For the 16^th day of Advent, Rev Hugh Stewart, the minister of Lochs in Bernera linked with Uig on the Isle of Lewis, has written us a prayer in Scottish Gaelic as we await the coming of the Lord this Advent season.

An English translation is available to read underneath.

Gaelic prayer

Dhè ghràsmhor agus uile bheannaichte.
Tha sin dhad mholadh, air an latha seo, airson do throcairean a tha nuadh gach madainn.
Thusa a chruthaich, nèamh agus talamh. Tìm agus an t-sìorraidheachd. Agus sinne, a dhealbh thu nad ìomhaigh, ghlòrmhòr, fhèin
Buidheachas dhutsa gun do bhris thu a-steach don t-saoghal seo, a bha air a bhogadh le dorchadas ar peacannan, tre thiodhlaic do ghràis, ar Tighearna, Iosa Criosd.

Cuspair, a thàinig gu bhith na shlighe dhuinne air ais a-chum ar n-Athair a' ta air nèamh.
Gun robh Criosd a' phrasaich na Chriosd nar beatha, agus gun ullaich e sinn, nad do shlighean, a Dhe, a-chum na beatha mhaireanaich.
Moladh dhutsa, ged a bha an dorchadas a' dèanamh ar-a-mach na aghaidh, nach b'urrainn don dorchadas buannachadh, oir is Esan solas an t-saoghail.

Brosnaich sinn, a Dhè, ann a bhith a cur ar dòchas agus ar creideamh annsan, Immanuel, is e sinn, ‘Dia leinn'.
Brosnaich sinn ann a bhith dhad mholadh anns gach ceum a bheir sinn air an t-slighe a tha thusa air a chur romhainn annsan.
Brosnaich sinn nar moladh, nar n-adhradh agus nar caitheamh beatha, tre chumhachd do Ghràis, aig an àm Nollaige seo.
Agus na h-uile tha sinn ag urnuigh sann an ainm ar Tighearna, Iosa Criosd.
Amen.

English translation

Gracious and all-blessed God,
We praise this day, for Your mercies that are new every morning.
You, who created heaven and earth. Time and eternity. And we, whom You have fashioned in Your own, glorious image.
Thank You for breaking into this world, which was immersed in the darkness of our sins, through the gift of Your grace, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

A Person, who became for us, a way back to our Father in heaven.
That the Christ of the manger would be the Christ in our lives, and may He prepare us, in Your ways, O God, for eternal life.
We praise You, that even though the darkness was warring against Him, the darkness could not win, because He is the light of the world.

Encourage us, O God, to put our hope and faith in Him, Immanuel, 'God with us'.
Encourage us to praise You in every step we take on the path You have set before us.
Encourage us in our praise, in our worship and in our service to You, through the power of Your Grace at this Christmas time.
And all this we pray in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.