Steve Tunstall secretary, Central Keighley Churches Togther writes

The octave of The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity commences tomorrow, Friday, January 18 2008, and continues up to and including Friday, January 25, 2008.

This year the week reaches a tremendous milestone in that it is exactly 100 years ago since, in 1908, an American priest named Paul Wattson began the tradition of praying for Christian Unity over the course of eight days from January 18 to 25 each year.

So as we unite in prayer this year, we can find unity and strength in the prayers already offered down the years and of our brothers and sisters across the world who will also be praying with us in 2008.

We can also find unity and strength in the words Jesus himself used in his great prayer to his Father, God, that takes up the whole of chapter 17: of John's gospel. Jesus said in his prayer that he was not only praying for his disciples but also for all those who would believe because of their word. And the basis of his prayer was, and ever will be, that "they all may be one".

That's what unity is about - all one in Christ Jesus our Lord. I make no comment on how far we may or may not have moved in this matter of unity but leave individual Christians to decide the answer for themselves. I do, however, suggest that for the Christian, and a Christian is someone who has put faith and trust in Christ Jesus our Lord for salvation, prayer is not only a responsibility it is also one of the greatest privileges that a Christian has.

Readers will find elsewhere in this issue of the Keighley News, details of the times and venues of the special 30-minute services which have been arranged to enable believers from all over Keighley and district to come together to pray in unity and for unity over the period of this great octave of prayer.

I remind us that the theme for this year's prayers is "Pray without ceasing".

Why not come and unite in fellowship with like-minded people in prayer - there was never a greater time in the world's history that prayer was more needed than it is today.

And what better time to come and exercise the responsibility and privilege we have as Christians during this, the centennial octave of Prayer for Christian Unity?