Burns Day prayers

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They chant their artless notes in simple guise They tune their hearts, perhaps their noblest aim;

Perhaps Dundee’s wild-warbling measures rise, Or plaintive Martyrs, worthy of the name; Or noble Elgin beets the heavenward flame, The sweetest far of Scotia’s holy lays, Compared with these Italian trills are tame.

So we pray for the Church in this community and in all the world – in its song and its prayer, its worship and witness, its mission and service – may the Church ever speak words of challenge without fear and words of comfort with grace;

Lord hear our prayer

Wee, modest crimson-tipped flow’r, Thou’s met me in an evil hour; For I maun crush amang the stoure Thy slender stem:

To spare thee now is past my pow’r, Thou bonie gem.

So, truly sorry man’s dominion has broken nature’s social union, we give thanks for the wonder of creation and the riches of the natural word;

Turn the hearts of those who resist the evidence of climate change; teach us all to cherish this good earth and encourage those who work tirelessly to conserve it safe and secure for generations to come;

Lord hear our prayer

Had we never lov’d sae kindly, Had we never lov’d sae blindly, Never met, or never parted, We had ne’er been broken-hearted.

So we pray for all who mourn that they may find comfort in good memories, the kindness of friends and the assurance of a love which is stronger than death:

Lord hear our prayer;

We sleekit cowerein’ tim’rous beastie, O what a panic’s in thy breastie…

Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me! – toucheth thee: But Och! I backward cast my e’e, On prospects drear!

An’ forward tho’ I canna see, I guess an’ fear!

So we pray for all for whom life is a daily struggle with poverty, homelessness, rejection and need – often surrounded by the plenty of others; teach is as a nation and as a world community to be more generous, and to put the needs of others before our own and so help shape a better and a fairer world;

Lord hear our prayer;

Then let us pray that come it may As come it will for a’ that; That sense and worth o’er a’ the earth Shall bear the gree and a’ that; For a’ that and a’ that; It’s coming yet for a’ that; That man tae man the world o’er Shall brithers be for a’ that.

So, give peace with justice in our time, good Lord

And may your kingdom come among us as sisters and brothers in Christ;

Lord hear our prayer;

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind;

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne.

So, before you, O God, we remember with thanks all of who have gone before us in the faith of Christ- built our sanctuaries, kept safe our scriptures, gathered our songs and taught us to know and trust you; keep us one with all your saints in faith and in service, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

This article appears in the January 2019 Issue of Life and Work

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