Call to Prayer: Sunday 16th May 2021 Prayer @ 7pm
Jesus prays for those who follow him. It can be put no more simply or profoundly: Jesus prays for those who follow him. In the Gospel of John, we see that Jesus prays for those who have been his followers and disciples and he does so as he comes to the end of his earthly ministry. Jesus has given to his followers all that he has received from the Father and now he must leave them to live in the world as witnesses to the truth. In the light of this, Jesus prays for them and asks for their protection: ‘And now I am no longer in the world…Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.’ (John 17: 6-19)
We pray, in the light of the Ascension of our Lord and in anticipation of the gift of the Holy Spirit, with the assurance that as we do so; Jesus prays for us. As we come nearer, we trust, to the end of the restrictions that have characterised these past months, we pray in the knowledge that Jesus continues to pray for those who follow him in this world. We pray:
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you for all that we have received from your hand.
We thank you for the life you have given to us
And your presence with us in all we face.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you for all that we have received from your Son.
We thank you that he has prayed for us
And that he continues to uphold us in all we face.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you that you watch over us and protect us.
Watch over us as we continue the journey we have taken in past months
And protect us in days to come.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you that you watch over and protect this world.
Watch over us as we give thanks for the gift of Creation
And enable us to better care for the world you have entrusted to us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you that your Son is Risen and Ascended.
We join with the community of all your people
And anticipate the outpouring of your Holy Spirit.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you that your Risen and Ascended Son prays for us once more.
We join with all your people in every place
And ask that you might renew us by your Holy Spirit.
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. Donnie G. MacDonald, 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. 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)