Monthly Archives: January 2021

Call to Prayer 31st January 2021

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Prayer @ 7pm

The remembering of the past is an integral part of what it is to be human. In our remembering, we recall the persons and the events that have shaped us and made us who we are. In the act of remembering, we often seek to make sense of and come to terms with the past. In the depths of our remembering, we acknowledge and lament loss. At this particular time, we are profoundly conscious of the depth of loss within the communities and nation of which we are a part.

In the Book of Psalms, the Psalmist affirms that God ‘remembers’ and that, in particular, God remembers the covenant made with the people of God. The One who forges a relationship with the people of God, is the One who remembers the covenant forever. (Psalm 111: 5) In our remembering, we recall the One who remembers us and does not forget all that we endure in these hard times. We pray:

God who remembers,
Be with us in our remembering this day.
Be with us on the journey
That takes us from the past
And into the future that lies before us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God who remembers,
Be with us in our remembering this day.
Be with as we recall those who have shaped us
And the events that have made us.
Grant to us grace and healing in all we recall.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God who remembers,
Be with us in our remembering this day.
Be with us in sorrow and in loss
And come beside all who mourn this day.
Come beside us and do not leave us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God who remembers,
Be with us in our remembering this day.
Be with those who serve in hospitals and in homes
And who, by their medical and nursing skills,
Provide comfort and hope to those who suffer.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God who remembers,
Be with us in our remembering this day.
Be with us as community and nation
And strengthen us in all we endure.
Even in the darkness, may we find your light renewed through Jesus Christ.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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. 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. 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)

 

 

Mental Health for All

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Rev Lorna Murray, a  supernumerary minister in the Scotland District has recently published her book Mental Health for All, Community Wellbeing and the Church.

Rev Helen Cameron wrote in the Methodist Recorder:

This is a wise and timely book written by an experienced Methodist presbyter and newly retired Mental Health Chaplain in the NHS.  John Swinton, Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care in the University of Aberdeen has described it as “a book for our times. Reading it is a blessing “. I agree with him.

Lorna has produced an accessible, narrative approach to an important topic, that of building community well-being and resilience which she suggests is a natural activity for the Church, along with other partners, to be involved in. The book was begun before the pandemic but she has been able to make helpful connections in it to our current experience with Covid, and she suggests the pandemic only draws greater attention to our inter-dependence on one another for our health and well-being. As disciples she suggests, “our commitment is to follow faithfully the way of living that Christ has shown us: trust in God and love of people”.

In her exploration of mental health and well-being Lorna explores simply, but profoundly, how faith can encourage and guide us as we encourage one another into living mentally healthy lives and move together towards fullness of life and human flourishing. The book is practical and direct in addressing how to support those experiencing a period of poor mental health and those living with a diagnosed mental illness and in doing so, to participate in developing, with others, communities characterised by care, acceptance and welcome.  The peppering of vivid and memorable stories, which characterises the book is handled carefully and they are woven skilfully into theological reflection tackling subjects such as prejudice and acceptance, difference and “othering”, inclusion and participation.  There is no hectoring in this book, and there is no overtly didactic approach to the topic of mental health and human flourishing, rather it is an encouraging and hopeful book.  Lorna’s openness about her own experience models something remarkable which will encourage others to own their own experiences as positively and openly. It would make a splendid Lent study for churches and small groups who wish to take seriously the Methodist Way of Life and explore how they might make a practical difference in supporting, with other partners, communities of acceptance, resilience, welcome and well-being.

Buy your copy (£6 plus postage) from Sanctus Media – cheaper than Amazon!

Call to Prayer Sunday 24th January 2021

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“In the Gospel of John, Jesus prays for all those who have come to believe in him ‘that they may all be one…so that the world may believe’ that he has been sent by the Father. (John 17: 20-21)

“As we reflect upon this, we see Jesus Christ as the One who intercedes for us before the living God and who enables us to approach God through him. In the times in which we live this offers a profound reassurance: Jesus Christ is the One whose prayer sustains the life of the people of God.

“The times in which we live are ones in which discord and division are all too often to the fore. In times such as these, the people of God are called to bear witness to the reconciling work of Christ that breaks down the walls that divide us. As we reflect upon the words of John 17, we are called to live out our response to the prayer of Jesus that we ‘may all be one…that the world may believe’.”

