Dear friends, each year since our inception in 2018 CUSP has partnered with local churches and their leaders to organize an ecumenical prayer service inspired by the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This a global initiative sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Roman Catholic) and the World Council of Churches (Protestant and Orthodox). The traditional period for the observance of the Week of Prayer is January 18 to January 25. For each year since 1968, these two sponsoring institutions have invited an ecumenical partner to provide liturgical texts based on a biblical theme to guide the observance. This year the Middle East Council of Churches based in Beirut, Lebanon, was given the task of choosing the theme and preparing draft texts for the Week of Prayer 2022. They chose the theme, “We have seen his star in the East and have come to pay homage to him” (Mt 2:2). More than ever, in these difficult times, we need a light that shines in the darkness and that light, Christians proclaim, has beenmanifested in Jesus Christ.
Since we are prevented from holding a public service this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we encourage you to visit the World Council of Churches' special website for the Week of Prayer and download the resource booklet (PDF) containing the materials for 2022. The texts of the readings and prayers can be accessed through this link:
www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/worship-and-background-material-for-the-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2022
The direct link to the worship booklet is
www.oikoumene.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/WPCU_2022_Booklet_EN.pdf
Please join us in our prayer for Christian unity in a divided world!
www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/worship-and-background-material-for-the-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2022
The direct link to the worship booklet is
www.oikoumene.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/WPCU_2022_Booklet_EN.pdf
Please join us in our prayer for Christian unity in a divided world!
Christians Uniting in Song and Prayer (CUSP)™
grew out of the Reformation 500 Holland observances held in October 2017
“One Body, Many Parts” — 1 Corinthians 12:12
grew out of the Reformation 500 Holland observances held in October 2017
“One Body, Many Parts” — 1 Corinthians 12:12
SOME HISTORY: The Transition from Reformation 500 Holland to CUSP
On October 31, 2017 (Reformation Day), the committee that organized the Reformation 500 Holland events convened a meeting of area pastors and congregational leaders to explore future possibilities for promoting Christian unity beyond the REFO 500 events. After reflection and lively discussion, a consensus emerged that Reformation 500 Holland should go forward, building on the momentum generated by what we experienced together in 2017. While the nurturing of unity can take on many forms, we ultimately discerned a call to make worship our primary focus. Further discussion resulted in a new name, Christians Uniting in Song and Prayer (CUSP)™, and a mission statement:
On October 31, 2017 (Reformation Day), the committee that organized the Reformation 500 Holland events convened a meeting of area pastors and congregational leaders to explore future possibilities for promoting Christian unity beyond the REFO 500 events. After reflection and lively discussion, a consensus emerged that Reformation 500 Holland should go forward, building on the momentum generated by what we experienced together in 2017. While the nurturing of unity can take on many forms, we ultimately discerned a call to make worship our primary focus. Further discussion resulted in a new name, Christians Uniting in Song and Prayer (CUSP)™, and a mission statement:
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CUSP Mission Statement
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In the crucified and risen Christ we are reconciled to God and to one another. This is at the heart of the Christian message to which the Church is called to give witness in the world. Deep and painful divisions among its members today, however, obscure this message and therefore compromise its witness.
Out of a shared commitment to overcome these divisions, Christians Uniting in Song and Prayer (CUSP)™ was formed. Located in the Holland community, we are a fellowship of Protestants and Catholics convinced that Christians joining in public assembly to sing and pray together can help to restore and promote our unity. Our conviction is rooted in the acknowledgment that Christian unity is both gift and task. In celebrating together our common faith, we recover a vision of the inestimable gift that God has granted to us in Christ. Renewed thereby in our appreciation of this gift, we go out energized to take up the difficult task of reconciling with fellow Christians whose differences keep us separated. |
Fellow Workers in the Vineyard
CUSP would like to acknowledge the following Holland-area organizations who are also fostering unity and cooperation across denominational lines.
CUSP would like to acknowledge the following Holland-area organizations who are also fostering unity and cooperation across denominational lines.
- Movement West Michigan
- Lakeshore Coalition for Racial Justice (formerly Faith Leaders for Justice)
Contact CUSP
- Email: info@cuspholland.org
- Postal mail: P. O. Box 1563 • Holland, Michigan 49422-1563
- Website: www.cuspholland.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/cuspholland
- YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCzBwQw7Hp3nrIoTs3evYoeg
Special resource for this extraordinary time of pandemic
