The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer on Sunday at 7pm, 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:

“The imagery of the ‘shepherd’ is woven into Scripture and offers to us a picture of how God relates to us. When we read the words of Jesus in the Gospel: ‘I am the good shepherd’ they create in our mind’s eye a picture of the One who ‘lays down his life for the sheep’ in order that we might be shielded and guarded. The ‘good shepherd’ lays down his life because he knows those whom he cares for. In similar fashion, those who are cared for know who the ‘good shepherd’ is and they listen for his voice. (John 10: 11-18)

“The imagery is nurtured by the words of Psalm 23 which, especially when paraphrased and sung, resonate deeply in the hearts of many:

The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green: he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear none ill:
For thou art with me; and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me:
And in God’s house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.

“When we strip away all that clouds and confuses us in this life, there remains that which abides forever: the Good Shepherd who will journey with us into the deepest depths and who will lead us safe home.”

We pray:

Lord our God,
We listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd,
For he is the One who will guard us and keep us
And lead us safe home.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God,
We listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd,
For he has spoken to us throughout all our days
And still he speaks, even amidst the clamour of the day.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God,
We listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd,
For he has nurtured and provided for us
And lifted us up, even when we have fallen.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God,
We listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd,
For he is the One who has laid down his life for us
In order that we might have life, even in the face of darkness.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God,
We listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd,
For your goodness and mercy still follows us
And you shall lead us safe home, even at the end of our days.
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, 25mh dhen Ghiblean, ùrnaigh aig 7f

“Tha ìomhaigh a’ bhuachaille ri faicinn gu tric anns na Sgrìobtairean, agus tha e a’ sealltainn dhuinn nàdar an dàimh eadar sinn fhèin agus Dia. Nuair a leughas sinn faclan Ìosa san t-Soisgeul, “Is mise am buachaille math”, tha sinn a’ faicinn le sùil na h-inntinne am fear a leigeas a bheatha sìos airson nan caorach, gus am bi sinn air ar dìonadh. “Leigidh am buachaille math a bheatha sìos” oir is aithne dha an fheadhainn a tha fo a chùram. Anns an aon dòigh, is aithne don fheadhainn sin cò am buachaille math, agus èistidh iadsan ri a ghuth. (Eòin 19: 11 – 18)

“Chì sinn an ìomhaigh phrìseil seo ann an Salmh 23, Salm air a bheil sinnuile eòlach, agus a tha sinn uile air a sheinn iomadh uair:

Is e Dia fhèin as buachaill dhomh,
cha bhi mi ann an dìth.
Bheir e fa-near gun laighinn sìos
air cluainean glas’ le sìth.

Seadh, fòs ged ghluaisinn eadhan trìd
ghlinn dorcha sgàil’ a’ bhàis,
Aon olc no urchuid a theachd orm
chan eagal leam ’s cha chàs.

Ach leanaidh math is tròcair rium,
an cian a bhios mi beò;
Is còmhnaicheam an àros Dhè,
ri fad mo rè ’s mo lò.

“Nuair a tha sinn a’ coimhead tro sgothan agus trioblaidean na beatha seo, chì sinn na tha a’ mairsinn: am Buachaille Math a thèid maille rinn air an t-slighe, eadhon trìd ghlinn dorcha sgàil’ a bhàis, gar treòrachadh dhachaigh gu sàbhailte.”

Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:

A Thighearna ar Dia,
Tha sinn ag èisteachd ri guth a’ Bhuachaille Mhaith,
oir is esan an Tì a dhìonas agus a ghlèidheas sinn,
agus a threòraicheas sinn dachaigh gu sàbhailte.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Thighearna ar Dia,
Tha sinn ag èisteachd ri guth a’ Bhuachaille Mhaith,
oir is esan an Tì a labhair rinn fad ar làithean gu lèir,
agus tha e a’ labhairt rinn fhathast, fiù ’s tro ùpraid an latha a th’ ann.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Thighearna ar Dia,
Tha sinn ag èisteachd ri guth a’ Bhuachaille Mhaith,
oir is esan an Tì a bheathaich sinn le Fhreasdal,
agus a thog sinn a-rithist nuair a thuit sinn.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Thighearna ar Dia,
Tha sinn ag èisteachd ri guth a’ Bhuachaille Mhaith,
oir is esan an Tì a leig sìos a bheatha air ar son,
gus am bi beatha againn, agus beatha na lànachd.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Thighearna ar Dia,
Tha sinn ag èisteachd ri guth a’ Bhuachaille Mhaith,
oir leanaidh math is tròcair rinn,
agus treòraichidh tu sinn dachaigh gu sàbhailte, fiù ’s air ceann ar latha.
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 Dòmhnall G. Dòmhnallach, Moderàtor, an Eaglais Shaor
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)