Plenary, 21 Jun 2000

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 21, 2000

Official Report 635KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

We welcome to lead our time for reflection today Rev David Anderson, the general secretary of Evangelical Alliance Scotland.

Let us hear the word of God: a parable of Jesus about priorities, and a favourite Scottish psalm, containing the motto of Edinburgh.

"Jesus told them this parable: ‘A rich man had land which bore good crops. He began to think to himself, "I don't have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do? This is what I will do," he told himself; "I will tear my barns down and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods. Then I will say to myself: Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!" But God said to him, "You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?"' And Jesus concluded, ‘This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God's sight. Your Father knows that you need these things. Instead, put his Kingdom first in your life, and he will provide you with these things.'"

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good."

Let us pray. God, our loving Father, you are the creator of our world. In you we live and move and have our being. From you we receive daily strength and sense of purpose. You are our friend and helper, offering us forgiveness for our failure, fulfilment in our present, hope for the future.

In this uncertain world, help us to understand you are the foundation of all human life, better than any light, safer than any known way, and that our lives are restless until they find their rest in you.

We thank you for this Scottish Parliament and for all who have worked hard in this chamber and in their constituencies for the people of Scotland. We remember our First Minister, Donald Dewar, praying that he will soon be restored to full health and strength. Guide the acting First Minister, the Scottish Executive, the committees and members of the Parliament that they may govern with integrity and sensitivity, wisdom and compassion.

In particular, we pray for workable policies, having an impact on key social needs, delivering resources for the poor, jobs for the jobless, health for the sick and justice for every section of our community.

May the high aspirations for the Parliament be tempered with realism about what it can achieve. Help us today and every day to stand for what is right, not because it may yield dividends later, but because it is right, now. Remind us constantly that from the beginning of our lives and at the end of the day, we are all of us accountable to one greater than ourselves.

Above all, Father, as we remember that this Parliament exists for the benefit of those who are outside it, help your servants, in constructive partnerships with others, to deny the interests of none and to seek the common good of all our people.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.