A prayer from the Moderator amid the coronavirus outbreak

Rt Rev Colin Sinclair offers us this prayer as we deal with a new illness in our communities.

A prayer as we face the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Living God,

In our hour of need we turn again to you, for we have nowhere else to turn.

We put our faith in you, because you have proved your faithfulness time and again

We reaffirm our love for you because you have never let us go.

We thank you that you are not distant from us

but have drawn near, in your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

He has shared our life, tasted our death and defeated it;

He understands our worries and our fears

Help us to respond as your children now.

We pray for this pandemic spreading across our world,

remembering all who have lost loved ones

and praying for those seriously ill at this time.

We uphold the National Health Service

as it responds to this added pressure on its already overstretched services.

We pray for doctors and nurses and all in the caring professions,

who work to help and support people as best they can.

We remember those working behind the scenes

testing samples, confirming results, giving information to patients.

We uphold others trying to understand this virus better

working to create an effective remedy.

We pray for our Governments in Westminster and Holyrood,

as they work with the best medical advice

to guide us on how we should respond

and what action we should take.

We pray that these guidelines might be taken seriously

and that all would put them into action.

May this crisis bring out the best in us, not the worst

Help us to live by faith and not by fear;

to build bridges not barriers,

and to resist all who would speak ill of any other group.

May we not forget our responsibility to one another,

not least to the vulnerable and voiceless in our communities.

Help us to find ways of keeping in touch and offering reassurance

to those with underlying health issues;

for any who feel particularly vulnerable

or in danger at present.

As the virus spreads

we pray for the disruption it causes to normal life,

bringing new fears and anxieties:

We pray for those who have been laid off as their work disappears;

for financial hardship for individuals and businesses;

for the impact on the economy and pensions, when austerity has already left its mark.

We pray for those whose trips, both for business and pleasure, have been cancelled;

and others where events, long anticipated and planned for, have been postponed;

for those making contingency planning for home based work or child care or exams.

May our inconvenience not blind us to others' loss.

We remember those

who cannot visit loved ones in locked-down care homes;

for the elderly whose social contacts have been severely curtailed;

help us to find creative ways of keeping in touch,

of assuring them they are not forgotten or ignored.

May congregations find new ways of living though this time.

May we not forget our faith, but draw strength from it.

So may our worship be heartfelt,

our fellowship deepen

and our service increase.

God of grace and God of mercy,

hear our prayers at this time.

Strengthen us, by your Spirit, so that:

we may carry on our lives as best as we are able,

looking out for others,

showing love in action,

being faithful in prayer,

and bringing encouragement, hope and peace;

always trusting in you

our Rock and our Redeemer.

These prayers we bring to you

in Jesus' name.

Amen.