After a short break for Christmas, the joint call to prayer from church leaders in Scotland returns this weekend.

The Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer at 7pm on Sunday, 10 January. Many of those joining together in prayer, which appears in English and Gaelic below, will also light candles.

In a joint message, church leaders in Scotland said:

“As we journey into the year to come, we find ourselves once more in a desert place and in that place there are many who are deeply uncertain as to what the year will bring. At this time, there are many who feel locked out of the pattern that has previously shaped their lives and the absence of that pattern can be profoundly unsettling. Yet even in the most uncertain of times, there are moments of discovery, and rediscovery, where we are shaped by a new pattern. As this takes place, we are renewed and affirmed as those who are made in the image of God.

“The Gospel of Mark opens by taking us to a desert place and in that desert place there takes place a renewal signified in baptism which marks the beginning of new life. Indeed, Jesus Christ himself comes to the waters of the River Jordan to be baptised. As he does so, he hears the words of affirmation: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ (Mark 1: 4-11) In our own desert place, may we find renewal, affirmation and the living presence of God.”

We pray:

Living God,
Be with us in the desert place
And renew us as those who are made in your image.
Hear us as we call to you
And answer our cry.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Be with us in the desert place
And meet us in the place of suffering.
Hear us as we call to you
And bring healing to the broken.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Be with us in the desert place
And come beside those who are sorrowing.
Hear us as we call to you
And have compassion upon us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Be with us in the desert place
And lead us to the places of discovery and rediscovery.
Hear us as we call to you
And reshape the pattern of our lives.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Be with us in the desert place
And may we know that Christ is with us.
Hear us as we call to you
And lead us to the place where we hear your word of affirmation.
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. Claire Fender, 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, 10mh dhen Fhaoilleach, ùrnaigh aig 7f

Tha sinn aig toiseach turas na bliadhna, agus tha sinn a-rithist anns an fhàsach, ann an àite anns a bheil mòran a tha teagmhach agus mì-chinnteach mun bhliadhna a tha romhpa. Tha iomadh duine a’ faireachdainn gu bheil iad glaiste a-mach on bheatha àbhaisteach aca, rud a tha gam fàgail iomagaineach. Ach fiù ’s ann an amannan neònach, lorgar rudan ùra, pàtrain ùra, agus tron sin, tha sinn air ar ath-nuadhachadh agus air ar dearbhadh mar chreutairean a chaidh an dealbhadh ann an ìomhaigh Dhè.

Tha Soisgeul Mharcuis a’ toiseachadh ann am fàsach, agus anns an fhàsaich sin chithear ath-nuadhachadh, air a dhearbhadh ann am baisteadh, a’ comharrachadh beatha ùr. Chì sinn Ìosa fhèin a’ tighinn do dh’uisgeachan Abhainn Iòrdain gus am baisteadh Eòin e. Aig a’ mhòmaid sin, chuala e faclan an dearbhaidh: “Is tusa mo Mhac gràdhach, leatsa tha mi fìor thoilichte.” (Marcus 1: 4 – 11). Anns an fhàsach againn fhìn, tha sinn ag ùrnaigh gun lorg sinn ath-nuadhachadh, dearbhadh agus làthaireachd bheò Dhè.

Dèanamaid ùrnaigh:

A Dhè bheò,
Bi maille rinn anns an fhàsach
agus thoir dhuinn ath-nuadhachadh, dhuinne, a tha air ar dealbhachadh nad ìomhaigh fhèin.
Èist rinn, agus sinn ag èigheach ort,
thoir freagairt dhuinn nar teanntachd.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
Bi maille rinn san fhàsach
agus coinnich rinn ann an uair an àmhghair.
Èist rinn, agus sinn ag èigheach ort,
agus slànaich an fheadhainn a tha briste.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
Bi maille rinn san fhàsach
agus bi ri an taobh-san a tha fo bhròn.
Èist rinn, agus sinn ag èigheach ort,
agus gabh truas rinn.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
Bi maille rinn san fhàsach
agus treòraich sinn a dh’àite
far an lorgar beatha ùr.
Èist rinn, agus sinn ag èigheach ort,
agus ath-dhealbhaich pàtrain ar beatha.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
Bi maille rinn san fhàsach
gus am bi fios againn gu bheil Crìosd ri ar taobh.
Èist rinn, agus sinn ag èigheach ort
agus treòraich sinn a dh’àite far an cluinnear d’ fhacal dearbhach.
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 Claire Fender, 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)