The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday, 22 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 imagery of the shepherd is woven into our understanding of the way in which the living God cares for us: ‘I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flocks when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep.’ (Ezekiel 34: 11-12) These words speak to us and resonate in the depths of our soul. They do so because they speak to our longing to know that, in all we face, God watches over us and searches for us when we are lost. The words speak to us, especially in difficult times, and resonate profoundly in days of darkness.

“The times in which we live are difficult indeed and dark for many. At such a time as this, we still ourselves and listen for the voice of the One who calls us by our name. The Shepherd calls us by our name, even in the darkest of times, and comes to journey with us. The Shepherd journeys until, in God’s good time, the darkness yields to the promise of the One who comes to reign as King forever.”

We pray:

Good Shepherd,
Speak to us at this time
And hear us when we call to you.
Answer our call
And come to journey with us.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Good Shepherd,
Search for us when we are lost
And gather us safely into your presence.
Speak to the depths of our fears
And still our anxious hearts.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Good Shepherd,
Stand with us in the midst of these times
And do not forsake us.
Search for the lonely and the anxious
And embrace them in your love.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Good Shepherd,
Strengthen us when we stumble
And renew us when we are weak.
Stand with all who are made in your image
And who reflect your goodness.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Good Shepherd,
Support us when we suffer
And bring healing when we are wounded.
Strengthen us that we might strengthen others
And be with them in all we face together.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Good Shepherd,
Speak once more to our hearts
And offer us vision and hope for days to come.
Go before us Shepherd King
And lead us into the future that you hold in your hands.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

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, 22mh dhen t-Samhain, ùrnaigh aig 7f

“Nuair a smaoineachas sinn air cùram Dhè oirnn, gu tric ’s e ìomhaigh a’ bhuachaille a chì sinn nar n-inntinn: “Oir mar seo tha an Tighearna Dia ag ràdh, Feuch, lorgaidh mise, mise fhèin, mo chaoraich, agus iarraidh mi a-mach iad. Amhail a lorgas aodhair a-mach a threud, anns an là anns am bi e am measg a chaorach a chaidh a sgapadh; mar sin iarraidh mise mo chaoraich fhèin, agus saoraidh mi iad as a h-uile àite gus an robh iad air an sgaradh, anns an là neulach agus dhorcha.” (Eseciel 34: 11 – 12) ’S e faclan prìseil, cumhachdach a tha seo. Tha iad ag innse dhuinn gu bheil Dia a’ sireadh agus a’ tèarnadh an nì sin a bha caillte, teachdaireachd air a bheil sinn feumach ann an làithean dorcha.

“Agus tha sinn beò ann an làithean a tha fìor dhorcha do mhòran. Ann an làithean mar seo, tha againn ri bhith sàmhach fad greis, ag èisteachd ri guth an Aoin a ghairmeas oirnn le ar n-ainm. Bidh am buachaille gar gairm le ar n-ainm, fiù ’s anns na làithean as doirche. Bidh e a’ siubhal maille rinn air an t-slighe, agus leanaidh e air an t-slighe sin gus am bris an latha agus an teich na sgàilean a-rèir toil an Rìgh.”

Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:

A Bhuachaille Mhaith,
labhair rinn an-diugh,
agus èist rinn nuair a ghairmeas sinn ort.
Èist ri gaoir do shluaigh,
agus bi maille rinn air an t-slighe.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna, na do ghràs, èist rinn.

A Bhuachaille Mhaith,
sir sinn nuair tha sinn caillte,
agus cruinnich sinn gu sàbhailte nad làthaireachd.
Labhair rinn nar n-eagal
agus thoir comhfhurtachd dhuinn nar n-iomgain.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna, na do ghràs, èist rinn.

A Bhuachaille Mhaith,
seas ri ar taobh anns na làithean dorcha seo
agus na trèig sinn.
Lorg nan uile a tha aonranach agus iomagaineach,
agus dlùth-ghabh riutha nad ghràdh.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna, na do ghràs, èist rinn.

A Bhuachaille Mhaith,
deònaich dhuinn neart nuair a thuislicheas sinn,
deònaich dhuinn spionnadh nuair a tha sinn fann.
Seas ri taobh nan uile a chaidh an dealbhadh nad ìomhaigh,
agus a dh’fhoillseachas do mhaitheas.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna, na do ghràs, èist rinn.

A Bhuachaille Mhaith,
deònaich dhuinn taic nuair tha sinn a’ fulang
agus slànachadh nuair tha sinn air ar leònadh.
Neartaich sinn gus an neartaich sinn ar coimhearsnaich
agus gus an seas sinn rin taobh anns gach càs.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna, na do ghràs, èist rinn.

A Bhuachaille Mhaith,
labhair nar cridheachan a-rithist,
agus deònaich dhuinn lèirsinn agus dòchas airson nan làithean a tha ri teachd.
Bi romhainn air an t-slighe, o Bhuachaille, o Rìgh,
agus treòraich sinn dhan àirigh a dh’ullaich thu dhuinn.
A Thighearna, èist rinn.
A Thighearna, na do ghràs, èist rinn.

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)