Scottish churches join call to pray on Sunday

This Sunday (2 August), Christians across Scotland will once again join together in prayer at 7pm in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As with previous weeks during lockdown and the phased easing of restrictions, 14 Christian churches and organisations across the country, including the Church of Scotland, have co-signed the letter calling for prayer.

Scottish Christians have been continuing to answer the call to pray at the same time each week, and Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, has been taking part alongside them.

"I'm delighted to have read that in the last couple of months online searches for ‘prayer' have increased dramatically," Dr Fair said.

"But reading about what prayer is and how to do it is only the start of it. After that it's time to actually pray.

"And what better than to join with brothers and sisters from across the nation at 7pm on Sunday to pray our way through this ongoing crisis. I commend it to you and look forward to being with you, in Spirit, on Sunday evening."

Scottish Church Leaders Forum letter

This week's letter accompanying the prayer, which is also available in Gaelic, states:

"The present times continue to be ones in which uncertainty casts a shadow over the future. Our onward journey appears to be one that will not be straightforward or necessarily clear. Indeed, we might find ourselves having to take a step back before we go forward again.

"There are occasions in the Gospel when we see that Jesus has to take a step back and go ‘to a deserted place by himself'. On such occasions, we know that Jesus prayed and sought the renewed presence of God. He does so in order that he might continue the ministry that God has given to him.

"In the Gospel of Matthew and following such an occasion, we see the compassion of God made known to us through Jesus. In response to the need of those who come to him, Jesus feeds them with good gifts. (14: 13-21) At this present time, may we know the compassionate presence of God revealed to us as we make our onward journey."

We pray:

God of all compassion,
Be with us at this present time.
As you have been with us in times past,
Continue with us in the times that are to come.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God whose compassion knows no bounds,
Meet us when we come to the end of our own strength.
Lead us to the place of renewal,
That we might know your presence and find ourselves renewed.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God whose compassion is embodied in the presence of Jesus,
May we know that presence revealed.
In the presence of your Son,
Grant that we may know that he is there for us and for all who hunger today.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God whose compassion responds to human need,
May we bear witness to the response of Jesus to the hungry and the weak.
Grant that in our witness,
We might respond to the needs of those around us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God of all compassion,
Encompass our world in your unceasing love.
May your compassion flow to the ends of the earth
And embrace the suffering of this world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.<

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Signatories:

• 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)