The Most Revd Mark Strange, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, joins ecumenical colleagues from the Scottish Church Leaders Forum to deliver a joint Christmas Message.

This message is also available in Gaelic
Tha an teachdaireachd seo cuideachd ri fhaighinn sa Ghàidhlig

1. Christmas is a little different this year due to Coronavirus, festive guidance and tier restrictions.
   
   
2. The household at the heart of the Christmas story had to respond to the authorities’ guidance on travel and make their way to Bethlehem.
   
   
3. Mary was pregnant and had to take real good care of herself and the life growing within. They were socially distanced and isolated in Bethlehem because there was no room in the inn.
   
   
4. They didn’t plan or expect to find themselves staying in a stable, but life carried on and their child was born.
   
   
5. A further two households came to visit: a household of shepherds and a household of wise folk. Rather than rainbows, angels and the brightest star arced overhead.
   
   
6. We believe and offer to all, that in this Christmas story, the distance between heaven and earth was crossed; the distance between God and human beings was closed.
   
   
7. The eternal Word became flesh and lived among us. We hope that you will be able to celebrate Christmas with others, either in person or online.
   
   
8. We know that some of us will experience Christmas alone, isolated and longing for human contact.
   
   
9. In these unprecedented times, to the people of Scotland we, as some of the nation’s church leaders, would like to say “we are praying for you and we are doing our best to be there for you.”
   
   
10. May you know Heaven closing the gap to earth, and living with you this Christmas.

Foram Eadar-Eaglaiseach na h-Alba: Teachdaireachd na Nollaige, 2020

1. Tha àm na Nollaige rud beag eadar-dhealaichte am bliadhna air sgàth na riaghailtean ùra ceangailte ri Covid.
   
   
2. Bha agus aig teaghlach Ìosa ri rudeigin neo-àbhaisteach a dhèanamh air sgàth an riaghaltais nuair a bha aca ri siùbhal gu Betlehem airson pàirt a ghabhail ann an cunntais sluaigh.
   
   
3. Bha Moire trom, agus mar sin bha aice ri bhith gu sònraichte fallainn air a sgàth fhèin agus air sgàth a leanabh. Bha iad aig astar sòisealta ann an Betlehem o nach robh rùm san taigh-òsda.
   
   
4. Cha robh dùil aca gum biodh iad a’ fuireach ann an stàball. Ach rugadh an leanabh co-dhiù.
   
   
5. Thàinig dà ‘thaigh’ a bharrachd a chèilidh orra: na buachaillean agus na draoidhean. An àite boghan-frois, bha ainglean agus an reul as soilleire os on cionn.
   
   
6. Tha sinn a’ creidsinn gun do dhùin Iosa an t-astar eadar Dia agus clann-dhaoine leis an sgeulachd seo.
   
   
7. Chaidh am facal bith-bhuan a dhèanamh na fheòil, agus dh’fhuirich e nar measg. Tha sinn an dòchas gun tèid agaibh fhèin air an Nollaig a chur seachad an caidreamh a chèile, air loidhne neo san dòigh traidiseanta.
   
   
8. Tha fios gum bi cuid againn nar n-aonar air an Nollaig seo, fa leth agus ag ionndrainn daoine eile.
   
   
9. Sna h-amannan neònach seo, tha sinne, nar riochdairean bho chuid eaglaisean na h-Alba, airson a ràdh ribh: Tha sinn ag ùrnaigh air ur son. Tha sinn a’ feuchainn ri bhith taiceil ribh.
   
   
10. Agus tha sinn an dòchas gum bi sibh beò còmhla ri Dia an Nollaig seo, an Dia a thàinig sios gus a bhith còmhla ribhse.