[Episcopal News Service]
One of Scotland's oldest churches jumped into the 21st century by launching an online prayer service. Rosslyn Chapel, based just outside Edinburgh, has become Scotland's first church to take e-prayer requests over the internet. Scores of people from as far afield as the US and the West Indies have already logged on to leave messages on the virtual prayer board during its trial run. The service is available through the Scottish Episcopal Church's website at www.scottishepiscopal.com or at www.scotland.anglican.org.
At noon every weekday, the prayer requests are printed and offered to God in the chapel by a member of the congregation. The online service is a virtual extension of a physical prayer book kept at the back of the historic church. Hundreds of people visit Rosslyn Chapel every week and write their prayer requests into the book.
'These e-prayers are allowing us to build a long-distance worshipping community,' said the Rev. Michael Fass, priest-in-charge of Rosslyn Chapel. 'They are connecting people to the church that wouldn't be connected in any other way. We live increasingly disconnected lives. If this is a way that we can connect people to a church, then that must be a good idea. Whether people are in the church or thousands of miles away down the other end of a phone line, our ministry is to offer up their prayers to God.' Fass that people were particularly attracted by the anonymity of the service.
Prayer has always been central to Rosslyn Chapel since it was founded in around 1446 as the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew. Its founder, Sir William St. Clair, set up a team of priests to pray for himself, his family and his comrades in arms. Rosslyn Chapel has also often been associated with mystery. The chapel has become the focus of countless myths, legends, and conspiracy theories, involving everyone from the Knights Templar to the Freemasons.
|
