Justice Focus set for Week of Christian Unity

North Texas United Methodists will join Dallas area congregations representing numerous Christian denominations in a tradition dating back100 years for the 2010 Ecumenical Celebration of the Word of God on Jan. 21 at King of Glory Lutheran Church, Dallas.

Theme for the celebration, hosted by Dallas Area Judicatory Leaders and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is “You are Witnesses of These Things,” based on Luke 24:48.

The days activities will focus on “Less Charity, More Justice? – a Forum on Christian Action.”

The day will begin at 3:00 p.m. as participants gather for coffee and fellowship.

Rev. Zan W. Holmes, Jr., pastor emeritus of St. Luke “Community” UMC, Dallas, will begin the afternoon’s activities at 3:30 p.m. with a presentation followed by a question and answer session. Dr. Holmes will continue the momentum begun at the Dallas Justice Revival last November.

The agenda will be how to pursue goals of reducing homelessness and supporting public education. Dr. Holmes asks, “What is the relationship between charity justice? How do they differ and how do they complement one another as Christian action? What is the role of charity and what is the role of justice? How can Christians in the Dallas area bring about sustained change?”

The panel discussion to follow at 4:30 p.m. will include Dr. Holmes, Larry James, CEO of Central Dallas Ministries, and Sister Mary Anne Owens, SSND, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Dallas, Inc.

At 5:30 p.m. the church will host a dinner for participants. A $10 donation is suggested and reservations are required.

The ecumenical worship service, with Dr. Holmes preaching, will begin 7:00 p.m. Judicatory Leaders representing many Christian denominations will lead this service. Special music will be provided by the King of Glory Worship Ensemble, KoGnition.

Dr. Holmes served as pastor of St. Luke “Community” for 28 years prior to his retirement. He was Adjunct Professor of Preaching at Perkins School of Theology, SMU, for 24 years. Known also for his community activism, he served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1968-1972. He was one of the three primary speakers at the Dallas Justice Revival and is the author of several books including, Reaching for Revival, When Trouble Comes, and Encountering Jesus.

The Church Unity Octave, a forerunner of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, was developed by Father Paul Wattson, SA, at Graymoor cumenical and Interreligious Institute in Garrison, New York, and was first observed from January 18-25, 1908. Celebrated in its present form since 1910, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites the whole Christian community throughout the world to pray in communion with the prayer of Jesus “that they all may be one” (John 17:21).

The theme and text for each year’s observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are chosen and prepared by representatives of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and representatives of the World Council of Churches. The international texts are developed, adapted and published for use in the USA by the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute.

The year’s Dallas service is sponsored by the Northern-Texas/Northern-Louisiana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The various denominations take a turn to host this special week. The public is cordially invited.

King of Glory Lutheran Church is located at 6411 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, phone 972661-9435. For dinner reservations contact Marilyn Cupp, 972661-9435, ext 5822, or e-mail: mcupp@kingofglory.com