The Scottish Episcopal Church and other denominations join together in prayer on Sunday at 7pm, as they have done throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

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

In a joint message, church leaders in Scotland said:

“‘Now, do you all understand what I have been saying?‘ We might just recall these words, or similar, when in school, whether recently or a very long time ago. The teacher has led the class through a lesson and then turned to ask if everyone has understood. No one wants to admit that they did not follow the lesson and that they do not understand.

“In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus begins to teach his disciples about his forthcoming betrayal, death and resurrection. None of the disciples wishes to admit that they do not understand. Their response is one that we can identify with. Instead, the disciples turn to discussing something else: Who is the greatest among them? Jesus hears their discussion and, in response, declares: ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’

“Further, Jesus invites a child to stand amongst them and declares that whoever “welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me”. (Mark 9: 30-37) The response of the disciples is not recorded in the Gospel. Our response is to seek to follow the lesson in order that we might more fully understand the way of the Cross.”

We pray:

Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of your Son,
We hear the call to take up the Cross
And to live in the light of the Resurrection.
Grant us faith to do so
And courage to confess when we do not understand.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of your Son,
We recognise that we turn too easily
To that which distracts and displaces.
Renew our focus that we might fix our eyes
On the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of your Son,
We hear the call to become servants,
As Christ himself became on our behalf.
May we learn the lesson of servanthood
From the One who gave his life as a ransom for many.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of your Son,
We recognise the children in our midst
Whose lives are a gift from your hand.
May we receive them within the community of faith
And so receive Christ in our midst.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Signed by:

Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
Rev. Dr David Miller, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
Rev. Neil MacMillan, Moderator, Free Church of Scotland
Rev. Paul Whittle, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
Rev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland)
Rev. Thomas R. Wilson, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland
Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
Adwoa Bittle, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Rev. Ruth Turner, 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, 22mh dhen An t-Sultain, ùrnaigh aig 7f

A Dhè bheò,
is ann tron chrann-ceusaidh agus tro aiseirigh do Mhic
a tha thu a’ foillseachadh dhuinn do rùin.
Deònaich dhuinn creideamh,
gus an gabh sinn ris a’ chrann-ceusaidh,
agus gum bitheamaid beò ann an solas na h-aiseirighe.
Deònaich dhuinn tuigse, agus earbsalachd nuair nach eil sinn a’ tuigsinn.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
is ann tron chrann-ceusaidh agus tro aiseirigh do Mhic
a tha thu a’ foillseachadh dhuinn do rùin.
Tha sinn ag aideachadh gu bheil sinn ro bhuailteach a dhol air seachran, air tòir rudan a nì ar mealladh.
Cuidich sinn, gus am bi ar ar n-aire ort-sa,
a’ cumail ar sùilean air ceannard agus fear-crìochnachaidh ar creideimh.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
is ann tron chrann-ceusaidh agus tro aiseirigh do Mhic
a tha thu a’ foillseachadh dhuinn do rùin.
Tha thu gar gairm a bhith nar seirbheisich,
mar a bha Crìosd fhèin na sheirbheiseach air ar sgàth.
Teagaisg dhuinn nàdar an t-seirbhisich,
on Tì a thug a bheatha fhèin mar èirig airson mhòrain.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
is ann tron chrann-ceusaidh agus tro aiseirigh do Mhic
a tha thu a’ foillseachadh dhuinn do rùin.
Cuidich sinn gus an aithnich sinn do chlann nar measg,
oir is e tiodhlacan od làimh a th’ annta uile.
Gabhamaid riutha ann an coimhearsnachd ar creideimh.
agus mar sin, gabhaidh sinn ri Crìosd fhèin nar measg.
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 Morair Uallas, Moderàtor Àrd-Sheanadh Eaglais na h-Alba
Am Fìor Urramach Leo Cushley, Àrd-Easbaig Chill Rìmhinn agus Dùn Èideann
An t-Urramach Oll. Daibhidh Miller, Eaglais Shaor Aonaichte na h-Alba
An t-Urramach Niall MacMhaoilein, Moderàtor, an Eaglais Shaor
An t-Urramach Pòl Whittle, 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 Tòmas R. Wilson, Cathraiche, Caidreachas Co-thionalach ann an Alba
Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Rùnaire na h-Alba, Feachd na Slàinte
An t-Urramach Rut Nic an Tuairneir, Àrd-Neach-Stiùiridh Roinn-Dùthcha, Eileanan Bhreatainn, Eaglais an Nàsaraich
Adwao Bittle, Comann nan Caraidean (Cuagairean)
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)