Author: Alan Mathew

Weekly news from Central 

by Alan Mathew, posted in Weekly Church News

Here at Bellshill Central, you will find a warm welcome from a group of committed Christian people. You will find worship services each week that incorporate both the traditional and the new, and passionate preaching  that tries hard to make the Scripture message relevant to our daily living. If you want a Church that is Central to Christ, Central to you and Central to Bellshill then look no further.  We would be delighted to welcome you. Let us build a house where all can dwell – All are welcome in this place!

The next service within Bellshill Central Parish Church is on Sunday 10th September  2017 led by Rev de Beer at 11am.  Kevin leads us in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.  Anyone who loves the Lord is welcome to our service.   The theme is  Can’t we get along? – Harmony is the best option, with bible readings from Luke 14:15-24, Matthew 10:32-42 & Luke 12:13-21.  There will be  a retiring offering this Sunday for the Moira Anderson Foundation (a National Charity dedicated to supporting those affected by childhood sexual abuse. They support children and adults of both genders in whatever way they can).

Our hymns include Make me a channel of your peace, We come as guests invited, Give thanks with a grateful heart and In Christ there is no East or West.     Activities for Children and Young Adults activities will be available during the service.  

We would be delighted to welcome you in the LORD’s name. If you are a visitor to our church, do make yourself known to one of the welcome team.  We are a warm and welcoming church at the heart of our town — Central Church is Central to Bellshill, Central to Christ and Central to YOU!

A massive thank you to all who took part in and supported our Parish Sponsored Run and Walk.   It was a fun event, through the parish, raising funds for the church, encouraging activity and healthy well-being and a great way to meet people in our community. An update to the total raised is now more than £840 with Gift Aid still to be added.    

Another great night was had on Friday 8th September at our annual church quiz under the quiz master Hugh Ainsley in the church hall.  If you want to take part you’re welcome.   As always the rounds will included General Knowledge,  Sport, Picture Round and many more.   Everyone enjoyed themself and the competitors took each round “seriously”    As well as fun and friendship, this was part of our fundraising events.   

We Live Stream our Sunday Services via our YouTube Channel – please join our online congregation from 11am if you are not able to come to church and worship with us online.

We are a Parish Church and are here for you in times of joy and sadness.  Our minister, Rev Kevin de Beer, is available to the local community to offer spiritual support or to simply offer prayer.  Each week in our Sunday Service we offer prayers for those needing to be remembered.  If you would like to add names to our prayers or require the services of your local Parish Church please get in touch – contact details are available on our website and our church notice board.    If there is something that you think your local church could be doing to offer services and/or support to our local community please get in touch via the Minister, Session Clerk, Facebook or website – Our church email address is bellshillcentral@gmail.com

Our weekly organisations are looking forward to resuming the fun, activities and friendship in August and the new sessions.   Please check out our facebook, our website for full details.

All sections of Bellshill Central’s Girl Guiding units have started back with places available for girls in all sections in the Church hall at 346 Main Street.

• Rainbows meet  on Tuesdays at 6pm

• Brownies meet on Thursdays at 6.15pm

• Guides meet on Thursdays at 7.45pm

Girlguiding is dedicated to creating a better world for girls and young women. We empower girls, we give them space to grow and we ensure that each one of them can get involved – no matter what their background or ability.    From the youngest girls (aged 5-7yrs), the in-betweeners (7-10yrs) and the older girls (10yrs plus) the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides offer a warm welcome and a balanced programme of activities, badges and challenges to inspire and ignite girls’ imaginations.

Calling all carpet bowlers, Bellshill Central Parish Church carpet bowling club meets  on Wednesday night’s at 7pm   All welcome, come along and join us, just bring a pair of slippers, we will supply the rest, including the jokes.

The Friday night club meets fortnightly on fridays at 7.00pm in the church hall.  This is a family club for all ages, taking in loads of different crafts like card making, knitting, cross stitch, painting and lots more, we also play Table Tennis and drink tea. Come and join us.   We meet fortnightly and next meet on Friday 15thSeptember at 7.00pm.   All welcome.

