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Call to Prayer 1st August 2021

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‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’

The words of the Gospel resonate in the hearts of all who have searched for spiritual sustenance in a dry land. They are words spoken to those who searched for Jesus and could not, at first, find Him. They are words spoken to those who are ‘looking for Jesus’. On finding Him, Jesus speaks to them of the ‘bread from heaven’ and in turn they ask: ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ In response, Jesus says: ‘I am the bread of life.’ (John 6: 24-35)

It is to those who continue to seek the presence of Jesus in a dry land that He offers Himself as the ‘bread from heaven’. We stand with those who sing:

‘Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till my want is o’er.’

We pray:

Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear us when we hunger
And cry out to the One who is the bread of life.
Renew us by Your gift and restore us by Your presence.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear the cry of all who hunger this day
And who long for the gifts that renew and restore life.
Renew our concern for Your Creation and for all who inhabit the earth.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear us when we thirst
And long for living water.
May all who thirst drink deep from the rivers of living water.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear the cries of those who long for clean water
And who live in parched lands.
May all who thirst find living water for daily life.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear our cry to the One
Who is the bread of life:
Give us this bread always.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Signed by:

  • Lord Wallace, 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. Dr David Miller, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
  • Rev. Neil MacMillan, 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. Ruth Turner, 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)

A Christian campaigning response to the Nationality and Borders Bill

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Are you interested in being part of a campaigning response to the government’s proposals for reform of the asylum system?

You may well be aware that following the government’s consultation on its ‘New Plan for Immigration’ earlier this year, a Nationality & Borders Bill has now been introduced in parliament, which would have a major effect on the way this country responds to those in need of sanctuary. The Joint Public Issues Team, and many others working in this area, have serious concerns about these proposals (see JPIT’s briefing). We are looking to build strength and deepen our political influence as the Bill goes through its parliamentary processes.

We think it is vitally important that the voices and experiences of refugees and asylum seekers, and those who work with and support them, are heard as part of the discussion of these proposals. We are also keen to equip local church leaders, congregations and individuals to contribute to political influencing – through sharing stories, learning together about the Bill, and raising awareness of its consequences in our Christian communities. We hope we can build a network that will also work together to raise our concerns with the government through MPs and other actions.

It will be a group hosted by the Joint Public Issues Team, but open to all churches and their members, whatever their denominational affiliations.

If this would be of interest to you, please attend a meeting over Zoom on Thursday 22nd July at 8pm. Register here

Reconciling communities: living well with difference

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A webinar organised by the Safeguarding team

13 May – 11.00am – 12.30pm

Change, disagreement and conflict is a part of everyday church life. This interactive webinar invites you to look at disagreements in a new light, seeing them as an opportunity for creativity, community-building and conflict transformation. You will experience an online facilitated conversation and find out more about the exciting new reconciliation and mediation pilot project being run in partnership with Place for Hope.

You can register here for this webinar.

Global access to vaccines

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The President and Vice-President, the Revd Richard Teal and Carolyn Lawrence, have added their names to this call for all the steps necessary to be taken to produce and distribute enough Covid vaccine for the entire global population. Read more in this article in the Guardian.

Supporting survivors of abuse

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Supporting Survivors of Abuse
The Methodist Church has produced a leaflet on how we can support survivors of abuse within the Methodist community.

It explains how to seek care and support when making a disclosure, and describes what is likely to happen next and the standards we expect to achieve.

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!

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