Scottish Catholic Observer

We may well ask ‘where are we now?’ after weeks of discussions, argument and debate, information and supposition, meetings and presentations, and finally the realisation that each person has to come to a decision and put a cross at yes or no on that ballot paper. For the Christian believer, this is the time when all the hubbub ceases and prayer starts in earnest—maybe at its basic level, the familiar cry of “Oh God, what am I to do now?”

The independence referendum comes at a point after nine of the Christian churches in Scotland have been praying and working together, for years, as ACTS (the Action of Churches Together in Scotland).

The Catholic Church in Scotland is an active participant in ACTS, on the national and the diocesan levels. ACTS offers possibilities of following the ecumenical programme of the Church, which gives the simple formula of ‘Do together everything that can be done together.’ Praying together towards the referendum is surely part of that ‘everything.’ In all our various church communities we pray “Our Father … Thy will be done … Thy kingdom come …” In these days of September we can all pray that prayer with this referendum in mind.

In the final months of 2013, with the referendum in view, ACTS published four sessions for groups, entitled Values for Scotland? They are still available on the ACTS website. These are reflection/prayer sessions based on Scripture readings from the Advent Sundays, and calling attention to the four core values inscribed on the Scottish Parliamentary Mace—wisdom, compassion, justice and integrity.

Part of each session is the meditative reading of the Prayer of the Mace (see page 14). It is published in the SCO today as a prayer to pray individually or with others inthese days before the referendum.

In March of this year 2014 ACTS organised and managed a meeting in Edinburgh of 48 ecumenical leaders from 18 church communities across the 4 nations—Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland.

The aim was to reflect and pray together about possible implications of the referendum on the future of Scotland. Churches in the other nations will now be praying for peace for Scotland and for the guidance of the Spirit of God for those who take decisions for Scotland’s future. There was strong encouragement, from the visitors, for ACTS to prepare prayer and liturgy which could be offered to all the churches in Scotland, for united prayer before and after September 18. These prayer outlines—for personal, group or liturgical use —can be found on the ACTS website today.

Two passages of Scripture suggested in these outlines may be particularly helpful:

1 Kings 3:5-12

(Solomon asks for wisdom and a discerning heart, not for riches, nor for the lives of his enemies – and the Lord gives the gift)

1 Thessalonians5:14-22

(Be at peace among yourselves… support the weak …always aim at what is best for each other and for everyone).

The Prayer of the Mace*

Almighty God, Creator and Father,

we come to you in trust and hope,

grateful for your many gifts to us,

your countless blessings.

Thank you for this our country

and all its people;

thank you for the history which has made us who we are.

At this special time,

instil in us your Spirit of wisdom and integrity,

of true justice and compassion.

Help us to move forward in that Spirit

as brothers and sisters of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Forgive the conflicts and the evils that have influenced us.

Gently heal the scars of pain and resentment

that can remain in and among us all.

Strengthen and increase among us

the love and harmony of purpose

that belong to your reign.

Make of us apostles of truth and peace

as we move among our fellow citizens at this time.

As we come to you today, remind us of your call

to be disciples of your Son.

May we turn to him for light

and ask through and with him for your grace.

Led by your Son, we will say together

‘Father, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth.’

*On the Scottish parliamentary mace are inscribed the four words: justice, integrity, wisdom, compassion

— Sr Elizabeth Moran is the Catholic Church’s representative on the Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS).

— Find the ACTS website at http://www.acts-scotland.org