The Scottish Episcopal Church joins again with other churches and many thousands of people in Scotland in a Call to Prayer at 7pm on Sunday [3 May], in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thirteen Christian churches and organisations across the country will take part in the joint prayer to the Good Shepherd who watches over us in this time of uncertainty.

Many of those joining together will also light candles at the time of prayer, which appears below in English and in Gaelic.

In a joint message, church leaders said: “In these challenging days: Is there anyone watching over us who really understands who we are and what we are experiencing at this time?

“The imagery of the Lord as Shepherd and of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd is woven into the heart of Scripture. The resonance of the ancient, yet immediately present, words of the Psalmist can be sensed, such that even now we can hear those words in the very depths of our being: ‘The Lord is my Shepherd…Even though I walk through the darkest valley…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me’. (Psalm 23) The imagery is taken up in the Gospel of John where the Good Shepherd watches over us and calls us by our name. He does so because he knows us and knows what we are experiencing at this time. (John 10) Jesus said: ‘I am the good shepherd’.”

And so we pray:

Good Shepherd, watch over us today
In all we face and experience.
Never leave us or forsake us
And journey with us always.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, you know us
As no-one else knows us.
Guard us and keep us,
As you guard and keep those whom we love.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, we pray for the sick and the lonely;
For the anxious and the bereaved;
For those whose pain is beyond our comprehension.
We stand with them and commend them to your care.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, we pray for the carers in hospitals and in homes
And for all who serve the needs of others.
May the example of living compassion
Inspire us in our care for others.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, you know the depths of our heart
And the fears which are ours.
Speak into the depths of our heart
And calm our fears.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, you know us by our name
And our identity is not hidden from you.
Gather us to yourself as a Shepherd gathers the sheep,
That we might know your Name.
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. Colin Sinclair, 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. Dr David Pickering, 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. Jim Ritchie, 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)

Gairm gu ùrnaigh: Latha na Sàbaid, an 3mh dhen Chèitean, ùrnaigh aig 7f

Anns na làithean dùbhlanach seo, a bheil tì sam bith a’ coimhead oirnn, agus a’ tuigsinn ann an da-rìreadh na tha sinn a’ faireachdainn aig an àm seo?

Tha dealbh againn aig cridhe nan Sgriobtar dhen Tighearna, ar Buachaille, agus Ìosa Crìosd, am Buachaille Math.  Tha sinn a’ faireachdainn brìgh iongantach nam facal aig Daibhidh – faclan aosmhor, ach fhathast beò nar cridhe – Is e Dia fhèin as buachaill dhomh… Sheadh, fòs ged ghluaisinn eadhon trìd ghlinn dorcha sgàil’ a bhàis… leanaidh math is tròcair rium. (Salm 23).  Tha an aon dealbh againn ann an Soisgeul Eòin, agus am Buachaill Math gar glèidheadh agus gar gairm le ar ainmean fhèin.  Bidh e a’ dèanamh na nìthean seo oir is aithne dha sinn, agus is aithne dha an èiginn anns a bheil sinn.  Thuirt Ìosa, Is mise am buachaille math (Eòin 10).

Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:

A Bhuachaille Mhaith, glèidh sinn an-diugh,
anns gach nì a tha romhainn.
Na fàg agus na trèig sinn,
ach bidh maille rinn an-còmhnaidh.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
eìst ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Bhuachaille Mhaith, tha thusa nas eòlaiche oirnn,
na neach sam bith eile.
Dìon sinn agus glèidh sinn,
Agus dìon agus glèidh luchd-ar-gràidh.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Bhuachaille Mhaith, tha sinn ag ùrnaigh air an son-san a tha tinn agus aonaranach,
air an son-san a tha iomaganach no a’ caoineadh,
air an son-san a tha fo fhulangas thar ar tuigse.
Tha sinn nar seasamh rin taobh, agus ag iarraidh do chobhair orra.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Bhuachaille Mhaith, tha sinn ag ùrnaigh airson luchd-obrach ann an ospadalan agus taighean-curaim,
agus air an son-san uile a tha frithealadh feumalachdan chàich.
Deònaich gum biodh eisimpleir an co-fhaireachadh
gar brosnachadh gus curaim a thoirt do ar coimhearsnaich.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Bhuachaille Mhaith, is aithne dhut ar cridheachan gu builleach,
agus is aithne dhut an t-eagal a tha oirnn.
Labhair nar cridheachan
agus cur às ar n-eagail.
A Thighearna na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Thighearna, is aithne dhut cò sinn,
chan eil ar fèin-aithne falaichte bhuat.
Cruinnich sinn thugad fhèin, mar a tha Buachaille a’ cruinneachadh a chaoraich,
gus an aithne sinn d’Ainm-sa.
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 Cailean Mac na Ceardaich, 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 Daibhidh Pickering, 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 Jim Ritchie, 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 ri chèile ann an Alba (MECTIS)