Each year, Christian churches all over the world celebrate a very special week of prayer called the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We join together to pray that all people who believe in Jesus will spread his Good News of love wherever they go.
This week is planned by churches in different parts of the world. This year, the Christian churches in Malta planned the week to focus on the theme of
unusual kindness. Unusual kindness is part of the Scripture story chosen for this week. It is the story of the Apostle Paul and 275 others who were once shipwrecked on the island of Malta. The people of Malta welcomed and cared for the 276 shipwrecked persons, and in doing so showed them unusual kindness. Today, let us pray for the Church of Malta, and let us pray to be people who are known for our unusual kindness too.
Let us pray. Spirit of unity, as we gather together today, show us the path to Christian unity. Help us to be welcoming to all, teach us to respect everyone we meet, and guide us to treat all people with unusual kindness, as Jesus would have us do. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.