In an unprecedented move, church leaders from around Britain and Ireland came together last week by video conference to share the current situation over coronavirus in each of their jurisdictions. The initiative originated with Archbishop Justin Welby of the Church of England, who wanted to offer an opportunity for leaders to hear and support one another in these critical days for our nations.<\/p>\n
The subsequent statement and prayer, which follow, are supported by churches in membership of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, along with Churches Together in England, Cytun, ACTS and the Irish Council of Churches. The announcement is also followed by a further statement of support from the Scottish Church Leaders Forum, and prayer. Both statements and prayers are then provided in Gaelic.<\/p>\n
Holy Week Statement<\/strong><\/p>\n God\u2019s world is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. In the nations that make up Britain and Ireland the Covid-19 virus continues to affect people at an alarming rate, health services along with many of our institutions and organisations, both local and national, are under extreme pressure and people are getting used to living in a very different way, many in extreme isolation. As with all such crises, there is a danger that the most vulnerable in society will be most badly affected.<\/p>\n Christians the world over are entering an important time in the church year as we look to the events of Jesus Christ\u2019s death and resurrection. At the centre of our common faith are both the depths of despair and the heights of joy. In the Bible and in the songs and liturgies of the Church, we see Jesus entering fully into human suffering. In His rising again, that suffering is redeemed and transformed into hope and joy. After Jesus\u2019 death his disciples were afraid and all seemed lost and hopeless, but the risen Christ met them in their despair and restored hope through his victory over death. We pray that the world today might know this hope in place of despair.<\/p>\n In the Book of Daniel we read about God\u2019s people being taken into exile in Babylon. Daniel could not pray in the Temple in Jerusalem, but he continued to pray in exile \u2013 opening his window to face Jerusalem. Though he was on his own he joined with the prayers of the people wherever they were. Now we too are separated from each other physically, but when we pray in our homes we join in with this ancient tradition of our home as a place of prayer. Wherever we are, whenever we pray, when we speak and think of Christ, there he is in the midst of us. We join our prayers with all those who pray in our own churches and communities and around the world.<\/p>\n As church leaders from across the many and varied churches of these Islands we urge all people to join us in prayer this Holy Week and Easter; to pray for those who suffer, those who face untimely death and all those who care for them; to celebrate our common faith at a difficult time; to help and support our neighbours in need; and to observe all the safeguards in place to slow the spread of disease.<\/p>\n Our Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n Loving God, in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for our salvation, cast out the darkness of our anxiety, fear and mourning, enfold us in your love and give us joy and hope this Easter. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n Statement signed by: Scottish Church Leaders Forum statement<\/strong><\/p>\n On behalf of the churches in Scotland, we welcome the Statement by the leaders of churches from across the nations of Britain and Ireland. Within Scotland, as elsewhere, we are faced with a series of unprecedented challenges that are impacting upon every aspect of the fabric of our society. In the threat to life and livelihood being experienced by so many at this time, we are conscious of the need to remain open to the life of God and to the life of the world. In the course of this Holy Week, we know that we shall hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: \u2018My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\u2019 The experience of being abandoned and forsaken is not absent from the life of God lived out in this world. Equally, we are conscious that our faith affirms that this experience does not mark the boundary of the love of God. As we journey through this week, through Good Friday and on to the day of Resurrection, we pray:<\/p>\n Lord of Creation, Signed by:<\/p>\n Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church <\/p>\n Brath na Seachdaine Naoimh bho Cheannardan Eaglaise ann am Breatann agus \u00c8irinn<\/strong><\/p>\n Tha saoghal Dh\u00e8 ann an teas-meadhan \u00e8iginn gun ro-shampall. Ann am Breatann agus ann an \u00c8irinn tha an bh\u00ecoras Covid-19 fhathast a’ bualadh air daoine aig reat eagalach, tha seirbheisean sl\u00e0inte agus m\u00f2ran instituidean agus buidhnean, an d\u00e0 chuid aig \u00ecre iondail agus n\u00e0iseanta, fo \u00e8iginn uabhasach. Feumaidh daoine f\u00e0s cleachdte ri bhith be\u00f2 ann an d\u00f2igh gu tur eadar-dhealaichte, m\u00f2ran dhaibh gu h-aonaranach. Mar a tha e ann an gach \u00e8iginn mar seo, tha cunnart ann gum bi na daoine as so-le\u00f2nta a’ faighinn a’ bhuill as miosa.