Church Choir next meet on Friday 15th September at 7.30pm in the church.   We’ll look at items for our forthcoming services including harvest.   We’ll  also record some music for a forthcoming Music from Central CD, featuring the Choir, Congregation and Organ.   All welcome.

Young Church restarted last week.  We meet in the church for the start of the service (11am) when we take part in the first section of the service, after which we go through to the Church Hall for activities, learning and discussion.    At Bellshill Central we firmly believe in giving our children and young folks a good start, so we warmly invite and actively encourage you to bring your kids and young folks along – learning together on a journey.

We are pleased to welcome back Music Movers and Shakers to our hall on Wednesdays from 10am-12pm.   Also on Saturday’s between 10am-1pm, we have the Crazy Toes School of dance using our premises.   Please visit our website (Regular activities page) for details and links.  The groups would welcome your support.

SUMMER FUNDRAISER – Church members are taking part in the £2 summer fund raiser scheme again, making £2 grow for the church.  Look out for various things taking place – such as coffee mornings, car washes, sponsored runs etc.   As well as being a good source of funds for our ongoing work these ideas always end up being great social and fellowship events to which all are welcome. Again, watch out on facebook, our website and verbal notices on Sunday mornings.

ADVANCE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

• Tuesday 12th September – board and session meetings at 7.30pm.

• Sunday 1st October 11am is our Annual Harvest Service, where we give thanks to God for all that He provides to us.    After the service  (around 12.15pm) we have our annual harvest lunch in the hall.   Tickets on sale from Jane and any of the fundraising team.   

• Monday 2nd October – Church Guild resumes at 7.30pm with a rededication and communion service.  Open to both men and women.

• Saturday 14th October at 3pm.   A scalextric and pizza afternoon in the church hall.    Relive your childhood in Bellshill Centrals own Grand Prix afternoon.   There will be heats, prizes and podium presentation!  For more info contact Lesley.    

Our hall and facilities are available at other times during the week and are available to be hired for one off occasions or longer term lets. Please get in touch with us if you need a space to hire.  We have now installed Wi-Fi which means we can offer facilities for online events taking place in the church and halls.

CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE ACTIVITIES – our website at http://www.bellshillcentral.wordpress.com, http://www.facebook.com/bellshillcentralchurch and our YouTube channel. You can find our more information on Sunday Services, Weekly activities and catch up with our services from our uploaded videos.    We are occasionally LIVE on the internet with events we hold.  These are usually streamed via YouTube, and links are available from our Facebook and Website addresses.

Sunday 10th September 2017 @ 11 o’clock

by Alan Mathew, posted in Sunday Worship

Order for Worship

We gather to worship God
Welcome and Intimations (Stan Cook, session clerk)
Call to worship (rev. Kevin de Beer)
HYMN (Sheet) We worship God in Harmony (Bible is placed in the pulpit)
Prayer
We worship with the Children
HYMN 456 Make me a channel of your peace
Offering
We listen for God’s word
Bible Readings
HYMN 170 Give thanks with a grateful heart
Sermon
We respond as Christ’s folk
HYMN 723 We come as guests invited
Sacrament of Communion
Prayers
HYMN 329 In Christ there is no east or west
Benediction and 3-fold Amen
We go out into the world, to LOVE and to SERVE

Interview with Peggy Walker 

by Alan Mathew, posted in An interview with

​We continue our regular “Interview with” series at Bellshill Central Parish Church.   This time we speak with Peggy Walker.   Next issue we hope to speak with our older ladies and gents to give an insight into our church and community in past and recent times.  

1) How long have you been coming to Bellshill Central? 

I came to Bellshill Central (then Macdonald Memorial) for the first time on a Sunday at the beginning of April in 1969, having just got married and moved to Mossend.   

2) What drew you to come to Bellshill Central? 

I have to admit the answer to that is – sheer laziness.  It was common, at that time, to continue attending the Church where you had grown up but I knew I was never going to be able to get to my ‘home’ Church in time; two buses or a four-mile walk; just not happening!  I am not a morning person.  It made more sense to take a two-minute walk just around the corner.   

