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:
“Jesus prays for those who follow him. It can be put no more simply or profoundly: Jesus prays for those who follow him. In the Gospel of John, we see that Jesus prays for those who have been his followers and disciples and he does so as he comes to the end of his earthly ministry. Jesus has given to his followers all that he has received from the Father and now he must leave them to live in the world as witnesses to the truth. In the light of this, Jesus prays for them and asks for their protection: ‘And now I am no longer in the world…Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.’ (John 17: 6-19)
“We pray, in the light of the Ascension of our Lord and in anticipation of the gift of the Holy Spirit, with the assurance that as we do so; Jesus prays for us. As we come nearer, we trust, to the end of the restrictions that have characterised these past months, we pray in the knowledge that Jesus continues to pray for those who follow him in this world.”
We pray:
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you for all that we have received from your hand.
We thank you for the life you have given to us
And your presence with us in all we face.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you for all that we have received from your Son.
We thank you that he has prayed for us
And that he continues to uphold us in all we face.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you that you watch over us and protect us.
Watch over us as we continue the journey we have taken in past months
And protect us in days to come.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you that you watch over and protect this world.
Watch over us as we give thanks for the gift of Creation
And enable us to better care for the world you have entrusted to us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you that your Son is Risen and Ascended.
We join with the community of all your people
And anticipate the outpouring of your Holy Spirit.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you that your Risen and Ascended Son prays for us once more.
We join with all your people in every place
And ask that you might renew us by your Holy Spirit.
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. Thomas R. Wilson, 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, 16 dhen Chèitean, ùrnaigh aig 7f
“Bidh Ìosa ag ùrnaigh as leth a luchd-leantainn. ’S e fìrinn shimplidh agus dhomhain a th’ ann: bidh Ìosa ùrnaigh as leth a luchd-leantainn. Ann an Soisguel Eòin, nuair a bha Ìosa a’ tighinn gu ceann a mhinistrealachd air an talamh rinn e ùrnaigh as leth a luchd-leantainn agus a dheisciobail gu lèir. “Tha mi air na briathran a thug thusa dhomh a thoirt dhaibh,” thuirt e, gan teagasg ann an slighean na fìrinne agus an t-solais. Agus mar sin dh’iarr e air Athair an dìonadh: “Chan eil mise tuilleadh anns an t-saoghal… Athair naoimh, cùm iadsan nad ainm, a tha thu air a thoirt dhòmhsa, airson ’s gum faod iad a bhith nan aon mar a tha sinne.” (Eòin 17: 6 – 19)
“Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh, ann an solas Deasghabhail ar Tighearna, agus a’ dùileachadh an Spioraid Naoimh, leis a’chinnteachd seo: gu bheil Ìosa ag ùrnaigh air ar son. Fhad ’s a tha na cuingealachaidhean a tha air a bhith oirnn air an togail beag air bheag, tha sinn ag ùrnaigh le cinnt gu bheil Ìosa ag eadar-ghuidhe as leth a luchd-leantainn.”
Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:
A Dhè, Athair ar Tighearna Ìosa Crìosd,
tha sinn taingeil dhut airson gach beannachd a fhuair sinn bhuat.
Tha sinn taingeil dhut airson na beatha thug thu dhuinn,
agus airson do làthaireachd anns gach càs.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè, Athair ar Tighearna Ìosa Crìosd,
tha sinn taingeil dhut airson gach beannachd a fhuair sinn od Mhac.
Tha sinn taingeil gu bheil e air ùrnaigh a dhèanamh air ar son,
agus gu bheil e fhathast gar togail suas anns gach càs.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè, Athair ar Tighearna Ìosa Crìosd,
tha sinn taingeil dhut airson gach beannachd a fhuair sinn bhuat.
Tha sinn taingeil dhut airson na beatha thug thu dhuinn,
agus airson do làthaireachd anns gach càs.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè, Athair ar Tighearna Ìosa Crìosd,
tha sinn taingeil dhut oir tha thu a’ dèanamh fàire air an t-saoghal gu lèir.
Nì fàire oirnn, agus sinn a’ toirt taing dhut airson a’ Chruthachaidh,
deònaich dhuinn gliocas gus aire nas fhèarr a thoirt air an t-saoghal a thug thu dhuinn.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè, Athair ar Tighearna Ìosa Crìosd,
tha sinn taingeil dhut oir tha do Mhac air èirigh agus chaidh a thogail suas.
Maille ri do shluagh gu lèir, tha sinn ga mholadh agus a’ feitheamh air tìodhlac do Spioraid Naoimh.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè, Athair ar Tighearna Ìosa Crìosd,
tha sinn taingeil dhut, oir tha do Mhac, a dh’èirich o na mairbh agus gu nèamh, fhathast ag eadar-ghuidhe air ar son.
Maille ri do shluagh gu lèir, tha sinn a’ guidhe ort gun doirt thu a-nuas oirnn ath-nuadhachadh agus ath-neartachadh trod Spiorad Naomh.
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 Tòmas R. Wilson, 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)