The effects of physical separation are highlighted in this week’s joint Call to Prayer from churches across Scotland.
The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday 28 June in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many of those joining together in prayer, which appears below in English and in Gaelic, will also light candles.
Churches Together In England continue to pray each Sunday at 7pm and are using the hashtag #prayersofhope to share the message on social media.
In a joint statement, church leaders in Scotland said:
“The experience of these last three months is one that will remain with us for the rest of our days. We will look back and reflect on the significance of it and undoubtedly we shall ask many questions. Integral to that experience for many has been the physical separation between ourselves and our family and those whom we care for. This physical distancing has been necessary in the face of the risks posed by Covid 19. As we see the easing of the restrictions on lockdown, we begin to reconnect and rediscover what it is to welcome one another and to give and receive in a social context.
“Welcoming, giving and receiving are integral to human experience and reflect something of what it is to be made in the image of God. In Matthew’s Gospel (10: 40-42), Jesus reflects upon this and points to the truth that in welcoming one another we potentially welcome the presence of God. In our welcoming of one another, let us renew the relationships that shape our social community and our communion with the living presence of God.”
We pray:
Living God, the God who creates,
You have made us in your image
That, in our giving and receiving,
We might better reflect your image.
For this gift we praise and thank you.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Living God, the God who gives,
Your gift to the world
Is revealed in your Son,
The image of the invisible God.
For the renewing presence of your Son, we praise and thank you.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Living God, the God who renews,
You call us to renew our relationships with one another
That, in so doing,
We might renew our relationship with you.
For the welcome you offer in renewal, we praise and thank you.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Living God, the God who welcomes,
You welcome us when we return to you
Weary and heavy laden.
Receive us as we are and forgive us when we stumble.
For the love we experience as we are welcomed, we praise and thank you.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Living God, the God who loves,
You offer us good gifts
And invite us to receive them.
In response, we offer our lives and all that we are.
For the sure promise of your love, we praise and thank you.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Signed by:
Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
Rt. Rev. Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
Rev. John Fulton, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
Rev. Dr David Pickering, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
Rev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland)
Rev. May-Kane Logan, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland
Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
Adwoa Bittle, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Rev. Jim Ritchie, District Superintendent, British Isles North District, Church of the Nazarene
Pastor Chris Gbenle, Provincial Pastor, Province of Scotland, Redeemed Christian Church of God
Bishop Francis Alao, Church of God (Scotland)/Minority Ethnic Churches Together in Scotland (MECTIS)
Rev Fred Drummond, Director, Evangelical Alliance (Scotland)
Gairm gu ùrnaigh: Latha na Sàbaid, 28mh dhen Ògmhios, ùrnaigh aig 7f
Gu ceann ar beatha, bidh cuimhne againn air na trì miosan seo chaidh. Bidh sinn a’ coimhead air ais, a’ meòrachadh air na thachair, air na bha agus na tha e a’ ciallachadh. Gun teagamh, bidh ceistean againn. Aig cridh a’ ghnothaich, tha sinn air a bhith air ar dealachadh bho ar teaghlaich, bho luchd ar gràidh, rud a bha riatanach ri linn na cunnartan an luib COVID-19. Leis an glasadh-sluaigh a’ leigeil fa sgaoil beag air bheag, bidh sinn a’ faighinn brìgh na fàilte a-rithist, mar gum biodh, ag ionnsachadh a-rithist na tha e a’ ciallachadh a bhith ann an co-chomunn ri ar co-chreutairean.
Tha na rudan seo – fàilte, co-chomunn, càirdeas – aig cridhe ar nàdair mar mhic an duine, agus tha iad a’ foillseachadh dhuinn na tha e a’ ciallachadh nuair a tha sinn ag ràdh gun do rinn Dia sinn na ìomhaigh fhèin. Ann an Soisgeul Mhata (10: 40 – 42), tha Ìosa a’ meòrachadh air a seo, agus air an fhìrinn gu bheil sinn a’ cur fàilte air làthaireachd Dhè nuair a chuireas sinn fàilte air càch a chèile. A chàirdean, nuair a chuireas sinn fàilte air a chèile a-rithist, nach cuireamaid fàilte ath-nuadhaichte cuideachd air coimhearsneachd agus air co-chomunn ann an làthaireachd an Dè bheò.
Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:
A Dhè bheo, a chruthaich a h-uile nì,
rinn thu sinn nad ìomhaigh fhèin,
gus am bi sinn, nar beathannan,a’ foillseachadh d’ ìomhaigh.
Tha sinn a’ toirt molaidh agus taing dhut airson an tìodhlaic seo.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna ghràsmhoir, èist rinn.
A Dhè bheò, a tha a’ tabhairt dhuinn a h-uile nì,
tha do thìodhlac dhan t-saoghal
air fhoillseachadh nad Mhac,
ìomhaigh an Dè neo-fhaicsinnich.
Tha sinn a’ toirt molaidh agus taing dhut airson
làithearachd do Mhic, a tha daonnan air ath-nuadhachadh.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna ghràsmhoir, èist rinn.
A Dhè bheò, a tha ag ath-nuadhachadh a h-uile nì,
tha thu ag iarraidh oirnn ar dàimhean le càch a chèile ath-nuadhachadh,
gus am bi sinn ag ath-nuadhachadh ar dàimh leat fhèin.
Tha sinn a’ toirt molaidh agus taing dhut airson
an fhàilte agus an ath-nuadhachaidh a tha thu toirt dhuinn.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna ghràsmhoir, èist rinn.
A Dhè bheò, a Dhè na Fàilte,
cuiridh tu fàilte oirnn nuair a thilleas sinn thugad,
sgìth agus fo eallach.
Gabh rinn mar a tha sinn, agus tabhair dhuinn do mhaitheanas nuair a thèid sinn air seachran.
Tha sinn a’ toirt molaidh agus taing dhut airson an gràidh a tha sinn a’ faighinn nad fhàilte.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna ghràsmhoir, èist rinn.
A Dhè bheo, A Dhè a’ ghràidh,
tha thu a’ tairgsinn dhuinn tìodhlacan matha,
agus ag iarraidh oirnn ghabhail riutha.
Mar fhreagairt, tha sinn a’ tairgsinn dhutsa ar beathannan uile gu lèir, ar n-inntinnean, ar cuirp, ar spioradan.
Tha sinn a’ toirt molaidh agus taing dhut airson gealladh seasmhach do ghràidh.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna ghràsmhoir, èist rinn.
Soidhnichte:
Am Fìor Urramach Marcus Strange, Primus as leth Colaiste nan Easbaigean, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba
An Ceart Urramach Màrtainn Fair, Moderàtor Àrd-Sheanadh Eaglais na h-Alba
Am Fìor Urramach Leo Cushley, Àrd-Easbaig Chill Rìmhinn agus Dùn Èideann
An t-Urramach Iain Fulton, Moderàtor, Eaglais Shaor Aonaichte na h-Alba
An t-Urramach Daibhidh Pickering, Moderàtor, Eaglais Ath-Leasaichte Aonaichte (Alba)
An t-Urramach Màrtainn Hodson, Àrd-Stiùiriche, Aonadh Baisteach na h-Alba
An t-Urramach Marcus Slaney, Cathraiche Roinn-Dùthcha, Eaglais nam Methodach (Alba)
An t-Urramach May-Kane Logan, Cathraiche, Caidreachas Co-thionalach ann an Alba
Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Rùnaire na h-Alba, Feachd na Slàinte
Adwao Bittle, Comann nan Caraidean (Cuagairean)
An t-Urramach Jim Ritchie, Àrd-Neach-Stiùiridh Roinn-Dùthcha, Eileanan Bhreatainn, Eaglais an Nàsaraich
Aoghaire Chris Gbenle, Aoghaire Roinn-Dùthcha, Mòr-Roinn na h-Alba, Eaglais Chrìosdal air Saoradh le Dia
Easbaig Francis Alao, Eaglais Dhè (Alba)/ Eaglaisean nam mìon-shluagh còmhla ann an Alba (MECTIS)
An t-Urramach Fred Drummond, Stiùiriche, Caidreachas Soisgeulach (Alba)
