Scottish Churches Joint Call to Prayer

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A prayer from the Scottish Church Leaders Forum in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

 

Living God,

Creator and giver of life to all people:

We ask that you would hear our prayer for peace amongst the nations And for ending of conflict in Ukraine.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

 

Living God,

Who shall judge between the nations:

We ask that that you would lead the nations in the paths of peace And that the dividing wall of hostility would be broken down.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

 

Living God,

Who has inspired faith across the ages:

Grant peace in the midst of war

And bring harmony to the commonwealth of nations.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

 

Living God,

Who gave his only Son that we might have life:

We ask that you would pour out your Holy Spirit And inspire in us hope that peace will be renewed.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

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A prayer for Ukraine from World Vision

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Heavenly Father, hear our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

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Lord, we ask for peace for those who need peace, reconciliation for those who need reconciliation and comfort for all who don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Lord may your Kingdom come, and Your will be done. 

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Lord God, we ask for you to be with all – especially children who are suffering as the crisis in Ukraine deteriorates. Lord, for those who are anxious and fearful. For those who are bereaved, injured or who have lost their lives. And for those who have lost loved ones. Lord, hear our prayers. 

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Bishop of Edinburgh Lent Appeal 2023 
 
In the Scottish Episcopal Church we believe it is a priority to provide high-quality training to form the next generation of church leaders. We recognize how important it is to resource our Scottish Episcopal Institute and we are proud of its success. At the Lambeth Conference last year, I discovered that this is a priority shared right across the Anglican Communion, but many Provinces struggle to find a consistent funding stream for their Seminaries and Theological Colleges.  

 
My appeal this Lent is in support of St Nicholas’ Seminary in Cape Coast, Ghana. Cape Coast is our partner diocese and I had the great joy of visiting the Seminary when I attended Bishop Victor’s enthronement 10 years ago. The Dean of the Seminary, Joseph Bain-Doodu, was in the UK last year so I learned first-hand of his struggle to provide excellent training with limited and erratic funding sources.   
 
This water filtration project seems to me to be a wonderful example of self-help. I commend it to you and ask for your generous support.  I know that the cost-of-living crisis is hitting many of us hard just now, but I hope, nevertheless, that by pooling our generosity we may help to sustain the life of a church, far away in geographical terms, but close to us within the life of Christ.   
 
As Joseph explains, a comparatively small amount of money (for us) can make a big difference for the ongoing life of the church in West Africa.

                                                                                                                        +John
 
             

 
 

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Water Filtration Project, St Nicholas Seminary, Cape Coast Ghana

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St. Nicholas Seminary has been training clergy since 1975. It is the only active seminary in the Province of West Africa (which includes Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, the Gambia, and Cameroon). Alongside our own ordinands, we have also trained ministers and lay pastors for the Methodist and Pentecostal Churches in Ghana and Ivory Coast.    
Over the years, we have trained over 500 priests and currently there are 40 students in training.  We have four full-time lecturers, eight adjunct lecturers and ten non-teaching staff. We are affiliated to the University of Cape Coast and run programmes in Bachelor of Theology, Diploma in Theology, Diploma in Ministry, Certificate in Ministry and      Certificate in Anglican Studies.  
 
The Problem  
Each diocese is expected to pay for its own ordinands, but some cannot afford to do so. With the ever-increasing cost of goods and services, alongside ongoing economic challenges, our budget is constantly in deficit. Sometimes, indeed, we are unable to feed our students or to pay our utility bills and must send our students home abruptly. This lack of financial sustainability makes it hard to attract and retain staff, and almost impossible to renovate and maintain our buildings.    

 

An Idea  
With all this in mind, we have come up with an innovative idea that will generate regular income and so offer us financial stability. There is a need for 
clean water in Cape Coast, so we plan to establish a water filtration plant. This purified water will be sold to schools, university students and the general public.  
 
The machinery will cost 187,250 Ghana Cedis – approximately £12,200.  
 
We know this is a lot of money, but we hope you will feel able to support us this Lent. Once in full production we would expect our plant to bring in over £9000 a year. You will be helping us to help ourselves, as we seek to provide consistent care for staff and students and to prepare labourers to reap God's harvest for many years to come. 

 The Venerable Joseph Justice Bain-Doodu, Acting Dean, St Nicholas’ Seminary, Cape Coast   
 

                                          Bishop of Edinburgh Lent Appeal 2023 

How to donate: 
All the details for online donations will be posted on this page on our website:  
https://edinburgh.anglican.org/2023/02/bishops-lent-appeal-2023/   
(Under menu item “News & Issues

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