Time for Reflection
Good afternoon. The first item of business, as always, is time for reflection. We felt that it would be more than suitable, on this particular occasion, which is as close as possible to the 10th anniversary of the first sitting of our Parliament, to have as our time for reflection leader the Very Rev Gilleasbuig Macmillan, the minister of St Giles Cathedral.
The Very Rev Gilleasbuig Macmillan (St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh):
Presiding Officer,
"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
O let the nations be glad and sing for joy."
"He hath shewed thee what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
"God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
Let us pray.
For all that is beautiful and good and true, we offer thanks and praise.
For this land of Scotland –
Its fertile fields and running rivers
Majestic hills and windy islands
Towns and cities, villages and clachans
We bring devoted thanks;
Most of all for Scotland's people –
Their character, their style
The young and old, the in-between
Traditions, skills, the language and the music
We celebrate with pride;
For Scots abroad we pray, as also we remember
The influence of our people in the wider world
The new Scots who have come from there to here
The happy mix of races, creeds and customs;
For ten years of this Scottish Parliament –
For dreams, vision, dedication
Honourable efforts, dutiful administration,
Honest debate, testing of deep principle,
Readiness to serve the people's common good,
We make our thankful tribute.
When things go badly wrong in our communities
And pain and hurt demolish peaceful life,
Help us and all our people in our land
To put new effort into the making of good neighbourhood
And let so much that's good bring help to heal and build,
Harnessing all our strengths for wise humanity.
Not for this land alone we pray,
But for the whole wide earth;
For children born and growing up in places near and far,
That all may have the chance of nurture, freedom, peace,
And all may learn to use their skills for good;
And the whole earth learn peace;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.