January 18: Winnie the Pooh Day

A. A. Milne's stories were prompted by these, the original Winnie the Pooh and friends.

Alan Alexander Milne, author of the Winnie the Pooh stories, among others, was born on January 18, 1882, so now we can all celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day every January 18. So what should you do? Here are some options:

• Read your favorite Winnie the Pooh story.
• Watch your favorite Winnie the Pooh movie.
• Draw or color some pictures of Pooh and his friends.
• Have your own party with milk, toast, and plenty of honey.
• Cuddle with your favorite stuffed animal or teddy bear.
• Explore the nearest Hundred Acre Wood with some friends.
• Make up your own story about your dolls and stuffed animals.
• And most importantly, enjoy it!

Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 32:11

January 18*: Week of Prayer For Christian Unity

January 18 kicks of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This great week is just what its name implies — a time of designated prayer “for the unity of the Church as Christ wills it, and in accordance with the means he wills” according to Abbé Paul Couturier of Lyons, France. Many groups participate including most

• Catholic (Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity)
• Orthodox
• Anglicans
• Baptists
• Lutherans
• Methodists
• other members of the World Council of Churches

In the northern hemisphere it is celebrated from January 18, the Feast of the Confession of St. Peter, to January 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. In the southern hemisphere, many churches celebrate this week during Pentecost.

The theme for 2012 is “We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ” from 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.

Please take a moment to pray for the unity of the believers, remembering Jesus’ words in John 17:20-23:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”