Category: Prayer items

On the first day of 2022, 15 Scottish Christian churches and organisations across the country, including the Church of Scotland, have co-signed a letter calling for prayer in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Scottish Christians are invited to join in prayer today, reflecting on the suffering of 2021 and turning towards the new year with the knowledge that the light of the Word is not overcome by the darkness.

The letter accompanying the prayer states:

“‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.’ (John 1: 5)

“As we reach the end of a year and turn towards the year that is to come, the dark shadow of Covid-19 still lies over us and the community of which we are a part.

“There is no part of our society that has not been impacted and no part of our community that has not suffered.

“We have endured much and struggled with the abiding uncertainty that still clouds our vision of the year ahead.

“Nevertheless, no matter how abiding the uncertainty and the darkness of the shadow, the Gospel affirms that: ‘the darkness did not overcome it’.

“The darkness has not overcome the ‘light that shines in the darkness’.

“The Gospel affirmation is especially resonant at this time for it affirms that at no point is the light of the Word come from God consumed by darkness.

“We know and affirm by faith that the ‘Word became flesh and lived among us’. (John 1: 14)

“In the year that is to come, the light of God abides and no darkness will consume it.

“We ask the One who is the light of the world to give us light that we may walk safely, even where darkness abides: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.'”

We pray:

Light of the World,
May You arise and shine even in the face of darkness:

We come as those who have dwelt in the shadows
And shared in the suffering and uncertainty of these times.
Abide with us and shed Your light amongst us
That we might know Your abiding presence.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Light of the World,
May You arise and shine even in the face of darkness;
We come as those who have sought Your light
In the year that is now past.
We give thanks that You have led us safe thus far
And that You shall lead us home.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Light of the World,
May You arise and shine even in the face of darkness:
We come as those who journey on towards the horizon
Where light shall surely break and the darkness be vanquished.
We pray for the bereaved and for the bereft
And ask that You would draw near to them in Your compassion.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Light of the World,
May You arise and shine even in the face of darkness:
We come as those who now step forth
Into the year that is to come.
We ask of You light for the days that lie ahead
And, once more, the knowledge of Your abiding presence.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

This prayer was composed by Graham Herbert, headmaster of Lockerbie Academy.

Prayer for Lockerbie Pan Am Flight 103 Victims and Survivors

With all the earth’s people we join as one to pray for a world where we can live in peace and harmony together; a world where there is no place for war, hatred or violence; a place where each and every one of us, regardless of race, religion or gender maybe valued equally.

Today, as we remember all those who perished in the Lockerbie disaster we give thanks for the lives each one led, be it short or long, and for the joy and happiness they brought to all those who knew and loved them. We pray for their families and friends, bereft so cruelly and suddenly. We know only too well that brave faces and cheerful smiles hide dashed dreams and broken hearts and we ask that when they face their dark times they may be comforted by the love that passes all understanding.

We find ourselves bound by a common cord – a cord not of our choosing. We give thanks that this cord, created unwittingly out of an act of evil that sought to restrict and control us, has strengthened year on year into an unbreakable chain, woven from the threads of happy memories and forged in loving, thankful hearts. Today, we pray as we stand united in remembrance, side by side, hand-in-hand as the links in this chain, what we may show those who sought to destroy us that they have only made us stronger.

And now, in the words of the Gaelic Blessing, we ask for peace in the hearts of everyone here today and for all those throughout the world who have been touched in any way by the tragic events over Lockerbie 33 years ago.

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may your God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Amen

‘Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.’ (John 1:3-5)

LIGHT YOUR CANDLE AS WE BEGIN

In the beginning, Lord
I was alone
Like the earth
before your Spirit moved over the waters.
I was formless and empty
and darkness filled the depths of my heart.
Then, it was as if you declared
‘Let there be Light’
and out of the darkness
I began to see hope
like a shimmering ray of love
breaking through the parting clouds
at the conclusion of the night.
In the beginning, Lord I was alone
but when I saw you in the light I was no longer afraid.
You held out your hand
and though I had a choice
I had no choice
because to refuse
was to embrace again the darkness.
In the beginning, Lord I was alone
now I am again a part
of your creation
loved, wanted, needed, family.
In the light of your presence
I hold out my heart that others
might glimpse through it your reflection
and be drawn from the darkness that I once embraced
into the light of your sunrise
the brightness of your face

Lord Jesus, Son of God, Saviour of the world
Be the centre of all that we are, and the life that we lead

Lord Jesus, Light in this dark World, illuminate our hearts and minds
Be the centre of all that we are, and the life that we lead

Hope

“He will also strengthen you to the end,
so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:8)

God of Hope, we seek you.
During this holy season of Advent,
help us to see you in all whom we encounter.

God of Hope, we seek you.
We seek you in the crude manger,
a child born to save the world.
May your hope be a comfort
to all who long for justice.

God of Hope, we seek you.
May your hope fill our hearts
and grace our lips so that we might
reflect your hope for all the world.

Amen.

In this Advent of expectation
draw us together in unity,
that our praise and worship
might echo in these walls
and also through our lives.

In this Advent of expectation
draw us together in mission,
that the hope within
might be the song we sing,
and the melody of our lives.

In this Advent of expectation
draw us together in service,
that the path we follow
might lead us from a stable
to a glimpse of eternity.

This is Advent, the season of preparation. The shops are full of gifts that we might give or receive. Streets are decorated and choirs begin the rounds of community centres and retirement homes with their seasonal offerings of carols. As we prepare, we remember another, John the Baptist, who came to prepare the Jewish people for the arrival of Jesus. John, who would prepare a way through a call to repentance, so that hearts and souls would be ready to receive the One who was to come.

Father God, prepare our hearts not only for the celebration to come, but also for sharing that Good News with friends, family and work colleagues should opportunity arise. Grant us courage and a real willingness to talk about the love that came down to earth and walked among us. Amen