The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday 15 November, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those joining together in prayer, which appears in English and Gaelic below, 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 message, church leaders in Scotland said:
“‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ In the Gospel of Matthew, these words are spoken to the servants who have wisely used the talents entrusted to them.
“In our reading of the Parable of the Talents, we remember that the meaning of the word ‘talent’ has subtly changed. Originally, the reference is to a measure of weight and we learn from this that the weight of money entrusted to the servants is considerable indeed. In our contemporary reading, we are more apt to think of ‘talent’ in terms of gift and ability, and we read and mark this subtle distinction carefully. (Matthew 25: 14-30)
“In these unprecedented times, we are conscious of the very considerable investment that has been made in sustaining the community and society of which we are a part. In facing the challenges that are before us, we are again conscious of the work of those who seek, on a daily basis, to renew the health and well-being of our community and society.
“We act with them and pray for them. Indeed, we are all called to use that which has been entrusted to us to serve and bear witness to the love, grace and mercy of God. We do so trusting that, at the last, we shall hear the words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’”
We pray:
Faithful God
And giver of all good gifts,
We thank you for the gift of life entrusted to us
And for the knowledge that we are made in your image.
In these times, may we bear witness to the gift you have given to us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Faithful God
And giver of all good gifts,
We thank you for the gift of family and of friendship
And for the companions who join us on the way.
In the community in which we share, renew the ties that bind us together.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Faithful God
And giver of all good gifts,
We thank you for those who serve within our community and society
And who, by their work, sustain our common life.
In these times, strengthen and renew them in all they do,
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Faithful God
And giver of all good gifts,
We thank you that you call us to serve and to bear witness
To your love, grace and mercy.
In the community of the faithful, may we never forget this calling.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Faithful God
And giver of all good gifts,
We thank you for all those who through their talent,
And by their research, give hope to the world.
In these times, may we share generously the fruit of that hope.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Faithful God
And giver of all good gifts,
We thank you that you reveal your life to us
In the community of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In the life to come, may we hear: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
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. Lindsey Sanderson, 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 15mh dhen t-SAMHAIN 2020 Ùrnaigh aig 7f
“Is math a rinn thu, a sheirbheisich mhaith is dhìleis.” Ann an Soisgeul Mhata, tha na faclan seo air an ràdh do na seirbheisich a chleachd gu glic nan tàlann a chaidh a thoirt dhaibh.
’S e ionad tomhais a th’ ann an tàlann. Tha sinn ag ionnsachadh leis an fhacal seo gu bheil cuideam an airgid a fhuair na seirbheisich mòr dha-rìribh. San là an-diugh, bidh mòran a-smaointinn mun fhacal ‘talent’ sa Bheurla mar thàlant no comas sònraichte, agus tha seo a’ toirt dhuinn smuain eile mun earrainn seo.
Anns na làithean àraid seo, tha fios againn gu bheil uiread mòr de ghoireasan air a chleachdadh gus ar coimhearsnachd a chumail a’ dol. Tha fios againn cuideachd gu bheil daoine bho ar coimhearsnachdan ag obair là gu là gus slàinte agus slàinte-inntinn na coimhearsnachdan sin a bhrosnachadh. Nì sinn ùrnaigh air an sgàth. Gu dearbh, tha sinn air ar gairm gus gach comas a tha againn a chleachdadh ann seirbheis chàich, gus fianais a thoirt seachad mu ghràdh, gràs agus tròcair Dhè. Tha sinn ga dhèanamh le earbsa gun cualamaid air an taobh thall na faclan “Is math a rinn thu, a sheirbheisich mhaith is dhìleis.”
Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:
A Dhè dhìleis,
fear-tabhairt gach nì mhaith,
tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut airson tìodhlac na beatha a thug thu dhuinn, agus airson an eòlais gun deach ar dealbhadh nad ìomhaigh fhèin. Deònaich gum beir sinn fianas
mun tìodhlac a thug thu dhuinn.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè dhìleis,
fear-tabhairt gach nì mhaith,
tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut airson tìodhlacan an teaghlaich agus càirdeas, agus airson na companaich a tha maille rinn air an t-slighe.
Cruthaich as ùr, nar cridheachan, na dàimhean eadarainn.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair, èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè dhìleis,
fear-tabhairt gach nì mhaith,
tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut airson na feadhna a bheireas seirbheis don choimhearsnachd,
a’ cumail taic rinn uile.
Thoir spionnadh agus neart ùr dhaibh anns na làithean seo,
agus bi maille riutha anns gach cas.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè dhìleis,
fear-tabhairt gach nì mhaith,
tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut airson an gairm gus seirbheis a dhèanamh, agus fianais a thoirt mu do ghràdh, mu do ghràs agus mu do thròcair, ann an co-chomann nan creidmheach, gun cuimhneachamaid e gu bràth. A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè dhìleis,
fear-tabhairt gach nì mhaith,
tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut airson nan uile a chleachdas an cuid tàlant agus comasan rannsachaidh gus dòchas a thoirt do chàch.
Deònaich gun gabhamaid pàirt ann an torradh an dòchais sin.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè dhìleis,
fear-tabhairt gach nì mhaith,
tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut, oir tha thu gad fhoillseachadh fhèin dhuinn, ann co-chomann an Athar, a’ Mhic agus an Spioraid.
Anns a’ bheatha a tha ri teachd, gun cualamaid, “Is math a rinn thu, a sheirbheisich mhaith is dhìleis.”
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
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 Lindsey Sanderson, 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 Claire Fender, 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)
