‘Pet companionship and prayers’
Good morning,
It’s the weekend! And the end of the first week of these companionship missives. Time for some creaturely help…
Today’s companionship begins rather with canine-anionship…
Dr Mary Stevens, retired Chaplaincy Secretary writes as follows:
I’ve received a lot of messages from people who follow Chirpy’s Facebook page, staff, students, non-university, from all over the place…. saying how much they are enjoying her Facebook page while isolated / distanced… www.facebook.com/chirpygordon
Chirpy is almost unbelievably cute. Go on – check out her page – you know you want to.
Not to be outdone, how about some catpanionship… Here’s Tobit, one of our household, expressing solidarity with all those people feeling imprisoned in their homes today…
Kitty Macintyre, our Pagan Chaplain, has reminded me that today is the spring equinox. It is the moment at which the centre of the visible Sun is directly above the equator, when day and night are equal, a time of balance. Balance is good for walking and sport. It is usually very helpful in thinking through any issue in politics. And perhaps in these days, it is something which is good for us to cultivate, especially if feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances – balance, poise – recognising that while the news is undeniably grim, there is a bigger picture (or at least, pictures of dogs and cats).
As Sunday approaches, many churches are launching their own initiatives – blogs and emails, times of prayer, online services. Watch out for how the Chaplaincy hopes to continue worship at the end of the spring vacation (yes, we are still sort-of on holiday!?).
But in the meantime, tomorrow, Sunday 22 March has been declared a National Day of Prayer in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK. Here is the text the churches have put out:
On behalf of the churches that we serve across Scotland, we warmly commend the Call to a National Day of Prayer, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and invite people of faith across our nation, to join in prayerful solidarity with this witness. The invitation is to light a candle at 7pm this Sunday, 22nd March, in the window of our homes as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, the source of hope in this life.
We offer a prayer to use when lighting your candle:
For all that is good in life, thank you,
For the love of family and friends, thank you,
For the kindness of good neighbour and Samaritan stranger, thank you.
May those who are vulnerable, hungry or homeless, experience support,May those who are sick, know healing,
May those who are anxious or bereaved, sense comfort.
Bless and guide political leaders and decision-makers, with wisdom,
Bless and guide health workers and key workers, with strength and well-being,
Bless and guide each one of us, as we adapt to a new way of living.
And may the light shining from our windows, across road and wynd, glen and ben, kyle and isle, be reflected in our hearts and hands and hopes.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Yours,
Donald.