<\/p>\n Tha Cr\u00ecosdaidhean air feadh an t-saoghail a’ t\u00f2iseachadh seachdain chudromach ann am bliadhna na h-eaglaise, agus sinn a’ cur romhainn b\u00e0s agus ais-\u00e8irigh \u00ccosa Chr\u00ecosd. Aig cridhe ar creidimh tha sinn a’ faicinn an d\u00e0 chuid eu-d\u00f2chas tur agus aoibhneas ro mh\u00f2r. Anns a’ Bh\u00ecoball, agus ann an laoidhean agus liotuirgean aig na h-eaglaisean, bidh sinn a’ faicinn \u00ccosa, agus e a’ fulang gu buileach mar dhuine. Anns a ais-\u00e8irigh, tha am fulangas sin air a shaoradh, agus air a atharrach gu d\u00f2chas agus aoibhneas. As d\u00e8idh b\u00e0s \u00ccosa, bha eagal air a dheiscobail, agus nan s\u00f9ilean bha a h-uile n\u00ec caillte agus gun d\u00f2chas, ach th\u00e0inig an Cr\u00ecosd a bha air \u00e8irigh dhan ionnsaigh, agus thug e dhaibh d\u00f2chas ath-nuadhaichte tro a bhuaidh air a’ bh\u00e0s. ‘S e ar n-\u00f9rnaigh gum faigh an saoghal an-diugh e\u00f2las air an d\u00f2chas seo.<\/p>\n Ann an Leabhar Dhanieil, bidh sinn a’ leughadh mu dheidhinn poball Dh\u00e8 air f\u00f2gradh ann am B\u00e0bilon. Cha b’ urrainn do Dhaniel \u00f9rnaigh a dh\u00e8anamh anns an Teampall ann an Ierusalem, ach chum e air ag \u00f9rnaigh agus e air f\u00f2gradh \u2013 air da uinneagan a bhith fosgailte na she\u00f2mar ri Ierusalem<\/em>. Ged a bha e na aonar, dh’aonadh e ann an \u00f9rnaigh ris na daoine eile a bha ri \u00f9rnaigh, ge b’e an t-\u00e0ite far an robh iad. Tha sinn a-nis air ar dealachadh bhon a ch\u00e8ile gu corporra, ach nuair a tha sinn a’ d\u00e8anamh \u00f9rnaigh anns na taighean againn, tha sinn a’ leanntainn an tradaisean aosmhor seo, a’ cleachdadh na dachaighe mar \u00e0ite-\u00f9rnaigh. Ge b’e an t-\u00e0ite anns a bheil sinn, nuair a tha sinn ag \u00f9rnaigh, nuair a tha sinn a’ bruidhinn air Cr\u00ecosd agus a’ smaoineachadh air Cr\u00ecosd, tha e an sin nar measg. Tha sinn a’ cur ar n-\u00f9rnaighean ri \u00f9rnaighean nan naomh uile anns na h-eaglaisean againn fh\u00e8in agus ann an coimhearsnachdan air feadh an t-saoghail.<\/p>\n Mar cheannardan eaglaise bho iomadh eaglaisean eadar-dhealaichte anns na h-eileanan seo, tha sinn gur brosnachadh gu bith ag \u00f9rnaigh c\u00f2mhla rinn anns an t-Seachdain Naoimh seo agus air Latha na C\u00e0isge; gu bhith ag \u00f9rnaigh airson nan uile a tha a’ fulang, airson nan uile a tha ann an uchd a’ bh\u00e0is, agus na tha a toirt an aire dhaibh; gu bhith a’ comharrachadh aoibhneas ar creidimh ann an uair na h-\u00e0mhghair; gu bhith a’ cuideachadh air coimhearsnaich ann am feum; agus gu bhith a’ toirt an aire air na riaghailtean a tha ann gus ar d\u00econ uile.<\/p>\n Ar n-\u00d9rnaigh<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n A Dh\u00e8 a’ ghr\u00e0idh, tro ghr\u00e0s \u00ccosa Chr\u00ecosd, a bh\u00e0saich agus a dh’\u00e8irich a-r\u00ecthist chun ar saoraidh, tilg a-mach dorchadas ar n-iomagain, dorchadas ar n-eagail agus dorchadas ar br\u00f2in. Cuairtich sinn le do ghr\u00e0dh, agus tabhair dhuinn aoibhneas agus d\u00f2chas aig \u00c0m na C\u00e0isge. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n Forum Ceannardan Eaglaisean na h-Alba As leth eaglaisean na h-Alba, tha sinn a’ toirt f\u00e0ilte air a’ Bhr\u00e0th le ceannardan eaglaisean ann am Breatann agus \u00c8irinn. Ann an Alba, mar a tha e ann an \u00e0iteachan eile, tha d\u00f9bhlanan mu ar coinneamh a tha gun ro-shampall agus a tha a’ toirt buaidh air ar coimhnearsnaich ann an iomadh d\u00f2igh. Le bagairtean a’ tighinn air na beathannan agus na be\u00f2shlaintean aig iomadh duine aig an \u00e0m seo, tha sinn a’ cuimhneachadh gu bheil feum againn a bhith fosgailte do bheatha Dh\u00e8 agus do bheatha an t-saoghail. Tron t-Seachdainn Naoimh seo, tha fhios againn gum bi sinn a’ cluinntinn faclan ar Tighearna \u00ccosa Chr\u00ecosd: Mo Dhia, mo Dhia, carson a thr\u00e8ig thu mi? <\/em>Cha robh Dia, anns a bheatha air an talamh seo, idir aine\u00f2lach air tr\u00e8igsinneachd. Anns an aon d\u00f2igh, tha ar creideamh a’ dearbhadh nach eil cr\u00ecoch gr\u00e0dh Dh\u00e8 ri lorg ann an tr\u00e8igsinneachd. Aig toiseach na seachdaine seo, air Dihaoine na Ceusda agus air Latha na C\u00e0isge, tha sinn ag \u00f9rnaigh:<\/p>\n A Thigheana a chruthaich a h-uile n\u00ec,<\/em> Soidhnichte:<\/p>\n Am F\u00ecor Urramach Marcus Strange, Primus as leth Colaiste nan Easbaigean, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba
\nArchbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
\nCardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster
\nMost Rev Mark Strange, Primus, Scottish Episcopal Church
\nVery Rev Dr William Henry, Moderator General Assembly, Presbyterian Church of Ireland
\nRt. Revd Colin Sinclair, Moderator General Assembly, Church of Scotland
\nArchbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh
\nCommissioner Anthony Cotterill, The Salvation Army
\nRevd Nigel Uden, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church
\nArchbishop-elect John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh
\nBishop Hugh Gilbert, Bishop of Aberdeen
\nRevd Dr Barbara Glasson, President Methodist Church of Great Britain
\nHis Eminence Archbishop Nikitas, Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain
\nRevd Lynn Green, General Secretary Baptist Union of Great Britain
\nArchbishop John Davies, Archbishop of Wales
\nHis Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Archbishop of London
\nPastor Agu Irukwu, Redeemed Christian Church of God
\nMr Rheinallt Thomas, President Free Church Council Wales
\nRevd Hugh Osgood, Moderator Free Church Federal Council
\nRevd Brian Anderson, President Irish Council of Churches
\nGavin Calver, CEO Evangelical Alliance
\nRevd Sam McGuffin, President Methodist Church in Ireland
\nPaul Parker, Religious Society of Friends<\/p>\n
\n<\/em>Be with us on this journey towards the healing of your world and people.
\n<\/em>hold us when we feel alone,
\n<\/em>carry us when we lose our strength
\n<\/em>and heal us when we are afraid.
\n<\/em>Let people of faith speak today with a voice of love,
\n<\/em>The love shown to us through the power of the Spirit
\n<\/em>and in the love and sacrifice of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
\n<\/em>Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nRt. Rev. Colin Sinclair, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
\nMost Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
\nLt. Col. Carol Bailey, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
\nAdwoa Bittle, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
\nRev. John Fulton, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
\nRev. Dr David Pickering, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
\nRev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
\nRev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland)
\nRev. May-Kane Logan, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>6mh dhen Ghiblean (Diluain na Seachdaine Naoimh)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nBi maille rinn air an turas seo a dh’ionnsaigh sl\u00e0nachadh an t-saoghail agus sl\u00e0nachadh do phobaill.<\/em>
\nBi maille rinn nuair a tha sinn aonaranach.<\/em>
\nGi\u00f9lain sinn nuair a tha sinn fann.<\/em>
\nSl\u00e0naich sinn nuair a tha an t-eagal oirnn.<\/em>
\nGum biodh do shluagh a’ bruidhinn an-diugh le gr\u00e0dh,<\/em>
\nleis an gr\u00e0dh ceudna a sheall thu dhuinn le cumhachd an Spioraid,<\/em>
\nagus le gr\u00e0dh agus \u00ecobairt ar Fear-saoraidh \u00ccosa Chr\u00ecosd.<\/em>
\nAmen.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAn Ceart Urramach Cailean Mac na Ceardaich, Moder\u00e0tor \u00c0rd-Sheanadh Eaglais na h-Alba
\nAm F\u00ecor Urramach Leo Cushley, \u00c0rd-Easbaig Chill R\u00ecmhinn agus D\u00f9n \u00c8ideann
\nAn t-Urramach Iain Fulton, Moder\u00e0tor, Eaglais Shaor Aonaichte na h-Alba
\nAn t-Urramach Daibhidh Pickering, Moder\u00e0tor, Eaglais Ath-Leasaichte Aonaichte\u00a0 (Alba)
\nAn t-Urramach M\u00e0rtainn Hodson, \u00c0rd-Sti\u00f9iriche, Aonadh Baisteach na h-Alba
\nAn t-Urramach Marcus Slaney, Cathraiche Roinn-D\u00f9thcha, Eaglais nam Methodach (Alba)
\nAn t-Urramach May-Kane Logan, Cathraiche, Caidreachas Co-thionalach ann an Alba
\nLt. Col. Carol Bailey, R\u00f9naire na h-Alba, Feachd na Sl\u00e0inte
\nAdwao Bittle, Comann nan Caraidean (Cuagairean)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In an unprecedented move, church leaders from around Britain and Ireland came together last week by video conference to share the current situation over coronavirus in each of their jurisdictions. The initiative originated with Archbishop Justin Welby of the Church of England, who wanted to offer an opportunity for leaders to hear and support one […]","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10237,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70836"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70836\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}