earth as only God can supply.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You.
Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
lambsev11

"of varying christian traditions…"

Mark 7
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own TRADITION.

Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, VARIANCE, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.