We pray:

Lord our God, You are One
And your Son prays that your people may be one.
As your Son prays for us,
May we share in the life of Christ
And in the hope of the resurrection.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God, You are One
And your Son prays that your people may be one.
As your Son prays for us,
May we know that we are members of the body of Christ
And that we share in the one Spirit.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God, You are One
And your Son prays that your people may be one.
As your Son prays for us,
May we know that he is our peace
And that he has broken down the walls that divide us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God, You are One
And your Son prays that your people may be one.
As your Son prays for us,
May we know that we have been reconciled to God
And that the task of reconciliation has been entrusted to us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God, You are One
And your Son prays that your people may be one.
As your Son prays for us,
May your people be one
That the world may believe.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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. 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. 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)

Scottish Faith Leaders statement on Covid-19 Vaccination

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Statement of Faith Leaders in Scotland in support of Covid

Statement of Faith Leaders in Scotland in support of Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

We faith leaders in Scotland understand the difficulty that our communities are facing during this pandemic. We urge all faith communities to take measures that will ensure their safety and the safety of others. Furthermore, we support the Covid-19 vaccination programme across the community and we encourage people to be vaccinated so that they keep themselves and their neighbours safe.

  • Bishop Hugh Gilbert, President of the Bishops Conference of Scotland
  • Rev Dr George Whyte, Principal Clerk, the Church of Scotland
  • Imam Hassan Rabbani, Imam of Zia-Ul-Quran Mosque, Muslim Chaplain at Heriot-Watt University, Chair of Scottish Muslim Forum
  • Imam Sayed Razawi, Chief Imam – Director General | Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society
  • Dr Muhammad Rafiq Habib, Convenor, Muslim Council of Scotland
  • Rabbi Moshe Rubin, Giffnock & Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Senior Rabbi of Scotland
  • Most Reverend Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness; Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
  • Ravinder Kaur Nijjar, Advisor Sikhs in Scotland and Chair of Religions for Peace UK Women of Faith Network
  • Rev Dr Fred Drummond, National Director, Evangelical Alliance Scotland
  • Rabbi David Rose, Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation
  • Allan Forsyth, Baha’i Office of Public Affairs (Scotland)
  • Isadora Quay, Baha’i Office of Public Affairs (Scotland)
  • Acharya Ji, Priest of Hindu Mandir Glasgow
  • Madhu Jain, Hindu Mandir Glasgow
  • The Revd Mark Slaney, Chair Scotland District & Shetland District, The Methodist Church in Scotland
  • Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, Abbot of Kagyu Samye Ling Buddhist Centre
  • Revd Paul Whittle, Moderator of The United Reformed Church National Synod of Scotland

 

Call to Prayer Sunday 17th January 2021

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‘O Lord, you have searched me and known me.’ The words of the Psalm speak. The words speak into the uttermost depths of who we are and the word of the Lord searches to the furthermost limits of our being. (Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18) The word of the Lord speaks to us in every season and searches us at all times. Nevertheless, there are times in which we are especially conscious of the immediacy and relevance of the word spoken and we might judge that this is such a time.

We may say at this particular time that we are truly being stretched to the uttermost as human beings and to the furthermost limits of our endurance as a society. These are hard times. At the very moment in which hope has been offered to our society in the form of a vaccine, the risk faced by our society has increased considerably. In the light of this, the challenges we face are difficult beyond measure. Notwithstanding all of this, the word of the Lord endures and still speaks into the uttermost depth and to the furthermost limit. We are not hidden from God and all we face is known by the Lord whose word endures. Humbly recognising this to be so, we pray:

Lord, you search us and you know us
And we bow in your holy presence.
You know us this day in all we face
And you are with us through the hours of the night.
Guard us and keep us till the day is done
And the darkness is no more.

Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, you search us and you know us
And we bow in your holy presence.
You have made us in your image
And woven us together in the womb.
Guide us to the place where life is renewed
And our shared life restored.

Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, you search us and you know us
And we bow in your holy presence.
You know the challenges of this time
And of all the days that lie before us.
Give hope to all who despair
And comfort to those who grieve.

Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, you search us and you know us
And we bow in your holy presence.
You know all who by their work serve the common good
And who by their gifts renew hope in dark times.
Keep safe the most vulnerable
And walk with those who are fearful this day.

Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, you search us and you know us
And we bow in your holy presence.
You are the beginning of all things,
And you are the end of all things, in Jesus Christ.
Guard us and keep us till the day is done
And the darkness is no more.

Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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. 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. 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)

Call to Prayer Sunday 10 January 2021

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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:

  • 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. Lindsey Sanderson, 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)