3) What is your favourite Hymn or Song? 

I have so many favourite hymns!  When we were asked some months ago to nominate a hymn, I chose ‘Lord, You Have Come To The Seashore,’ which we sang again in Church just a few weeks ago.  I also like so many others including ‘On Eagle’s Wings,’ and ‘I Watch The Sunrise.’  None of these is in Mission Praise but I have lots of other favourites which are in that hymn book.   

4) What do you do in your spare time? What’s that?  

My dad used to tell me that time went faster as you got older.  I laughed; what nonsense! But of course, it is true.  I enjoy walking, preferably around shops, or in the countryside.  Sitting doing nothing is excellent too and it is good fun to spend some time at Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre, helping in a small way with the excellent services on offer there.  Doing lunch with various friends and cousins takes up a bit of time and, of course, I operate Granny Cabs as and when required; on a zero hours contract.   

5) If you could change anything in the world what would it be? 

There would be quite a list but, basically, I’d like to see a much fairer society.  The huge differentials between the top and the bottom earners would come to an end.  Since the Living Wage in Scotland is £8.45 an hour, maybe the Chief Executives of all the big organisations should be paid just that.  Companies, particularly large multi-nationals, who do not pay their fair share of tax would not be allowed to trade.  Maybe tax should be levied on turnover rather than profit to make it easier to monitor and more difficult to avoid.   

6) What event has most affected your faith and how has your faith changed throughout your life. 

That’s difficult to answer.  My mother/father/aunts/uncles/cousins all attended their various Churches.  I was brought up in Sunday School/Bible Class/Church.  It was the natural thing to do.  I’ve always attended Church.  I don’t think there was ever a ‘light bulb’ moment in my life.  I was always taught that you should ‘Do unto others as you would like to be done by.’  I think that is the Christian Faith in a nutshell.  When I moved to Mossend, the folk at Macdonald Memorial put effort into making me feel welcome.  Albert Thompson, the Minister at the time, came around to the house within a few days to say ‘Hello.’   My Elder then was Wee Davey, whom most of the people reading this will remember.  He was brilliant.  When our first daughter arrived on the scene, the Young Wives & Mothers Group came knocking the door and encouraged me to get involved.  There was no creche at that time, so mostly I went along to Evening Services at the Church.  The people who attended took turns at delivering the flowers after worship so Jessie Peat got me involved in that.  When my daughters were old enough for the Beginners Class at Sunday School, Miss Gallagher had me holding up pictures for the kids while she told the stories; soon I was helping to tell the stories.  Alexa had the kids singing all the choruses.  When it was my turn to be President of the Young Wives, Betty Toal and Doreen Tweedie were there to offer support.  So lots of people have had a positive influence on me.   

7) What is the best thing about the Church? 

As explained above – People make the Church.  Of course, there are also our wonderful windows which display the Bible in all its glory from Genesis right through to Revelations.   

8) If you could be someone else (or a super hero) just for one day who would it be and why. 

No thanks.  Other people might seem to have a charmed life but things are not always as rosy as they appear.     

Sunday 3rd September 2017 @ 11.00am

by Alan Mathew, posted in Sunday Worship

Order for Worship

We gather and prepare to worship God
Welcome and intimations (Stanley Cook, Session Clerk)
Bible is placed in the pulpit
Choral Introit – Holy, Holy, Holy (choir)
Call to worship
Hymn 615 Stand up and bless the Lord (tune Carlisle)
Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
We worship with the Children
Hymn When I needed a neighbour (JP 275/sheet)
Offering
We listen to God’s word
Bible Readings: Matthew 13:24-30 and Luke 10:25-37
Hymn 275 I heard the voice of Jesus say
Sermon – I have the energy, let me lead
We respond as Christ’s folk
Hymn 288 I need thee every hour
Prayers for others
Hymn 188 God is our Strength and refuge
Benediction and 3-fold Amen (sung)
We go out, into the world, to love and to serve

Please join us in the hall after this service for fellowship over tea and coffee. All are most welcome.