Church groups across Scotland are asking Christians to join in prayer at 7pm on 26th July 2020.
14 Scottish Church organisations join together to pray at the same time this Sunday in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
A Gaelic translation of the prayer can be downloaded here.
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:
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
Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal 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)