An Ecumenical Prayer Service was held on the evening of Thursday 21st January 2010, in St Andrew’s Scots Church, Valletta. This was the main event held in Malta on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which comes to a close on Monday 25th January 2010.
The theme of the Service was “You are witnesses of these things” (Lk 24:48) – the theme being used worldwide – consists of the Risen Christ’s words to the Apostles. Those present were welcomed by Mr Paul Slater, a Methodist lay preacher, who explained the reasons for the choice of this year’s venue. He said that the Scots’ Church in Valletta was being used on account of the centenary celebrations of the World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1910, and which is considered to be the genesis of the Ecumenical Movement.
The service consisted of scripture readings, hymns and intercessory prayers centred on the desire and the commitment to work for Christian unity. Other moments of the service included the Profession of Faith, the exchange of peace, the Lord’s Prayer and the renewal of the ecumenical commitment.
The homily was delivered by Fr Rene’ Camilleri who elaborated upon the centrality of witness in today’s fragmented postmodern society. He stated that the presence of the congregation for the service was ample proof that Jesus’ words in the Cenacle after his resurrection are still relevant. Fr Rene’ also explained the deep connection between witness and prophecy. Contemporary society thirsts for prophets. Quoting the Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, he said that the prophet is “someone who is searching, someone who is being sought. Someone who listens, and who is listened to… A prophet is forever awake, forever alert; he is never indifferent, least of all to injustice… God’s messenger to man, he somehow becomes man’s messenger to God”.
Fr Rene’ delved into the relevance of the Christian message, and how this message is the responsibility of all Christians. Here, he mentioned Schillebeeckx, a renowned theologian who died last month, and who once said that Christian witness is not a message which becomes an experience, but an experience which becomes a message.
The Ecumenical Service was organized by the Malta Ecumenical Council in conjunction with the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission. Among the priests and the pastors participating, one could note the presence of Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Serbian Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran and Seventh Day Adventist representatives.
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