The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday 1 November 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:

“As we enter into the season of Remembrance, we are especially conscious of those whose lives have shaped our lives, but who are no longer with us. In one sense, their absence serves to highlight the significance of all that they have given to us. Equally, we recall those who have shaped the life of our Church and of our community and the faith that they have passed on to our generation. The hymn writer captures well the thanksgiving of the Church at this time:

For all the saints, who from their labours rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

“The vision unveiled in the Book of Revelation sees the ‘great multitude…from every nation’ gathered before the throne of God ‘and before the Lamb’. For those who have endured, the Lamb ‘will be their shepherd…and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’. (Revelation 7: 9-17) Our faith invites us to embrace that vision and, in turn, to share the vision with others. In this season of Remembrance, we share the promise of the enduring presence and healing of God.”

We pray:

Living God,
We come to your presence
And we are conscious that we do not come alone.
We come in the company of the saints of God
And the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
We come to your presence
And we remember those who have given life and nurture to us.
We remember those who are no longer with us
And we give thanks for their lives.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
We come to your presence
And we pray for those who have suffered loss at this time.
We ask that they will know the presence
Of the One who will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
We come to your presence
And hear again the promise of your enduring presence.
We ask for ourselves, and for others,
That we might know the promise of healing of God.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
We come to your presence
And we recall the hymns of faith that echo in our hearts.
We lift up our hearts and anticipate the praise of heaven;
Offered to Father, Son and 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. Lindsey Sanderson, 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, 1d dhen t-Samhain, ùrnaigh aig 7f

“Tha Latha a’ Chuimhneachaidh a’ teannadh oirnn, agus bidh sin a’ toirt dar cuimhne an fheadhainn a bha cudromach dhuinn, ach nach eil maille rinn tuilleadh. Ann an dòigh, tha an neò-làthaireachd aca a’ sealltainn dhuinn nas soilleire cho cudromach ’s a bha am beatha dhinn, agus na rudan a rinn iad air ar son. Aig an aon àm, tha sinn a’ cuimhneachadh an fheadhainn a dhealbhaich beatha na h-Eaglaise agus na coimhearsnachd, agus an creideamh a tha iad air a theagasg thairis air na linntean. Tha laoidh ainmeil sa Bheurla a’ cur an cèill gu math taingealachd na h-Eaglaise air an son:

Airson na naoimh, a tha a-nis aig fois,
A dh’aidich d’ainm-sa fa chomhair an t-sluaigh
Guma beannaichte d’ainm, o Ìosa, gu bràth,
Alleluia, Alleluia!

“Chì sinn an sealladh sin ann an Leabhar an Taisbeanaidh, le “co-chruinneachadh mòr, nach b’ urrainn do dhuine sam bith àireamh, o gach nàisean is treubh is cinneadh is teanga, a’ seasamh mu choinneamh na rìgh-cathrach agus mu choinneamh an Uain.” Dhan fheadhainn a thàinig tron trioblaid mhòir, bidh an t-Uan “gam buachailleachd… agus suathaidh Dia air falbh a h-uile deur on sùilean.” (Tais. 7: 9 – 7) Tha ar creideamh gar brosnachadh gus an sealladh sin a ghabhail, agus a roinneadh le daoine eile. Aig àm a’ Chuimhneachaidh, roinneamaid gealladh làthaireachd agus slànachadh Dhè.”

Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:

A Dhè bheò,
tha sinn a’ tighinn a-steach dod làthaireachd,
le fios nach eil sinn a’ tighinn nar n-aonar,
ach ann an companachd nan naomh,
agus neul cho mòr de dh’fhianaisean a chaidh romhainn.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
tha sinn a’ tighinn a-steach dod làthaireachd,
agus a’ cuimhneachadh an fheadhainn a thug beatha agus altram dhuinn.
Tha sinn a’ cuimhneachadh an fheadhainn nach eil còmhla rinn tuilleadh,
agus tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut airson am beatha.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheo,
Tha sinn a’ tighinn a-steach dod làthaireachd,
agus tha sinn ag ùrnaigh airson na feadhainn a tha air an luchd-gràidh a chaill.
Tha sinn a’ guidhe ort gum bi iad a’ faireachdainn làthaireachd
an Aoin a bhios a’ suathadh air falbh a h-uile deur on sùilean.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
Tha sinn a’ tighinn a-steach dod làthaireachd,
a’ cluinntinn a-rithist gealladh do làthaireachd maireannaich.
Air ar sgàth fhèin, agus air sgàth daoine eile,
tha sinn ag guidhe ort gum faigheamaid eòlas air gealladh slànachadh Dhè.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
Tha sinn a’ tighinn a-steach dod làthaireachd,
agus a’ seinn nar cridheachan laoidhean dod chliù.
Tha sinn a’ togail ar cridheachan, a’ feitheamh gus an latha anns an seinn sinn iad ann an nèamh,
gan seinn don Athair, don Mhac agus don 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 Lindsey Sanderson, 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)