The Scottish Episcopal Church again comes together with churches across Scotland this weekend to encourage Christians to join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A letter calling for prayer has been co-signed by 14 Christian churches and organisations.

Many of those joining together in prayer, which appears below in English and in Gaelic, 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 accompanying this week’s prayer, Scottish church leaders said:

“We live in challenging times. In truth, the challenge of these times is one that continues. However, the nature of that challenge has changed. In this present moment, we reflect on where we are now and this allows us to begin to try to understand the past months. Equally, we have the opportunity to anticipate what is to come.

“In the Letter to the Romans (6: 1-11), the Apostle Paul reflects on the foundation of the Christian life which is our sharing in the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a consequence, the life we live now is one shaped by the present reality of sharing in the life of Christ. As we journey together in the gradual exit from Lockdown, we do so in the sure knowledge that we share in the life of the Risen Christ.”

We pray:

Faithful God, we thank you
That you are present with us now
As we share in the life of the Risen Christ.
Continue to be present with us we ask.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God who inspires faith, we thank you
That you have been with us
In times of anxiety and uncertainty.
Keep watch over our memories of the past.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Faithful God, we thank you
That you will be with us
In the days that are to come.
Journey with us in the days that lie before us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God who inspires faith, we thank you
For the life of your Son
Who for our sakes embraced human form.
May his life shape our lives in these present times.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Faithful God, we thank you
For the reassurance that you are merciful and gracious
And that your love abounds.
In your compassion, remember us and those whom we love.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God who inspires faith, we thank you
For the knowledge that you will be with us
In all that we now face.
Go before us and provide for us we ask.
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, 21mh dhen Ògmhios, ùrnaigh aig 7f

Tha sinn beò ann an làithean dùbhlanach, ged a tha nàdar an dùbhlain air atharrachadh.  Faodaidh sinn feuchainn ri bhith tuigsinn na mìosan a dh’fhalbh le bhith a’ meòrachadh air an stàid sa bheil sinn an-dràsta. Tha cothrom againn, cuideachd, a bhith cnuasachadh air an àm ri teachd.

Anns an Litir do na Ròmanaich (6: 1 – 11), tha an t-Abstol Pòl a’ beachdachadh air clach-bhunn na beatha Crìosdaidh, eadhon bàs agus aiseirigh an Tighearna Ìosa Chrìosd.  Air sgàth sin,  tha ar beatha air a dealbhadh uile gu lèir le Crìosd, ann a bhith a’ fantainn ann-san a-mhàin.  Fhad ’s a  tha sinn a’ tighinn, beag air bheag, a-mach às a’ ghlasadh-sluagh, tha sinn làn chinnt gu bheil an Crìosd Beò a’ dol romhainn air an t-slighe.

Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:

A Dhè Dhìleis, tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut,
oir tha thu maille rinn an-diugh,
agus tha sinn a’ guidhe ort, a Chrìosd Bheò,
gum bi thu maille rinn a-ghnàth.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè a dhùisgeas ar creideamh,
tha sinn taingeil dhut oir tha thu air a bhith maille rinn,
tro làithean trioblaideach agus mì-chinnteach.
Cùm nar cuimhne do ghràs dhuinn anns na làithean a dh’fhalbh.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè Dhìleis, tha sinn taingeil dhut,
oir bidh thu maille rinn fhathast
anns na làitheana tha ri teachd.
Siùbhail maille rinn anns na làithean a tha romhainn.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè a dhùisgeas ar creideamh,
tha sinn taingeil dhut airson beatha do Mhic,
a thug air fhèin nàdar na daonnachd.
Deònaich gum bi a bheatha-san a’ dealbhadh ar beathannan anns an latha a th’ ann.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè Dhìleis, tha sinn taingeil dhut
airson an t-ath-mhisneachaidh a tha tha sinn a’ lorg
nad thròcair, nad ghràs agus do ghràdh ro-phailt.
Nad thruas, cuimhnich oirnn agus air luchd ar gràidh.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè a dhùisgeas ar creideamh,
tha sinn taingeil dhut
airson an eòlais gum bi thu maille rinn,
anns gach càs a tha romhainn.
Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh gun tèid thu romhainn agus gun dìon thu sinn.
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)