International Suicide Prevention Day

This morning a group of people gathered on Girvan Beach to create a piece of GodArt. As people went along the beach collecting natural items to outline a heart, and rubbish to put within the heart, they were encouraged to reflect on the day and bring back their items along with words and phrases. The words and phrases where woven together into the poem below, which formed part of a short Act of Worship. Photos of the GodArt are below, as are the words from the Act of Worship.

Like God, we glean collecting
with careful tender love,
the overlooked, rejected,
which we see the beauty of.
Counted yet as precious
like each grain of sand.
Formed and framed eternally,
by The Creator's hand.
Overwhelmed and pressured
in the turning of the tide,
changing the, 'I'm okay' spoken
to screaming 'help me' deep inside.
Breaking at the shore, relentless
God's love reaches out as if a wave.
Renewing stumbled footprints
to ground that that feels more brave.
Help us dearest Jesus,
to be your hands and feet,
to show you love, proclaim your hope
shooing dark shadows to retreat.
In the silence of unknowning
in the heartbeat of despair,
ring 116 123
we and others really care.

An Act of Worship

We begin this time of reflection by drawing in the sand, a candle.

We pray together:
God of light, of hope, of peace.
We pray for those who see only darkness,
those who feel there is no hope,
those whose minds and lives are troubled.
May they know your loving presence,
grant them strength and confidence
to see themselves as precious and beloved,
of you and of us. Amen.

There were 753 probably suicides registered in Scotland during 2021. We do not know all their names, however in the time of silence that we know observe you are invited to name those known to you if you wish. You may wish to write their name in the sand, or even the number 753.

A time of silence

Part of today is raising awareness and breaking the taboo over suicide. There are no recorded figures for those whose suicide attempts have failed, whose have felt deep despair in their lives and thought death might be the only answer.
In this next time of silence you are invited to encircle the candle you have drawn with a heart, and to think of those you know who have attempted or considered suicide the answer.

A time of silence

Place your shell or pebble, representing yourself, within the heart you have drawn around your candle, as we pray for God’s wisdom if we ever find ourselves with someone suicidal.

We pray together:
God help us to be your love, your hope, and your peace,
with those who find living hard.
Give us the words to say, when words are needed.
The grace to keep silent, when words are vanity.
The nudge to act, when action is required.
And the will to be vulnerable for the sake of those
more vulnerable still.
Amen.

The poem is read out.

Farewell
May the beauty of God be reflected in our eyes,
the peace of God reside within our heart,
and the love of God be the focus of our life. Amen.