Quick links for Unity Prayer Watch Documents
View the Southern Province Prayer Watch Schedule by clicking here.
View the Unity Prayer Watch Topics by clicking here.
Print a copy of the Unity Prayer Watch bulletin insert by clicking here.
The origins¹ of the Unity Prayer Watch date to the time of the reorganization of the Unitas Fratrum (Moravian Church) in Herrnhut, Germany, and in particular the powerful unifying experience of the Holy Communion service on August 13, 1727. In the days following this awakening a group of men and women decided to establish a “holy watch over the congregation.” This was seen to follow the biblical command to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17) and to reflect the promise of the prophet Isaiah that God would set sentinels on the walls of Jerusalem that would not keep quiet day and night (Isa. 62:6-7). Brothers and sisters signed up so that each one could take one hour of the day or night to pray in his or her room. This prayer watch was known as the “hourly intercession,’ and continued within every Moravian congregation for roughly 100 years, even as the Church grew and spread worldwide.
In 1957, when the Unitas Fratrum celebrated its 500th anniversary, the women’s group of Herrnhut proposed a revival of the hourly intercession for the entire worldwide Church as part of the anniversary year. At Unity Synod that year it was unanimously agreed to reestablish the Unity Prayer Watch on an ongoing basis throughout the entire Church.
The Unity Synod of 2009 reaffirmed this covenant and added new provinces to the list reducing the number of days of responsibility of the Southern Province from previous years. Through the prayer watch, prayer is being offered somewhere in the worldwide Unity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The church has gained a great deal of strength in good times and in times of difficulty through prayer.
We urge the congregations of the Southern Province to participate fully in this effort by establishing continuous prayer throughout the day to which you have been assigned. Consider worship opportunities, special prayer circles, and opportunities for members and friends to pray at home, or special opportunities which include coming to the church to pray during the assigned period of prayer.
Some resources include the Daily Texts for the day, “Hymnal of the Moravian Church” Liturgy of Adoration, pp.18-22; hymns on prayer, pp. 444-468; “Moravian Book of Worship” General 1: Shorter Church Litany, pp. 10-12; Hymns on prayer, pp. 737-750.
Use the prayer watch to:
- Emphasize the importance of prayer in the life of every Christian and every congregation;
- Remember before God one’s personal needs, the needs of your congregation, and the needs of the world; and
- Bring before God the concerns of the worldwide Moravian Church. Our church is located in areas of the world experiencing both challenge, conflict, and significant opportunities for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Reflect prayerfully on these as you follow the enclosed prayer suggestions. We ask God’s blessings as you and your congregation join in this worldwide offering of intercessions!
Grace and peace,
The Provincial Elders’ Conference
The Rev. Dr. Neil Routh, President ▪ The Rev. Christy Clore, Vice President ▪ Mr. Keith Kapp ▪ Andi Williams ▪ Deb Aboudara
The Rev. Dr. Dion Christopher ▪ The Rev. Dr. Riddick Weber
¹ Historical information is adapted from Our Moravian Treasures: A Manual of Topics for Theological Education in
the Unitas Fratrum, © 2017
View the Southern Province Prayer Watch Schedule by clicking here.
View the Unity Prayer Watch Topics by clicking here.
Print a copy of the Unity Prayer Watch bulletin insert by clicking here.
