Today on Easter Sunday, the Scottish Episcopal Church joins again with other churches and many thousands of people in Scotland in a Call to Prayer at 7pm, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Thirteen Christian churches and organisations across the country are taking part in the joint prayer for the third consecutive week, with many of those joining together also lighting candles. The prayer appears below, in English and in Gaelic.
The Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus, said: “As the Resurrection is proclaimed, the light of Christ is seen lighting up our lives across our land.”
The churches in Scotland have issued a letter with this week’s prayer. It reads:
“We are deeply conscious that we are approaching the moment in time which is the source of the resurrection hope of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. With all God’s people, we shall hear it announced on Easter Sunday morning: ‘The Lord is risen!’ Our response will be: ‘He is risen indeed!’
“Alongside this, we are deeply conscious that our society is facing a challenge whose depth and scale we are only truly beginning to comprehend. The challenge that the disciples faced on the first Easter Sunday was to comprehend the significance of the resurrection of our Lord, and thereafter to bear witness to that in the world of their day. Our calling is to do the same, by bearing witness through acts of love and compassion.”
A prayer for Easter Sunday
Lord, it feels as if we’ve been walking in the Good Friday shadow of the cross;
feeling disorientated, concerned and filled with heartache;
praying for healing for those poorly, whether government leader or more personally known; and comfort for those bereaved;
expressing thanks for the selfless dedication of NHS staff, those delivering social care, and everyone ensuring that essential services and supplies are maintained, in company with those who volunteer.
Lord, as we journey on, help us now to embrace the dawning Easter joy of the cross;
encountering, like the first disciples, the transforming wonder of Christ’s resurrection;
accepting, like the first disciples, that it may take time to comprehend the reality of Easter;
reflecting new life through words and deeds. Hear us, and journey with us, in the name of the risen Christ. Amen.’
Signed by:
Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
Rt. Rev. Colin Sinclair, 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)
Gairm gu ùrnaigh: Latha na Sàbaid, 12mh dhen Ghiblean, ùrnaigh aig 7f (Latha NA Càisge)
Fhad ’s a nì sinn fiughair ri Latha na Càisge, tha sinn a’ tilleadh dhan mhòmaid ann an eachdraidh far a bheil sinn a’ lorg bunait dòchas na h-Eaglaise, aiseirigh ar Tighearna Ìosa Chrìosd. Maille ri sluagh Dhè uile, cluinnidh sinn e air madainn na Càisge: Tha an Tighearna air èirigh! Agus freagraidh sinn: Tha e air èirigh gu deimhinne.
Aig an aon àm, tha fhios againn gu bheil dùbhlannan romhainn a tha doirbh ri thugsinn. B’ e an dùbhlan a bha aig na deisciobail air a’ chiad Latha na Càisge a bhith a’ tuigsinn fìor-bhrìgh aisèirigh ar Tighearna, agus as dèidh sin a bhith a’ toirt fianais dhan t-saoghal anns an latha aca fhèin. Tha a’ ghairm cheudna againn andiugh, ann a bhith a’ toirt fianais ann an gràdh agus truas.
Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:
A Thighearna, tha e a’ faireachdainn dhuinn mar gu bheil sinn a’ coiseachd ann an sgàil a’ chrainn-cheusaidh. Tha sinn a’ faireachdainn caillte, iomaganach agus fo bhròn.
Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh gum faigh nan uile a tha tinn leigheas.
Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh gum faigh nan uile cofhurtachd a chaill an luchd-gràidh.
Tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut airson obair dhìleas luchd-obrach an NHS, airson nan uile tha a’ lìbhrigeadh cùraimh shòisealta, airson nan uile a tha a’ cumail seirbheisean riatanach a’ ruith, agus airson nan uile a tha ag obair gu saorthoileach.
A Thighearna, cuidich sinn gus aoibhneas na Càisge a mhothachadh.
Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh gum bi sinne, mar a bha na deisciobail, a’ coimhead air iongantas aiseirigh Chrìosd, agus ag aithneachadh gu bheil e ag atharrachadh a huil nì; agus tha sinn ag aithneachadh gum faodadh e bhith greis gus a tha sinn a’ tuigsinn brìgh na Càisge, mar a bha e do na deisciobail.
Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh gun tig an tuigse sin thugainn, agus bhon tuigse sin, gum fàs beatha ùr nar facail, nar smuain agus nar gnìomharan.
A Thighearna, cluinn ar n-ùrnaigh, a tha sinn a’ tabhainn suas nad ainm agus air do sgàth.
Amen
Soidhnichte:
Am Fìor Urramach Marcus Strange, Primus as leth Colaiste nan Easbaigean, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba
An Ceart Urramach Cailean Mac na Ceardaich, 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 ri chèile ann an Alba (MECTIS)
