The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday 26 July in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those joining together in prayer, which appears below in English and in Gaelic, will also light candles.

Churches Together In England continue to pray each Sunday at 7pm and are using the hashtag #prayersofhope to share the message on social media.

In a joint statement, church leaders in Scotland said:

In a recent conversation, a minister suggested that ‘we Christians have no immunity from the struggles and suffering of a broken world.’

He’s right.

But this is also true; that God is with us, no matter what we’re facing. The God we worship is not an absentee landlord, a disinterested bystander. Indeed Christian faith is built on the truth that the very opposite is true – that God is with us. Immanuel.

By prayer and practice, the Church is called to give expression to this key aspect of our belief system. When the Church prays for the world and when the Church cares for the world, the Church makes clear that God is with us in the world.

That’s been true throughout the pandemic and remains true as we begin to plot our course forward, considering what ‘building back better’ might look like. May it be that we remain on our knees before God, the better to know and trust Him.

We pray:

Most High God, you are far above us and beyond our knowing. And yet in Jesus you came among us and you are here.
With glad and grateful hearts, we praise you.

Ever faithful God, when waves threaten to overwhelm us and when fire is burning all around us, still you are with us. There is no point at which you run for cover or leave us to manage on our own.
With glad and grateful hearts, we praise you.

Guiding God, you are a lamp for our feet, a light for our path. In uncertain times, with so much that is unknown and unknowable, go before us, we pray, that being attentive to your voice we might sense your leading.
With glad and grateful hearts, we praise you.

Eternal God, there is much that is transient in our experience; we ourselves flourish as flowers and then are gone. But You, Lord, are without beginning or end; the same yesterday, today and forever. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on you and to lay up for ourselves treasure in heaven which shall not be subject to decay or destruction.
With glad and grateful hearts, we praise you.

Loving God, in all things we marvel at your goodness and long only to see you more clearly and to know you more nearly. Put salt on our lips, then, that we might thirst for you more.
With glad and grateful hearts, we praise you.

In Christ’s name, AMEN.

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. 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)
Rev Fred Drummond, Director, Evangelical Alliance (Scotland)

Gairm gu ùrnaigh: Latha na Sàbaid, 26mh dhen Iuchar, ùrnaigh aig 7f

O chionn goirid thuirt ministear àraidh nach eil sinn, mar Chrìosdaidhean, saor o strìbhean agus fulangasan saoghal briste. Bha e ceart.

Ach tha e fìor cuideachd gu bheil Dia còmhla rinn, anns gach càs. Chan e Tighearna gun ùidh, no Rìgh fuar fada às a tha sinn a moladh. Seadh, is e bunait ar creideimh gu bheil Dia còmhla rinn ann an darìreabh, Emanuel.

Is e dleastanas na h-eaglaise an fhìrinn seo fhoillseachadh ann an ùrnaigh agus gnìomh. Nuair a tha an Eaglais ag ùrnaigh airson an t-saoghail, nuair a tha an Eaglais a’ gabhail cùram ris an t-saoghal, tha an Eaglais a’ dearbhadh gu bheil Dia còmhla rinn anns an t-saoghal.

Tha sin air a bhith fìor tro làithean a’ ghalair, agus tha e fìor fhathast a-nis, agus sinn a’ smaoineachadh air an rathad a romhainn, a’ beachdachadh air saoghal as fheàrr a thogail, agus cò ris a bhios sin coltach. Gum biomaid uile a’ cumail oirnn ann an ùrnaigh, ag earbsa ann, agus a’ faighainn eòlas nas pailte air.

Deànamaid ùrnaigh:

A Dhè as àirde, tha thu fada os ar cionn, agus os cionn ar tuigse. Ach ann an Ìosa thàinig thu nar measg, agus tha thu an-seo.
Le cridheachan làn aoibhneis agus taingealachd, tha sinn gad mholadh.

A Dhè uile-earbsaich, nuair a tha gair nan tonn a’ bagairt oirnn, agus teine a’ losgadh mu thimcheall oirnn, tha thu fhathast ri ar taobh. Cha tig latha anns an trèig thu sinn, chan fhàg thu sinn nar naonar.
Le cridheachan làn aoibhneis agus taingealachd, tha sinn gad mholadh.

A Dhè a threòraicheas sinn, is lochran thu dar casan agus is solas thu dar ceum. Ann an làithean mìchinnteach, bi romhainn air an t-slighe, tha sinn ag guidhe ort, gus an lean sinn do ghuth agus do stiùireadh.
Le cridheachan làn aoibhneis agus taingealachd, tha sinn gad mholadh.

A Dhè shìorraidh, tha iomadh rud ann nach mair ach fad greis. Tha sinn fhèin mar fhlùraichean an achaidh: a’ fàs an-diugh, a’ seargadh a-màireach. Ach tha thusa, a Thighearna, gun toiseach no crìoch, an Tì ceudna an-dè, an-diugh agus gu sìorraidh. Deònaich gum bi sinn a’ coimhead riut-sa ancòmhnaidh, a’ taisgeadh ionmhasan air nèamh dhuinn fhèin, far nach dèan an leòmann agus a’ mheirg sgrios agus nach eil mèirlich a’ brisdeadh a-steach.
Le cridheachan làn aoibhneis agus taingealachd, tha sinn gad mholadh.

A Dhè uile-ghràdhaich, tha sinn a’ gabhail iongantais ri do mhaitheis, agus is e ar miann eòlas nas doimhne agus nas pailte a chuir ort. Deònaich gum bi acras is pathadh do làithearachd ancòmhnaidh oirnn.
Le cridheachan làn aoibhneis agus taingealachd, tha sinn gad mholadh.

Ann an ainm Chrìosd, Amen.

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 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 còmhla ann an Alba (MECTIS)
An t-Urramach Fred Drummond, Stiùiriche, Caidreachas Soisgeulach (Alba)