The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday 13 September in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those joining together in prayer will also light candles. English and Gaelic versions of the prayer are available below.
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:
“‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’. The language of forgiveness is integral to the Lord’s Prayer and to the rhythm of the Christian life. Forgiveness is integral to our relationship with the God who forgives and grants to us the possibility of a new beginning. In response, we are called to forgive others. Forgiveness speaks to us about the renewal of relationships that have been broken. In so doing, it takes us to a place where pain has been experienced and healing is necessary. The word of forgiveness offers the possibility of healing and renewal.
“The Apostle Peter asks a question that many of us have asked: Are there limits on the number of times you have to forgive? The question is a good one to ask because, humanly speaking, forgiveness is not easy. In response, Jesus tells a parable about mercy and forgiveness and the summary of it is that; we should forgive from the depth of our heart because we have been forgiven from the depths of the heart of God. (Matthew 18: 21-35)”
We pray:
God of forgiveness,
We thank you that love abides in the depths of your heart
And that you will to forgive us through Jesus Christ.
Knowing this to be so, we cry out to you.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of forgiveness,
We thank you that you know our hearts
And that you accept us as we are.
We turn to you in the hope of forgiveness.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of forgiveness,
We thank you that your promise is sure
And that there is forgiveness with you.
We embrace you, knowing that you have already embraced us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of forgiveness,
Create in us a pure heart,
That we might love more deeply all who are made in your image.
As we have been embraced by you, we embrace the world of your creation.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of forgiveness,
May love abide in our hearts as it abides in the depths of your heart.
As we have been forgiven through Jesus Christ,
May we celebrate this gift in the company of all your people.
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. 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, 13mh dhen t-Sultain, ùrnaigh aig 7f
‘Maith dhuinn ar fiachan, amhail mar a mhaitheas sinne dar luchd-fiach’. Tha maitheanas aig cridhe Ùrnaigh an Tighearna, agus aig cridhe na beatha Crìosdaidh. Tha maitheanas aig cridhe ar dàimh leis an Dia a dheònaicheas dhuinn maitheanas agus cothrom gus tòiseachadh as ùr. Agus mar sin, tha sinn air ar gairm gus mathaineas a thoirt do dhaoine eile. Is ann tro mhaitheanas a bhios sinn ag ath-nuadhachadh dàimhean a chaidh am bristeadh. Agus mar sin, bidh maitheanas ann far an robh pian agus far a bheil feum air slànachadh. Bidh facal a’ mhaitheanais a’ tairgsinn dhuinn cothrom slànachaidh agus cothrom ath-nuadhachaidh.
Chuir an t-Abstol Peadar an ceist air Ìosa a bhios sinn uile a’ cur air aig amannan: dè cho tric ’s a bheireas sinn maitheanas do dhaoine a pheacaich nar n-aghaidh? ’S e ceist mhath a th’ ann, oir chan e rud furasta a th’ ann am maitheanas. Mar fhreagairt, dh’innis Ìosa dha cosmhalachd air tròcair agus maitheanas, agus is brìgh na sgeòil gum bu chòir dhuinn maitheanas a thoirt gu saor agus gu h-iomlan, oir b’e sin a rinn Dia an toiseach air ar sgàth (Mata 18: 21 – 35).
Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:
A Dhè a’ mhaitheanais,
Tha sinn a’ togail taing dhut airson do ghràidh iomlain,
agus airson do mhaitheanais a fhuair sinn tro Ìosa Chrìosd.
Le earbsa nad ghràdh agus nad mhaitheanas, tha sinn a’ glaodh riut.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè a’ mhaitheanais,
Tha sinn a’ togail taing dhut, oir is aithne dhut sin gu h-iomlan,
agus gu bheil thu a’ gabhail rinn mar a tha sinn.
Tha sinn a’ tionndadh riut, ag guidhe gun deònaich thu do mhaitheanas dhuinn.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè a’ mhaitheanais,
Tha sinn a’ togail taing dhut, oir tha do ghealladh earbsach,
agus tha maitheanas ri lorg annad.
Tha sinn a’ dlùth-gabhail riut, le fios gun do ghabh thu rinn mar-thà.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè a’ mhaitheanais,
cruthaich annainn cridheachan glan,
gus am bi gràdh nas iomlaine againn air gach aon a rinneadh nad iomhaigh fhèin.
Mar a ghabh thu rinn, gabhamaid ri do chruthachadh gu lèir.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè a’ mhaitheanais,
Deònaich gum mair gràdh nar cridheachan, mar a mhaireas e nad chridhe fhèin.
Agus mar a fhuair sin maitheanas tro Ìosa Chrìosd,
gum biodh sinn a’ mealtainn an tìodhlaic seo maille ri do shluagh gu lèir.
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 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)
