Hopes for Christian unity

Madam, - Should this letter find its way to the Letters page of your paper, the 2004 week of prayer for Christian unity will …

Madam, - Should this letter find its way to the Letters page of your paper, the 2004 week of prayer for Christian unity will have passed into history.

May I make a few observations? It's a service to which I look forward with great expectancy, but I can't help feeling that we the laity find ourselves unprepared for this special event.

May I suggest that in future the opportunity be taken to explain well in advance to our various congregations the implications of this annual event. We need to encourage greater participation, and let the world know that we are taking Christ's words seriously when He said "My peace I give to you" (the text chosen for this years service by the Christian Churches of the city of Aleppo in Syria). - Yours, etc.,

WESLEY J. BECK, Dungar, Roscrea, Co Tipperary.