General Assembly

Praying across Scotland

General Assembly week for the Church of Scotland.

Praying across Scotland is a resource for folk who want to support the Church of Scotland through the time of its annual General Assembly meeting in Edinburgh, from May 15^th to 21st. In 2008 some 1200 ‘commissioners’ will gather at the Assembly Hall on The Mound each day to worship, hear reports, debate issues and make decisions about the future for the Kirk. The commissioners are drawn from approximately 25% of the congregations across Scotland and are an equal number of ordained ministers and elders. Also at the Assembly will be delegates and representatives of churches from across the UK and the world with whom we have links. Taking part are also youth representatives from the kirk, and members of the public and press will be looking on.

Some members of staff who work in the kirk will also be there, sometimes having to answer questions and provide information.

The Queen’s representative and guests from Scotland’s civic and political life will also visit to listen to debate at various times.

Most of the reports come from Councils and committees made up of church members who give of their time, expertise and experience willingly and freely.

These reports can be found in the ‘Blue book’

Information about the Church of Scotland, Presbyteries, congregations and ministers can be found in the ‘Red book’ – the Church of Scotland year book. Both of these are published annually.

Across the next few pages you will find topics and people to pray for on the day preceding the one on which they will feature in the General Assembly.

Prayers on Wed 14^th May for Thursday 15^th

• The Assembly opens each day with worship, as it should, but tomorrow the Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated.
• Pray for outgoing moderator; Shelagh Kesting, who has travelled the world in the kirk’s name and will shortly return to her full-time job as ecumenical officer for our church… and for David Lunan, who becomes moderator. David is clerk to Glasgow Presbytery. Pray too for his family
• Remember the Assembly staff and all who make it ‘work’ including the business committee under Bill Hewitt, clerks, secretaries, voluntary stewards.  Don’t forget to pray for those who will report what happens at the Assembly in press, on radio, TV and through the Church of Scotland website
• Hold before God all commissioners and visiting delegates, especially those for whom this is a first time experience and overseas delegates.
• The Youth Assembly (held in September) will be reported upon by its moderator, Morag. There are young people all over Scotland who are part of the people of faith, remember them and the youth workers and encouragers who enable them.
• The Council of Assembly tries to integrate the church’s planning and procedures, always looking to the future.
• The Review and Reform group recognises the need for the church to be continually evolving and encourage congregations to do so.
• Stewardship and Finance will be telling of pilot schemes across Scotland which aim to assist church members and kirk sessions to look realistically at their giving of time, talent and treasure for the Kingdom.
• The Support and Services committee’s work is behind the scenes but without them the ongoing work of the church would not happen.

Holy God, World-maker, Faith-shaper, Bread-breaker, Life-giver,

Here is the place we gather, become one and find unity in diversity.

We settle down, and You call us out. We get comfortable and You disturb us.

To the rhythm of heaven you call us again into the business of the Kingdom -

this time in a General Assembly, which looks like a talking shop but is actually a listening station, so we bring our prayers and we listen for your Word.

                                                Adapted from a Roddy Hamilton CWW prayer

Suggested Bible Reading: Revelation Ch.4 vs 1 – 11

Thursday 15^th May for Friday 16^th  May

Cross reach is the Church of Scotland’s Social Care wing and has through the years cared for the most vulnerable and needy in our society, and those who are damaged. It is one of the oldest and largest social care organisations in the country. Our prayers could be for: The older folk cared for in residential homes, and those who do the caring. Ronachan House is one of the units which deals with substance abuse, providing both care and advice. Homelessness and housing is an issue across Scotland. Remember families and individuals in difficult situations and those who work daily with them to alleviate the problem.

We are a Church of all the people, for all the people, that includes those with learning difficulties and those who are differently abled. We provide a raft of counselling services available to Scotland’s population.

Ecumenical relationships, between Christian denominations are important across the world, but especially in a country as small as Scotland, we can and do work together for the good of the Kingdom and all who live here. We may think through theology in different ways but we worship one Lord Jesus Christ.

The Iona Community is a worldwide faith co-operative and provides a rich vein of worship resources through the Wild Goose Worship group. It seeks to highlight Peace and Justice issues, works in cities and also through its residential bases on Mull and Iona.

The Guild is, and always has been, at the forefront of Christian service, enabling people at congregational level to engage with local, national and global Christian work, while encouraging people to live their faith with grace and compassion.

The Parish Development Fund encourages congregations to reach out into their communities and to work across boundaries by providing advice, finance and support.

