The Scottish Episcopal Church is again joining church groups across Scotland in asking Christians to join in prayer at 7pm this Palm Sunday evening.

For the past two Sundays, thousands of Christians across the country answered the call to pray at the same time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week’s prayer is available again in English and Gaelic.

A joint statement from the SEC and 13 other Christian organisations across Scotland says:

“As we continue to live through this time of trial, we sense an ever renewed Call to Prayer. We are not alone in hearing this call. Rather, it is a Call being heard and responded to across the nations of our island and across the nations of our world. This being so, we invite you to pray in solidarity with others at 7pm on Sunday 6th April, which is Palm Sunday. We offer a prayer at this time.”

Living God, for the precious gift of life that you have given to us,
We give you thanks.
For the enduring presence of your love in this world,
We give you thanks.
For the knowledge that you are with us at the close of the day,
We give you thanks.

On this day, we hear the Gospel words that speak of hope,
We hear the cry: Hosanna!
We hear the Gospel words that speak of promise,
We hear the cry: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
On this day, we journey in hope as we trust in your promise.

Lord, as we journey into the Holy Week to come,
We are conscious that we share in the life of the world.
We are conscious of the presence of those who are near to us,
And of those from whom we are apart.
Whether near, or far, embrace us all in your love.

Lord, we are conscious of others,
Whose life and work is woven into the fabric of our society,
And upon whom we now depend.
We pray for them:

For delivery drivers and posties,
For bin men and cleaners,
For police officers and care workers,
Protect them and keep them safe.

For nurses and doctors,
For scientists and surgeons,
For midwives and ambulance drivers,
Protect them and watch over them.

For those who govern on our behalf,
For those who make decisions that impact upon us all,
For all who shape our common life,
Protect them and increase their wisdom and understanding.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
And grant us faith to journey into the week to come,
Assured of the presence of the crucified and risen Lord,
Jesus 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)
Rev. Donald G. MacDonald, Moderator, Free Church of Scotland

Gairm gu ùrnaigh: Latha na Sàbaid, 6mh dhen Ghiblean, ùrnaigh aig 7f (Didòmhnaich Tùrnais)

“Ann an uair na h-àmhghair seo, tha sinn a’ faireachdainn gairm ùr gu ùrnaigh.  Chan eil sinn idir nar n-aonar ann a bhith a’ cluinntinn na gairme seo, ach tha daoine a cluinntinn agus a’ freagairt seo air feadh na dùthcha, agus eadhan air feadh an t-saoghail.  Mar sin, tha sinn gur cuireadh gu ùrnaigh ann an co-chomann ri chèile aig 7f air Latha na Sàbaid, 6mh dhen Ghiblean, Didòmhnaich Tùrnais. ’S e seo ar n-ùrnaigh aig an àm seo.”

A Dhè bheò, tha sinn taingeil dhut airson tìodhlac luachmhor na beatha a thug thu dhuinn.
Tha sinn taingeil dhut airson làithearachd mhaireannach do ghràidh anns an t-saoghal seo.
Tha sinn taingeil dhut airson an eòlas a tha againn gu bheil thu maille rinn aig beul na h-oidhche.

Air an latha seo, agus sinn a’ cluinntinn faclan an t-Soisgeil a’ labhairt rinn le dòchas an cois.
Tha sinn a’ cluinntinn a’ ghairm: Hosanna!
Tha sinn a’ cluinntinn faclan an t-Soisgeul a’ labhairt rinn le gealladh an cois,
Tha sinn a’ cluinntinn a’ ghairm: Beannaichte gun robh an Tì a thig ann an ainm an Tighearna!
Air an latha seo tha sinn a’ siubhal ann an dòchas agus a’ cur ar n-earbsa na do ghealladh.

A Thighearna, aig toiseach na Seachdaine Naoimh a tha romhainn, tha sinn mothachail gu bheil sinn mar phàirt de bheatha an t-saoghail.
Tha sinn a’ faireachdainn làithearachd na feadhainn a tha faisg oirnn, agus na feadhainn a tha dealaichte bhuainn.
Doirt a-nuas do ghràdh oirnn uile, iadsan a tha faisg oirnn, agus iadsan a tha fada bhuainn.

A Thighearna, tha sinn a’ smaoineachadh orrasan uile a tha ri saothair ann an obair a tha cudromach dhan choimhearsachd air fad,
agus air a bheil sinn eisimeileach.
Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh air an son uile:

airson dràibhearan-lìbhrigidh agus luchd-puist,
airson luchd-sgudail agus luchd-glanaidh,
airson luchd-poilis agus luchd-cùraim,
Dìon iad uile, agus cùm iad sàbhailte.

Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh airson nursaichean agus dotairean,
airson luchd-saidheans agus lannsairean,
airson mnathan-glùine agus dràibhearan nan carbadan-èiginn.
Dìon iad uile, agus coimhead orra-san.

Tha sinn ag ag ùrnaigh air an son aig a bheil ùghdarras,
air an son a tha a’ dèanamh co-dhùnaidhean a tha bhualas oirnn uile agus air ar beathannan gu lèir.
Dìon iad, agus meudaich an cuid gliocais agus tuigse.

A Thighearna, na do thròcair, èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh. Tabhair dhuinn creideamh airson na seachdainne a tha romhainn, ann an làthaireachd an Tighearna Ìosa Chrìosd, a chaidh a cheusadh agus a dh’èirich a-rìthist.
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)
Un t-Urramach Dòmhnall G. MacDhòmhnaill, Moderàtor, Eaglais Shaor na h-Alba