The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday, 28 February, as they have done throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Many of those joining together in prayer, which appears in English and Gaelic below, will also light candles.
In a joint message, church leaders in Scotland said:
“There are times in the Gospels when it is clear that the disciples of Jesus have real difficulty in understanding his teaching. On one such occasion, Jesus speaks openly about what lies before him and afterwards Peter ‘took him aside and began to rebuke him’. (Mark 8: 31-32) Peter is clear that death and resurrection are not part of that future and, as he speaks, it is equally clear that he has not yet understood the way that Jesus must take.
“There are times in the past months when all of us have had real difficulty in understanding the challenges faced within our society and across the globe. We have been unclear as to what the future holds and the path to be taken. In all of this, we have not been alone.
“As the Gospel account unfolds, Jesus gathers the crowd around him and invites them to ‘take up their cross and follow me’. (Mark 8: 34) As we journey into the future and follow the path taken by Jesus, we know that we are not alone. We journey in the way of the cross and in the hope of the resurrection.”
God of hope,
Be with us as we journey into the future that lies before us.
Be with us through your Son
Who has journeyed in the way of the Cross.
Grant to us grace and faith that we might follow him.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of hope,
Be with us as we journey into the future that lies before us.
In all we face,
Be near to us, and all whom we love,
And guard us safe in your presence.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of hope,
Be with us as we journey into the future that lies before us.
Be with those who fear this day
And who struggle to see the future.
Lead us from the darkness into your light.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of hope,
Be with us as we journey into the future that lies before us.
Be with those who grieve this day
And who feel bereft of comfort.
In your compassion, be near to them.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of hope,
Be with us as we journey into the future that lies before us.
In all that is faced by our society today,
Grant wisdom, insight and understanding
To those who are called to govern our nation and act on our behalf.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of hope,
Be with us as we journey into the future that lies before us.
Be with us through your Son
Whose journey in the way of the Cross
Yields the hope of the Resurrection.
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. Donnie G. MacDonald, Moderator, 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. Claire Fender, 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 Ghearran, ùrnaigh aig 7f
Chì sinn uair agus a-rithist anns na Soisgeulan gun robh e doirbh do na deisciobail teagasg Ìosa a thuigsinn. Mar eisimpleir, nuair a bhruidhinn Ìosa gu soilleir mu na fulangasan a bha roimhe, “thug Peadar gu aon taobh e is thòisich e ga chronachadh” (Marcus 8: 31 – 32). Bha e soilleir do Pheadar nach robh leithid bhàis agus aiseirigh an dàn do dh’Ìosa, agus tha e ceart cho soilleir dhuinn nach do thuig Peadar na bha aig Ìosa ri dhèanamh.
Tha e air a bhith doirbh dhuinn sa bhliadhna seo chaidh na dùbhlain a tha ro ar nàisean agus ron t-saoghal gu lèir a thuigsinn. Chan eil e soilleir dhuinn dè an rathad as fheàrr dhuinn. Tha an iomgain seo air a bhith oirnn uile.
Chì sinn anns an t-Soisgeul gu bheil Ìosa a’ gairm thuige an sluagh agus ag iarraidh orra gun tog iad suas an crann-ceusaidh agus gun lean iad e (Marcus 8: 34). Tha fios againn nach eil sinn nar n-aonar a’ leanntainn slighe Ìosa. Tha sinn a’ siubhal air slighe a’ chrainn-cheusaidh ann an dòchas na h-aiseirighe.
Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:
A Dhè an dòchais,
Bi maille rinn air an t-slighe do na làithean a tha romhainn.
Bi maille rinn trod Mhac
a chaidh romhainn air slighe a’ chrainn-cheusaidh.
Deònaich dhuinn gràs agus creideamh gus an lean sinn gu dìleas e.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè an dòchais,
Bi maille rinn air an t-slighe do na làithean a tha romhainn.
Bi maille rinn, agus maille ri luchd ar gràidh
anns gach càs.
Treòraich sinn gu sàbhailte nad làthaireachd.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè an dòchais,
Bi maille rinn air an t-slighe do na làithean a tha romhainn.
Bi maille ri gach aon air a bheil eagal,
agus air a bheil iomagain mun àm ri teachd.
Treòraich sinn on dorchadas dod sholas.
A Thigheana, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè an dòchais,
Bi maille rinn air an t-slighe do na làithean a tha romhainn.
Bi maille riutha uile an-diugh a tha ri caoidh
agus a tha feumach air comhfhurtachd.
Na do thruas, bi faisg orra.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè an dòchais,
Bi maille rinn air an t-slighe do na làithean a tha romhainn.
Deònaich gliocas, lèirsinn agus tuigse dhan fheadhainn aig a bheil ùghdarras
anns gach dleastanas a tha aca.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè an dòchais,
Bi maille rinn air an t-slighe do na làithean a tha romhainn.
Bi maille rinn trod Mhac
a chaidh romhainn air slighe a’ chrainn-cheusaidh,
agus a bheireas dhuinn dòchas na h-aiserighe.
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)