World Mission works with supports and receives from our partnership churches around the globe. Pray for work being done in Israel/Palestine, across Africa, Asia and its sub continent. Partnership work continues across the Atlantic, and in Europe there are ‘Church of Scotland’ congregations and clergy serving both the local and English speaking population who work there.

More can be found in World Mission’s regular news bulletin WM.

Suggested Bible reading: Acts of the Apostles Ch. 8  vs 26 - 40

Friday 16th May for Saturday17^th May

Mission and Discipleship Council provide training and resourcing for congregations across Scotland, working with Urban Priority areas and rural communities. The Scottish Storytelling Centre on Edinburgh’s Royal mile engages Scots and our visitors in arts, drama and stories of who we are and who we could become. The Education and Nurture taskgroup provides material for young and mature alike in their spiritual growth. Elder training is offered. The Worship and Doctrine  group encourage people to think about what we believe and why, and how we express that. Mission and Evangelism looks at how we present our faith in the world in a credible and helpful way.

The kirk’s publishing house St Andrew Press produces a wide range of books and ‘Life and Work’ is a top-selling religious magazine and resource for church members.

Projects such as ‘The Well’, which builds relationships between the kirk and Glasgow’s Asian population. Shortly a congregational development tool, called ‘Future Focus’ will be rolled out  to assist congregations see and engage in process and activities which will encourage growth.

All of these are topics for our prayers today.

Pray for convener Rev Angus Morrison and the Council members as well as staff members.

Church Without Walls has never been an event but rather a state of heart, mind and soul. Give thanks for the work of the team who put together ‘Re-energise’ and the ‘National Gathering’ and all that happened at these, and pray for the people who attended them and then went back to their congregations to share the experience.

The Garden Party at Holyrood Palace is a regular feature of the Assembly and can be more than a pleasant Saturday afternoon with strawberry tarts. It is a place to network with people from all walks of life, meet people and hear their stories and to say thank you to many people who give of their time, skills, energy and enthusiasm to improve the life of Scotland’s communities. Give thanks for them.

Saturday night is Youth night at the General assembly and the Hall will be transformed as hundred’s of young people join with commissioners to share faith, address issues which concern the young and young at heart, and breath new life into an traditional setting. Pray for the leaders and participants.

Suggested Bible reading:  Gospel of John Ch.4 vs 1 – 26

Saturday 17th May for Sunday 18^th May

Sunday is a day when the Kirk meets for public worship and Commissioners gather at St Giles Cathedral to sing God’s praise together, joining more than 3000 other congregations of different denominations who meet in cathedrals, churches, chapels and community halls across Scotland. Yours will be among them so today we ask you to pray for your own congregation’s worship, work and witness.

We also ask you to pray in and for your community – your neighbours and their needs. List them

Remember the schools and places of education in your parish.

Pray for the health institution and for those who you know would benefit from healing and wholeness.

Pray for those who have influence in your community including your MP and MSPs (by name) Remember your Local Authority representatives and your Community Councillors. Praying for those in authority is a biblical imperative.

Recall those who serve your local community in legal affairs, including your emergency services – Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance service, Coastguard, Mountain Rescue teams and Lifeboat crews.

Lord, we live in a world of information

Of websites and databases, of satellite television and video-conferencing.

Facts and figures are at our very finger tips.

Every kind of knowledge is but a moment away.

Yet, lord we who know so much have so much to learn in the halls of wisdom.

The ancients, the sages and prophets, though we might think them primitive)

Are truly our masters and our mentors.

We who are overflowing with information

Are summoned to that school which charges no fees

But from which we never graduate this side of eternity.

I remember that reverence of you is the beginning of wisdom.

I pray for all preachers, teachers and evangelists

As they seek to introduce people to the one who is the wellspring and fountainhead of all wisdom and learning.

(from More than Words – a new publication of daily devotions from St Andrew Press 2008)

Suggested Bible Reading:  Psalm 16 vs 1- 11

Sunday 18^th May for Monday 19^th May

Ministries Council looks after the interests of all those who are employed by the church to work in parishes such as ministers, deacons, readers, youth-workers and parish assistants.

They are also responsible for the training of many of these so as they are well equipped to work in today’s changing society, and so work closely with colleges and universities devising the right courses. Part of this is ensuring that good practical experience is part of the training.

Once trained, continual learning is essential if church workers are to be kept up to date and essential, so in-service training and study leave also come under this Council’s remit.

Give thanks for 40 years of service by women, who were ordained for the first time to Word and Sacrament in 1968.

Celebrate the richness and variety of ministries across our church.

Remember situations where congregations have been looking for a new minister, sometimes for a period of years.

