Dialogue, Prayer and Christian Unity

May this momentous moment find you on tiptoes - awaiting wonders yet to be imagined. With January comes many opportunities to be together as an ecumenical community to pray. Please pray as if the world depended upon it!  -Rev. Kay Huggins, interim director, New Mexico Conference of Churches

Several opportunities for dialogue and prayer have been scheduled during the second half of January and into February to commemorate the recent striking down of barriers between Catholics and Protestants, particularly on the 500th anniversary of The Reformation. These gatherings and prayer services, including opportunities for Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue, are part of the local efforts to celebrate the annual International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on January 18-25.

Here is a listing of meetings and prayer in the Albuquerque area and other communities in New Mexico, an ecumenical prayer service on January 20 and a Vigil for the Earth on January 23.  Most of the events on this list come courtesy of the New Mexico Conference of Churches.

Sunday, January 15, 12 noon, St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Catholic Church, 5901 St. Joseph’s Dr. NW, Albuquerque The Archdiocese of Santa Fe African American Catholic Community will hostr the Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mass and Celebration. Reflection by Rev. Elwood McDowell, of Tucson, AZ. For more information, please call 505-836-3627 or 505-831-8167. E-mail aacc4diosf@gmail.com.

Tuesday, January 17, 7:30-8:30, pm Hope in the Desert Episcopal Church, Prayer & Healing Service in the Style of Taizé. Doors open at 7:00pm for quiet prayer and meditation. The service begins at 7:30 and ends promptly at 8:30pm. For more information, contact Rev. Ruth at the Church or at 463-5719 (cell)

Mondays, January 17- Febuary 20, 7-9 pm, Rio Rancho Lutherans and Catholics Dialogue: Church of the Incarnation 2309 Monterrey Rd NE, Rio Rancho

Tuesdays January 18- February 21, 7-9 pm, Westside Lutherans and Catholics Dialogue: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church, 5415 Fortuna Road NW, Albuquerque 87105

Wednesdays, January 19-February 22, 7-9 pm, Northeast Heights Lutherans and Catholics Dialogue: St. Luke Lutheran Church, 9100 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque 87110

Abbot Joel Garner at National Week of Christian Unity, 2014

Friday, January 20, 2017, 7:00 pm, an Ecumenical Prayer Service with guest Abbot Joel Garner and musicians at Our Lady of the Annunciation NE, 2621 Vermont, NE, Albuquerque. Reception to follow. Please call 505-298-7553 for more information.

Friday, January 20, 2017, 7:30 pm, Taizé in the Desert, Norbertine Abbey of Santa Maria de la Vid, 5825 Coors Blvd SW Albuquerque. Leave the noise of modern life behind for an evening of prayer! Fellowship and refreshments following the service. All are welcome. For questions please contact Taylor Kingston at (505)831-8142 or tkingston@archdiosf.org

Sunday, January 22, 2017, 3:00 pm, an Ecumenical Prayer and Worship Service at Holy Cross Church - Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Cañada, Santa Cruz, N.M. Fellowship and light refreshments to follow at 4:30 pm in Marian Hall. Music will be provided by Frances Castellano and group. Please call Felice Gurule at 505-929-2955 or the parish at 505-753-3345 for more information.

Monday, January 23, 2017,  5:30 pm, at Immaculate Conception Church, 619 Copper Ave. NW, Albuquerque. Prayer Vigil for Earth, part of the 100 Prayer Events within 100 hours of Inauguration sponsored by New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017,  6:00 pm, the Annual Taizé Ecumenical Prayer Service at the Santuario de Chimayó. The service will take place in the Santo Niño Chapel on the Santuario grounds. Please call 505-689-2404 for more information.

Wednesday, January 25, 6:30 pm a Bilingual Ecumenical Prayer Service at Camino de Vida Presbyterian Church, 3907 Isleta Blvd SW Albuquerque, N.M. Please call New Mexico Conference of Churches, 505 243-6234

Bishop Jim Gonia

Sunday, January 29, 3 pm, Prayer Service. Archbishop John C. Wester of Archdiocese of Santa Fe and Bishop James Gonia, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. Luke Lutheran Church, 9100 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque. The liturgy will highlight the agreements that have been reached through 50 years of dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans on topics such as the Church, Ministry and the Eucharist. Members of local Lutheran and Catholic parishes also will share in leading the service. People of all faith traditions are welcome and rostered ministers of all faith traditions are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is green.