The Scottish Episcopal Church and 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 below, will also light candles. The prayer is available below in both English and Gaelic.
In a joint message, church leaders in Scotland said:
“To whom do we turn to find the answers to the many difficult questions that now confront us? The questions of the day are many and there are seldom easy answers to be found. In part, the challenge we face is how to live with the difficult questions whilst continuing to seek honest answers.
“In the Gospel of John, Jesus is recorded as having been asked difficult questions to which he then gave honest answers. The consequence of these answers is that some of those who had previously followed him began to turn back. In turn, Jesus asks his twelve closest disciples if they also wish ‘to go away’. With characteristic boldness, Peter answers: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life?” (John 6: 68) In following Jesus, we soon discover that many of the difficult questions still remain. In continuing to follow Jesus, we recognise by faith that he is the One through whom God reconciles the difficult questions and continues to offer to us the gift of life.”
We pray:
Living God,
Who reconciles all things through Christ,
We come to you
With the questions of the day.
We come that we might find One who will listen
And who will embrace our concerns.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Who reconciles all things through Christ,
We come to you
To seek answers to the questions of life
And we come in the company of others.
Grant that we may hear you speak amidst the clamour of the day.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Who reconciles all things through Christ,
We come to you
With the hard questions
And those that defy our attempts to resolve.
Grant us grace to live with the hard questions at this time.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Who reconciles all things through Christ,
We come to you
-For you have the words of eternal life.
Grant us grace to believe
And to know that you are the Holy One of God.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Signed by:
Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
Rev. Dr David Miller, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
Rev. Neil MacMillan, 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. Ruth Turner, 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 Lùnastal, ùrnaigh aig 7f
“Càite an tèid sinn gus freagairtean a lorg air na ceistean a tha againn anns na làithean seo? Tha na ceistean pailt, ach ‘s gann gun lorg sinn freagairt furasta. Tha e na dubhlan dhuinn freagairtean firinneach a shireadh ged a tha na ceistean doirbhe seo againn.
“Leughaidh sinn ann an Soisgeul Eòin gun do chuir daoine ceistean cruaidh air Ìosa agus gun tug e freagairtean firinneach dhaibh. Mar thorradh air sin thrèig cuid e a bha deònach a leantainn roimhe. Mar sin, dh’fhaighnich Ìosa air an dà fhear dheug, “Am bu toil leibhse falbh cuideachd?” Fhreagair Sìmon Peadar gu dàna, mar bu nòs dha, “A Thighearna, cò thuige a thèid sinn? Is ann agadsa a tha faclan na beatha sìorraidh.” (Eòin 6: 68). Le bhith a’ leantainn Ìosa, chì sinn gu bheil ceistean cruaidh ann fhathast. Le bhith a’ leantainn Ìosa, chì sinn tro chreideamh gur esan an Tì a rèiteachas ar ceistean le tiodhlac faclan na beatha.”
Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:
A Dhè bheò
a rèiteachas a h-uile sìon tro Chriosd,
tha sinn a’ tighinn thugad
le ceistean ar latha.
Tha sinn a’ sireadh an Tì a dh’èisteas rinn
agus aig a bheil cuimhne oirnn nar n-iomgain.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè bheò
a rèiteachas a h-uile sìon tro Chriosd,
tha sinn a’ tighinn thugad
a’ sireadh fuasgladh do cheistean na beatha, agus tha sinn a’ tighinn maille ri feadhainn eile.
Deònaich gun cluinn sinn thu tro ghleadhraich an latha.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè bheò
a rèiteachas a h-uile sìon tro Chriosd,
tha sinn a’ tighinn thugad
leis na ceistean cruaidh,
an fheadhainn nach tèid am fuasgladh leinn fhìn.
Deònaich dhuinn gràs gus na ceistean sin a ghiùlan.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.
A Dhè bheò
a rèiteachas a h-uile sìon tro Chriosd,
tha sinn a’ tighinn thugad
oir is ann agadsa a tha faclan na beatha.
Deònaich dhuinn gràs gus ar creideamh a chur annad,
agus deònaich gum bifios againn gur thusa Tì Naomh Dhè.
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 Morair Uallas, Moderàtor Àrd-Sheanadh Eaglais na h-Alba
Am Fìor Urramach Leo Cushley, Àrd-Easbaig Chill Rìmhinn agus Dùn Èideann
An t-Urramach Oll. Daibhidh Miller, Eaglais Shaor Aonaichte na h-Alba
An t-Urramach Niall MacMhaoilein, Moderàtor, an Eaglais Shaor
An t-Urramach Pòl Whittle, 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 Tòmas R. Wilson, Cathraiche, Caidreachas Co-thionalach ann an Alba
Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Rùnaire na h-Alba, Feachd na Slàinte
An t-Urramach Rut Nic an Tuairneir, Àrd-Neach-Stiùiridh Roinn-Dùthcha, Eileanan Bhreatainn, Eaglais an Nàsaraich
Adwao Bittle, Comann nan Caraidean (Cuagairean)
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)