Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
March 2009
A Section of Anglican Journal
Anglicans, Lutherans and Roman Catholics Discuss Sacramental Practices
by Frank Flegel LUMSDEN (Qu'A) Two bishops and a Lutheran pastor spent the better part of January 22 describing each faith's sacramental practices. It was part of observing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and celebrating the ecumenical nature of St. Michael's Retreat. The retreat house is owned by the Franciscan Friars but governed through an ecumenical board with representatives from the Anglican, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Roman Catholic faith traditions. Bishop Gregory KerrWilson presented the Anglican view of the sacraments, Rev. Helmut Nachtigal the Lutheran view, and Archbishop Daniel Bohan the Roman Catholic view. The three agreed that baptism is a sacrament and the one that binds together everyone in the audience, but there were divergent views of how many sacraments there actually are. Bishop Kerr-Wilson reviewed the history of the Anglican Church and referred to several reformers and their views of the sacraments. Thomas Cranmer, Richard Hooker and John Henry Newman all were quoted, as were the theological teachings at the time. St. Augustine, said Bishop Kerr-Wilson, called the sacraments Christ's words made visible; Cranmer said they put Christ's words into 'our mouths, photo - Frank Flegel eyes and ears'; Hooker said they make us 'partakers of Christ'; and Newman said two are necessary for salvation and the rest are for the good of the church. Joan Galvin and Bishop Greg Kerr-Wilson talk during an ecuRev. Nachtigal advised that an ailing Bishop Cindy Halmarson had called him the day prior and asked menical event about the sacraments at St. Michael's Retreat. him to substitute for her. He frequently referred to the Lutheran Catechism. Lutherans recognize two sacraments: baptism and eucharist, also known as the Lord's Supper. Martin Luther didn't want to leave the Roman Catholic church, he said, he just wanted to reform it. "Much of the theology came out of that time," he said. Rev. Nachtigal said baptism is just water without the words of Christ, and the bread and wine in eucharist are not transmuted but "Christ becomes truly present when the recipient receives it." Archbishop Bohan emphasized that there are seven sacraments recognized by the Roman Catholic church. He broke them out in three sections: baptism, confirmation and eucharist as sacraments of initiation; penance and anointing of the sick as healing; and holy orders and marriage as sacraments of communion. "Catholics see the sacraments as an outward sign given for grace," he said. "Christ acts through the sacraments for our salvation."
Community Ecumenical Service
Celebration at St. Paul's Cathedral. by Marian Powell
photo - Frank Flegel
REGINA On the afternoon of St. Paul's Day, January 25, a goodsized congregation braved -30 degree temperatures to attend the annual city-wide worship service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, hosted this year by St. Paul's Cathedral. This year's Week of Prayer was based on the experience of the churches of North and South Korea, with the theme taken from Ezekiel (37:17): “that they may be one in your hand.” Dean James Merritt was the worship leader, with participation by clergy from First Presbyterian Church, St. Paul's Cathedral, Bethlehem Apostolic Church, First Baptist Church, Sonlight Christian Reformed Church, Westminster United Church, Good Samaritan Roman Catholic Church and Holy Rosary Cathedral. A quartet of young singers from Western Christian High School sang delightful a cappella anthems “Peace to the Brothers” and “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” Nancy Kwon from Luther College High School sounded the gong three times to indicate the beginning of the service and delivered the call to worship in Korean. Symbolically representing the divisions of photo - Marian Powell country and divisions among Christian churches, two broken wood- Pastor Charles Krooger binds broken sticks together to form a cross, en sticks were carried in procession by young stick-carriers, Patrick assisted by Patrick Malone (l) and Owen Chevalier (back to camera). Malone from Holy Rosary Cathedral and Owen Chevalier from St. Paul's Cathedral. The choice of hymns reflected the theme: “The Church's One Foundation,” “In Christ There is No East or West,” "The Lord's My Shepherd” and “There is a Redeemer.” Rev. Charles Kooger, Pastor of the Sonlight Christian Reformed Church, delivered the sermon. Unity, he reminded the congregation, is one of the hardest things to achieve between two separate things, requiring strength greater than our own. It is in Christ that the unity of the church belongs. Rev. Kooger declared that when we remember where our unity is, then despite differences, we will find our one-ness in Jesus Christ. The two broken wooden sticks were then symbolically joined together into a cross. At the conclusion of the service, this cross was used to lead the procession. The choice of agencies to which the offering could be directed is characteristic of the city-wide nature of the service. The agencies were: Habitat for Humanity Regina (building affordable homes in the core areas of Regina for families in need); Love Lives Here Regina (Christian outreach to street people); Circles of Support and Accountability (support for persons returning to the community after prison without a community support group) and Healing Hearts Ministries (bringing the healing touch of Jesus to wounded hearts, many from the North Central community in Regina, especially those involved in issues of gang activity).
Jenna Ackerman (l) and Brydan Sigurdson use duct tape to join two bamboo poles in the form of a cross, during a ecumenical service at St. James Anglican Church, Regina. At the beginning of the service the two sat on opposite sides of of the church to signify the "poles apart" of Christian denominations. Near the end of the service they joined the poles to signify unity. St. James hosted the service for churches in the Rosemont area, including St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic, Rosemont United, Christ Lutheran and Community of Christ. Rev. Malcolm French conducted the service during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and spoke about Jesus's prayer that we may be one as He and the Father are one. About 40 people enjoyed a potluck meal following the service.