The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday 16 August in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those joining together in prayer, which appears in English and Gaelic below, 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 message, church leaders in Scotland said:

“Occasionally, when we purchase something, we change our mind and we return our purchase. However, over these last months that regular feature of the shopping experience has become somewhat more challenging. If this is so, the result might be that we stay with the decision we have made and choose not to change our mind.

“The apostle Paul writes that ‘the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable’. (Romans 11: 29) God has made a choice and that choice is to call the people of God into being and to make a covenant with them. Having made that choice, the mind of God does not change. God remains faithful to the covenant and to the covenant promise renewed through Jesus Christ. Knowing this to be so, we turn with confidence to the faithful God.”

We pray:

Faithful God,
You have called us to be the people of God.
We thank you that your calling remains and abides.
Make us faithful to your calling at this present time.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Faithful God,
You are the God who makes a covenant with your people.
We thank you that you remember us even when we forget you.
Remember us today and all who journey in hard places.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Faithful God,
Your gifts to us are many and without number.
We thank you for the gift of life
And the gift renewed through Jesus Christ.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Faithful God,
You are merciful and gracious and you abound in steadfast love.
When all around us seems to shift and uncertainty prevails,
We search for you and discover again that you are ever present.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Faithful God,
You are the God who breaks down the dividing wall
And makes us one in Christ Jesus.
Grant to us the strength to overcome division and renew our common life.
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. 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, 16mh dhen Lùnastal, ùrnaigh aig 7f

Uaireannan, nuair a cheannaicheas sinn rudeigin, bidh sinn ag atharrachadh ar n-inntinn agus a’ dol air ais dhan bhùth leis na ceannaich sinn. Ach anns na mìosan a chaidh seachad, chan eil fiù ’s rudan sìmplidh mar sin air a bhith furasta dhuinn, agus mar sin, ma dh’fhaoidte, bidh sinn a’ cumail oirnn leis na cheannaich sinn an toiseach, gun a bhith a’ faighinn rudeigin ùr na àite.
Sgrìobh an t-Abstol Pòl gu bheil “tiodhlacan is gairm Dhè gun atharrachadh” (Ròmanaich 11: 29). Rinn Dia roghainn, agus b’ e a roghainn sluagh dha fhèin a thoirt gu bhith, agus cùmhnant a dhèanamh leotha. Agus chan atharrachaidh e a bheachd. Tha Dia fhathast dìleas dhan chùmhnant seo, agus do ghealladh a’ chùmhnaint air a stèidheachadh a rithist tro Ìosa Crìosd. Cuireamaid ar nearbsa anns an fhìrinn seo, agus dèanamaid ùrnaigh dhan Tighearna:

A Dhè dhìleis,
Ghairm thu sinn gu bhith coisrigte mar shluagh dhut fhèin.
Tha sinn a’ togail taing dhut, oir tha do ghairm a’ mairsinn fhathast, fìor agus foirfe.
Deònaich gun lean sinn do ghairm gu dìleas an-diugh.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè dhìleis,
Is tusa an Dia a rinn cùmhnant le do shluagh.
Tha sinn a’ togail taing dhut, oir tha thu a’ cuimhneachadh oirnn, fiù ’s nuair a dhìochuimhneachas sinn thu.
Cuimhnich oirnn an-diugh, orra-san uile a tha a’ siubhal air rathaidean doirbh.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè dhìleis,
Cha ghabh do thiodhlacan dhuinn an cunntadh.
Tha sinn a’ togail taing dhut airson tiodhlac na beatha,
a fhuair sinn as ùr bho Ìosa Crìosd.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè dhìleis,
Tha thu tròcaireach agus gràsmhòr, agus pailt ann an coibhneas gràidh.
Nuair a tha gach rud mu thimcheall oirnn ag atharrachadh agus mì-chinnteach,
lorgaidh sinn thu, agus chì sinn gu bheil thu earbsach, seasmach an còmhnaidh.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè dhìleis,
Is tusa an Dia a bhriseas sìos am balla, gar buachailleachd cruinn còmhla ann an Ìosa Crìosd.
Deònaich dhuinn an leirsinn gus crìoch a chuir air sgaradh agus strì, agus
beatha ùr fhaighinn ann an càirdeas le càch a chèile.
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 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)