The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Remembrance Sunday, 8 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:
“The season of Remembrance invites us, at one and the same time, to look back and to look forward. As we look back, we recall those who have gone before us and, on a broader scale, the human tragedies that have scarred our world. The tragedy of human conflict continues to scar the lives of so many at this time and so our act of remembrance has an immediate resonance in present times. As we look forward, we affirm the living hope that is founded in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In affirming this hope, we resolve to live our lives shaped by that hope and so our resolve has an immediate resonance in present times. Remembrance of the past and hope for the future shape our lives in the present.
“In the Gospel of Matthew, we hear of what it is to live as those who pray ‘thy Kingdom come’ and who anticipate the coming of the Kingdom. Jesus said: ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.’ (5: 43-45 a)) In these challenging times, we are invited to embrace the teaching of Jesus anew and to live in the present as those whose lives are shaped by ‘the life of the world to come’.”
We pray:
Living God,
We come before you
To look back and to remember.
In our remembrance,
We give thanks for the lives of those who have gone before us
And who have shaped the world in the light of your Kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
We come before you
To look forward and to affirm
The hope founded in the resurrection our Lord Jesus Christ.
May we journey hopefully in these times
And live lives shaped in the light of your Kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
We come before you
To remember those whose lives have been scarred
By past conflicts.
Grant to us grace to live as peacemakers
And strength to break down the barriers of division.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
We come before you
As we journey forward
And face the challenges of our times.
Grant to us that we may live
As those whose lives are shaped by the life of the world to come.
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, 8mh dhen t-Samhain, ùrnaigh aig 7f
“Aig Àm a’ Chuimhneachaidh, bidh sinn a’ coimhead an dà chuid air ais agus air adhart. A’ coimhead air ais, chì sinn an fheadhainn a chaidh romhainn, agus gu sònraichte an sgrios uabhasach a thàinig le cath ’s cogadh. Tha iomadh neach an-diugh fhathast a’ fulang air sgàth cogaidh, agus mar sin tha ar cuimheachadh an-diugh a’ toirt urram dhaibhsan cho math ris an fheadhainn a dh’fhalbh. A’ coimhead air adhart, tha sinn a’ cur ar n-earbsa agus ar dòchas ann an aiseirigh ar Tighearna Ìosa Chrìosd. Mar sin, tha ar beatha air an dealbhadh le cuimhneachadh air na thachair roimhe, agus dòchas air na tha fhathast ri thighinn.
“Ann an Soisgeul Mhata, leughaidh sinn na tha e a’ ciallachadh a bhith beò mar an fheadhainn a ghuidheas air an Tighearna, “gun tigeadh do Rìoghachd”, agus a tha beò ann an dòchas teachd na Rìoghachd. Thuirt Ìosa, “Chuala sibh gun deach a ràdh, ‘Gràdhaichidh tu do choimhearsnach’ agus fuathaichidh do nàmhaid. Ach tha mise ag ràdh ribh, Gràdhaichibh ur nàimhdean agus dèanaibh ùrnaigh air an son-san a tha a’ dèanamh geur-leanmhainn oirbh, airson ’s gum bi sibh nur cloinn dhur n-Athair a th’ air nèamh.” (Mata 5: 43 – 45). Anns na h-amannan doirbh seo, gabhamaid as ùr ri teagasg Ìosa, agus bitheamaid beò mar dhaoine air an dealbhadh le “beatha an t-saoghail a tha ri teachd.”
Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:
A Dhè bheò,
tha sinn a’ tighinn fa do chomhair
gus coimhead air ais agus a’ cuimhneachadh,
agus gus taing a thoirt dhan fheadhainn a chaidh romhainn
agus a dhealbhaich an saoghal ann an solas do Rìoghachd.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè bheò,
tha sinn a’ tighinn fa do chomhair,
gus coimhead air adhart agus ar n-earbsa a chuir
anns an dòchas a tha againn ann an aiseirigh ar Tighearna Ìosa Chrìosd.
Gun rachamaid air adhart gu dòchasach an-diugh,
le ar beatha air a dhealbhadh ann an solas do Rìoghachd.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè bheò,
tha sinn a’ tighinn fa do chomhair,
a’ cuimhneachadh an fheadhainn a chaidh an leònadh
ann an corp agus inntinn ann an cogaidhean ann an eachdraidh.
Deònaich dhuinn an gràs a bhith nar luchd-dèanamh na sìthe,
agus an neart gus na ballaichean a sgaras sinn a leigeil sìos.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè bheò,
Tha sinn a’ tighinn fa do chomhair,
agus dùisgidh sinn gach là
deiseil airson na duilgheadasan a tha romhainn.
Deònaich gum bitheamaid beò,
le ar beatha air a dhealbhadh le solas an t-saoghail a tha ri teachd.
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 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)
