The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday, 7 March, 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:
“During these past months we have become used, or not as the case may be, to living within much more circumscribed and defined spaces. As a consequence, we might well have become more conscious of the locality in which we live. Undoubtedly, the spaces that we inhabit and the places in which we live shape us and mould us. Equally, there are particular places and spaces that we associate with significant events and experiences. Space and place are woven into the rhythm of life.
“In each of the four Gospels there are accounts of the cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem. In the Gospel of John, Jesus journeys to that particular space within that particular locality. (John 2: 13-22) He does so because it is the time of the Passover and the journey he makes is one made in the company of the many thousands who came to Jerusalem at that time. What does Jesus find? He finds that the Temple space has become a “market-place” inhabited by sellers and ‘money-changers’. Those who object to his cleansing of the Temple demand to know: “What sign can you show us for doing this?” In reply, Jesus speaks prophetically of the destruction of “this temple”, by which he means himself, and of being raised “in three days”.
“In this sign, we see the presence of God embodied in the life of Jesus, and his life, located in a particular place and time, opening our horizons to the God who meets us in the place where we are today.”
We pray:
God of Space and Time,
Meet us in the place where we are today.
Meet us in the place where we are
And transform us by the presence of your Son.
In this place, may we encounter the One who embodies your love.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of Space and Time,
Meet us in the place where we are today.
Meet us at the break of day
And be with us in all that lies before us.
In the place in which we live, may we see life renewed.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of Space and Time,
Meet us in the place where we are today.
Meet us in the place of suffering
And bring your healing presence among us.
In the place of suffering, enable us to reach out to those beside us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of Space and Time,
Meet us in the place where we are today.
Meet us in the place of sorrow
And bring your light into our darkness.
In the place of sorrow, may we become bearers of your light.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of Space and Time,
Meet us in the place where we are today.
Meet us in the rhythm of life
And renew hope within us.
In the community in which we live, may we bear witness to the God of hope.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of Space and Time,
Meet us in the place where we are today.
Meet us at the close of day
And be with us through the night.
Keep us safe and bring us to the dawn of a new day.
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. Paul Whittle, 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, 7mh dhen Mhàrt, ùrnaigh aig 7f
Thairis air a’ bhliadhna seo chaidh, tha sinn air a bhith a’ fàs cleachdte ri bhith air ar cuingleachadh. Ma dh’fhaoidte gu bheil sinn a’ fàs nas mothachaile air na sgìrean anns a bheil sinn a’ fuireach. Gun teagamh, tha na h-aiteachean anns a’ bheil sinn beò a’ dealbhadh ar beatha, a’ cumadh ar tuigse. Agus tha àiteachan ann a tha ceangailte nar cuimhne ri tachartasan agus rudan a fhiosraich sinn. Tha àiteachan ar cuimhne fighte a-steach ann am ruitheam na beatha.
Tha sinn a’ leughadh anns na Soisgeulan cunntasan falmhachadh an Teampaill ann an Ierusalem. Ann an Soisgeul Eòin, chaidh Ìosa dhan àite àraidh sin anns a’ bhaile àraidh sin. (Eòin 2: 13 – 22). Rinn e sinn oir bha e faisg air àm Caisg nan Iùdhach, agus mar sinn chaidh e suas gu Ierusalem maille ri na mìltean a thàinig don bhaile aig an àm sin. Dè a lorg Ìosa? Lorg e, seach àite-ùrnaigh agus àite-adhraidh, àite-margaidh air a lìonadh le marsantan agus iad a’ reic an cuid bathair agus ag iomlaid airgid. Thuirt an fheadhainn a bha an aghaidh falmhachadh seo an Teampaill, “Dè an comharradh mìorbhaileach a tha thu a’ sealltainn dhuinn mar dhearbhadh air na rudan seo a tha thu a’ dèanamh?” Agus fhreagair Ìosa le fàidheadaireachd, a’ bruidhinn air sgrios “an teampaill seo” – a’ ciallachadh a chuirp fhèin – agus mu aiseirigh “ann an trì latha”.
Anns a’ chomharra seo, chì sinn làthaireachd Dhè air a foillseachadh ann am beatha Ìosa. Chì sinn a bheatha, ann an àite àraidh agus ann an àm àraidh, a’ fuasgladh ar lèirsinn gus am faic sinn far a bheil Dia, a tha a’ tighinn gar coinneachadh.
Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:
A Dhè a chruthaich gach àite agus gach tìm,
Thig gar coinneachadh anns an àite far a bheil sinn an-diugh.
Thig gar coinneachadh far a bheil sinn
agus atharraich sinn le làthaireachd do Mhic.
Anns an àite seo, deònaich gum faigh sinn eòlas air do ghràdh gu h-iomlan.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè a chruthaich gach àite agus gach tìm,
Thig gar coinneachadh anns an àite far a bheil sinn an-diugh.
Thig gar coinneachadh aig beul an latha,
agus bi maille rinn anns gach càs.
Anns an àite far a bheil sinn, deònaich gum faic sinn beatha a’ fàs as ùr.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè a chruthaich gach àite agus gach tìm,
Thig gar coinneachadh anns an àite far a bheil sinn an-diugh.
Thig gar coinneachadh far a bheil fulangas
agus deònaich dhuinn slànachadh do làthaireachd.
Far a bheil fulangas, leig leinn comhfhurtachd a chur.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè a chruthaich gach àite agus gach tìm,
Thig gar coinneachadh anns an àite far a bheil sinn an-diugh.
Thig gar coinneachadh far a bheil bròn
agus deònaich dhuinn do sholas nar dorchadas.
Far a bheil bròn, leig leinn solas a chur.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè a chruthaich gach àite agus gach tìm,
Thig gar coinneachadh anns an àite far a bheil sinn an-diugh.
Thig gar coinneachadh ann an ruitheam na beatha
agus deònaich dhuinn dòchas as ùr.
Anns a’ choimhearsnachd far a bheil sinn,
deònaich gun toir sinn fianais mud dheidhinn, a Dhè ar dòchais.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè a chruthaich gach àite agus gach tìm,
Thig gar coinneachadh anns an àite far a bheil sinn an-diugh.
Thig gar coinneachadh aig beul na h-oidhche,
agus bi mille rinn tron oidhche.
Glèidh sinn, agus thoir sinn slàn gu solas na camhanaich ùire.
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 Pòl Whittle, 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)