The
2011 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity materials were originally
prepared by Christians in Jerusalem, who chose as a theme
Acts 2:42, 'They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching
and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.'
This theme is a call back to the origins of the first church
in Jerusalem; it is a call for inspiration and renewal, a
return to the essentials of the faith; it is a call to remember
the time when the church was still one. Within this year's
artwork the four elements of the 2011 theme are depicted:
the Word as passed on by the apostles, fellowship or koinonia
which was an important mark of the early believers whenever
they met together, the 'breaking of the bread as it remembers
the New Covenant which Jesus has enacted in his suffering,
death and resurrection and the offering of constant prayer.
These four elements are the pillars of the life of the church,
and of its unity.
The Joint Working Group
wished to give prominence to these basic essentials in our
prayers to God for the unity and vitality of the church throughout
the world. The Christians of Jerusalem invite their sisters
and brothers around the world to join them in prayer as they
struggle for justice, peace and prosperity for all people
of the land.
The conceptual design of
the artwork was formulated by Sr. Claire Joy, CHS of the Community
of the Holy Spirit in New York City. The Community of the
Holy Spirit is a monastic community for women in the Episcopal
Church, and a witness to the work of the Holy Spirit in the
world. Sr. Claire Joy describes herself as an artist, mom,
grandmother, nun (sort of in that order). Sr. Claire Joy,
CHS may be contacted at: http://clairejoy.blogspot.com/
The final layout of the
poster and associated artwork was the work of RKG FundRaising
Services, Cold Spring, New York.
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