Pray that people would listen for and respond positively to the call of God to full-time service in the Church.

The Special Commission looking at Structure and Change, has been investigating how the Church of Scotland could best adapt its governance and ways of working to take account of the 21^st century and Scotland’s needs while being true to our Presbyterian and Reformed tradition. Many changes have indeed taken place already.

Give thanks that the church is not static but on the move.

As a mother comforts her child, so you comfort us, O God,

You nourish us and encourage us with love

And tend our wounded feelings with gentleness.

You smile with us when we push boundaries and venture into new places

Learning buy our mistakes and maturing in understanding and sensitivity.

You are patient with us, willing our return to you

Impatient to see us reconciled to one another and to you.

            (Very Rev S. Kesting in Worship Anthology by St Andrew Press 2008

                        a collection of resources by women ordained to Word & sacrament)

Suggested Bible Reading:  Ecclesiates Ch 5 vs 1-7

Monday 19^th May for Tuesday 20^th May

The UK Armed Forces and their families need spiritual care as much as every other group in society and this is provide at home and overseas by chaplains, working together in teams to serve the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, British Army – the Territorial Army and the many younger feeder groups such as Army Cadet Units and air Training Corps.

The work of chaplains is often as demanding as re the tasks that the Armed Forces are asked to carry out at home and overseas.

As you pray for the Chaplaincy Committee and all chaplains, please also pray for those with whom they work and especially those who have experienced trauma in recent years. Fatalities and injuries affect not only those directly damaged, but families, friends, communities and other unit members. Stresses of separation  brings its own toll in broken relationships. Chaplains serve a predominantly young adult population who are often required to make life and death decisions and ask ‘ What is the meaning of life ?’

The Church and Society Council’s wide ranging remit takes in

What the Christian church has to say in the world of politics and how we relate to the politicians. Pray for Rev. Graham Blount and the Scottish churches parliamentary Office.

Schools, Education and Religious Observance concerns reside here, as do issues relating to how the Church should respond to questions  and debate regarding Euthanasia, Gambling, Homelessness, Peace in Europe not forgetting Climate change.

All of these mega-issues – are huge and important affecting millions of people daily.

Pray for those who spend considerable effort to understand them and comment upon them from a Christian perspective after serious consideration and study. Many of our spokespeople are leaders in their field and speak on a world stage with authority, and in Christ’s name. it’s a big responsibility.

Suggested Bible Reading:      Ephesians Ch. 6 vs 10 – 18

Tuesday 20^th May for Wednesday 21^st May

The General Trustees are charge with the responsibility of caring for Church properties, and as representatives of one of Scotland’s  major landowners must act with integrity and wisdom for the good of all. Looking after, what people view as, sacred spaces where people worship and celebrate faith and life requires not only sensitivity but also a knowledge of finance and property. Manses and glebes fall under their care too.

The HIV/AIDS project is filled with compassion and reaches out into every Scottish parish and well beyond to communities across the world.

‘Our generation and the next’ is a phrase that will often be heard in this project, where fear and ignorance can be as big problems as the virus itself.

Pray for those who work with sufferers, extending the hand of fellowship and care. Pray for those who live with HIV/AIDs as a daily reality, and also for their family and circle of friends.

Pray for those educate and inform, sometimes against a wave of prejudice.

(We learned with sadness of the death of Nigel Pounde, the Project co-ordinator as we went to print.)

The work of the Nominations Committee is not often known widely, but is a vital cog in the Church wheel. They are tasked with selecting from Presbytery and other nominations, out of all the folk involved in the Church of Scotland – more than 600,000 - those who would ably and faithfully serve on the Councils of the Kirk. Pray that they may make wise decisions. Pray that many within the Kirk would allow their name to go forward to serve the wider church. Pray that you discern how best to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Wednesday will be the last day of the 2008 General Assembly.

Pray for the commissioners who will go home to their parishes, that they will return home ready to tell their Presbytery, Kirk Session and congregation about their experiences. Pray for their safe travel and for a renewed sense of Christian purpose, having represented their local church, engaged with Christians from across Scotland and around the world, and sought God’s guidance for the Kirk’s future.

Suggested Bible Reading:  Jeremiah Ch 10 vs 6 - 16

Wednesday 21^st May

If you wish to meet on the Wednesday then you might pray giving thanks to God for all that has been achieved in this week’s General Assembly.

You might like to sing the words of the hymn CH4   “Let us build a house”

and you might like to read  Colossians Ch 3 vs 12 – 17 leaving space for folk’s personal prayers for the Church of Scotland and the Kingdom of God.

added 2nd May 2008