The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday, 13 December, the third Sunday in Advent. 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:

“At this time, we find ourselves deeply conscious of the challenges that we still face and yet also of the hope that lies on the horizon. It is as if we have journeyed through a time of darkness and deep uncertainty with no seeming end in sight. Then, even as darkness seemed set to engulf us once more, a light has dawned and has brought hope to the world and to the community of all peoples.

“In the past we have prayed:

Lord, we pray for scientists and researchers;
For those seeking to understand the challenge we face;
For those creating potential vaccines;
For those advising decision-makers.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

“Notwithstanding the challenges we still face, we give thanks to God for those who have created the vaccines that have the potential to restore life to the communities of which we are all a part.

“As we continue on in our Advent journey, we hear of a witness who has come ‘to testify to the light’. The light is not yet with us but the messenger comes to bear witness to the ‘true light’ of God that will soon break into our world. (John 1: 6-9) Even now, the light breaks on the horizon for the light of God is coming into our world once more.”

We pray:

Lord, we are your people who have journeyed in darkness
And who long to see your light once more.
We are those who have journeyed through hard times
And who long to see life and community renewed.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, we give thanks for scientists and researchers
And for those who have created the vaccines that give hope to the world.
We pray for the just sharing of these precious gifts
And for the renewal of life in every nation.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, we are those who journey on
Towards the horizon where light shall surely break.
We journey in times where we are distanced
And trust that in time the distance shall be overcome.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, we pray for those who care for the living
And for the dying.
We pray for the bereaved and for the bereft
And ask that you would draw near to them in your compassion.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, we are those who have heard
Of the true light that is coming into the world.
We ask that we might become your messengers
And bear witness to Jesus Christ, the light of God that is 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. 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, 13mh dhen Dùbhlachd, ùrnaigh aig 7f

Aig an àm seo, tha sinn mothachail air an dà chuid na dùbhlain a tha romhainn fhathast agus air an dòchas a chì sinn air faire. Tha e mar gun robh sinn a’ siubhal ann an oidhche gun chrìoch, agus nuair a bha an dorchadas gar cuairteachadh gu teann, nochd solas dealrach, a’ toirt dòchas dhan t-saoghal gu lèir.

B’e ar n-ùrnaigh:

A Thighearna, tha sinn ag ùrnaigh airson luchd-saidheans agus luchdrannsachaidh;
airson na feadhna a tha a’ feuchainn ris na dùbhlain a tha romhainn a thuigsinn;
airson na feadhna a tha a’ feuchainn ri banachdach a chruthachadh;
airson na feadhna a bheireas comhairle do riaghaltasan.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A dh’aindeoin nan dùbhlain a tha romhainn fhathast, tha sinn a’ toirt taing do Dhia airson na feadhna a chruthaich na banachdaichean gus slàinte a neartachadh agus beatha a dhìonadh.
Fhad ’s a thèid sinn air adhart air turas na h-Aidbheinne, tha sinn a’ cluinntin mu neach-fhianais a thàinig “airson fianais a thoirt mun t-solas.” Chan eil an solas againn fhathast, ach tha an teachdaire air tighinn gus fianais a thoirt
dhuinn gu bheil “an solas fìor, a tha a’ soillseachadh a h-uile neach, a’ tighinn dhan t-saoghal.” (Eòin 1: 6 – 9). Tha solas a’ nochdadh air faire, tha beul an latha a’ tighinn, tha solas Dhè a’ tighinn a-steach dhan t-saoghal a-rithist.

Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:

A Thighearna, ’s e do shluagh a th’ annainn, sluagh a bha a’ siubhal ann an dorchadas,
agus aig a bheil miann do sholas fhaicinn a-rithist.
Tha sinn air a bhith a’ siubhal tro làithean doirbhe,
agus tha miann againn beatha ar coimhearsnachd a lorg as ùr.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Thighearna, tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut airson luchd-saidheans agus luchdrannsachaidh,
airson na feadhna a chruthaich na banachdaichean a tha a’ toirt dòchas dhan tsaoghal gu lèir.
Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh gum bi torradh an cuid obrach air a roinneadh gu cothromach,
gus slàinte a nearthachadh agus beatha a dhìonadh anns gach tìr.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Thighearna, tha sinn fhathast a’ siubhal, le dòchas daingeann gun tig an latha.
Tha sinn air ar sgapadh on a chèile, ach tha earbsa againn gun tig sinn còmhla a-rithist.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Thighearna, tha sinn ag ùrnaigh airson na feadhna a fhrithealas do na tha beò,
agus do na tha dlùth don bhàis.
Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh airson na feadhna a chaill luchd an gràidh, airson na feadhna a tha fo bhròn,
agus tha sinn ag ùrnaigh gum bi thu ri an taobh.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Thighearna, tha sinn air chluinntinn mun t-solas a tha a’ tighinn a-steach dhan t-saoghal.
Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh gum bi sinn nar teachdairean,
a’ toirt fianais mu Ìosa Crìosd, solas Dhè 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 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)