Tom Ryan reflects on a hidden blessing during this time of the pandemic in which in-person discussions and dialogues are side-lined, leaving us to look within through prayer for unity.

In this era of church decline, John Armstrong proposes that we not curse the darkness but light a candle, becoming missionary disciples who pray and work for unity.

If we get a gut feeling that someone might be troubled, we need to trust our intuition, step out of our comfort zone, and ask if they are okay, says Linda Pacha. Someone’s life may depend on it.

• National Workshop on Christian Unity, April 12-15 – The theme is “Abide in my love … you shall bear much fruit.” Online Network meetings will take place on Monday aft with opening prayer service in the eve. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, there will be devotions followed by the three plenaries at noon EDT/9am PDT. To register, go to nwcu.org.

• “Words of Comfort, Prayers for the People” – As we grieve the milestone of over 550,000 deaths due to COVID-19 in the United States, the National Council of Churches offers a prayer service, “Words of Comfort, Prayers for the People,” to help sustain and encourage you during this time of mourning and continued struggle due to the pandemic. Watch “Words of Comfort, Prayers for the People” on Facebook or on YouTube.  You are invited to add your own prayer in the comments for the video or share your prayer on social media using #ATIME2MOURN.

• Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity: A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During COVID-19 and Beyond, the most recent fruit of World Council of Churches’ long-standing collaborative partnership with the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

• 54th International Ecumenical Seminar 2021, July 5-10  – online event due to pandemic. Modern societies are pluralistic – not only, but also, in a religious sense. The three great monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam in particular often occur within the same countries and live together. Register by April 15.

• CADEIO Institute for Interreligious Leadership is also “going virtual” this summer. The Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers’ Summer Institute for Interreligious Leadership offers formation in Church teaching, overviews of various dialogues and conversations with people of many faiths: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism and the Bahai faith. There will be presentations and discussion daily from 1-4:30pm, Tuesday 7 July – Friday  10 July, and Monday 13 July – Friday 17 July.  The cost to participants will be $250. If you have any questions, contact Fr. Don Rooney [email protected]

• New 2022 date decided for WCC 11th Assembly as “opportunity to deepen visible unity.”   The executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has approved a new date for the WCC 11th Assembly, which will now be held in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August – 8 September 2022. Originally planned for 2021, the event was postponed for one year because of the gravity and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.