As the Church of Scotland in Bellshill we extend a warm welcome to any of our activities. People have been coming to this building to worship God for over a hundred years. While our town has journeyed through many changes over those years, the constancy of the witness of the “Church at 346 Main Street” has remained uninterrupted. The mission of any Church is to reflect through its presence, its music, its fellowship and its beauty the greatness of God, and we seek to do that here in all that we share.
We hope that everyone who enters these doors will find an encouraging, friendly group of people. While we are far from perfect, we are regularly discovering truths that are changing us individually and enriching our lives as a church community. As we worship together, learn from the Bible, and pray for one another, we are strengthened in our commitment to Jesus Christ as well as to each other. If this is your first time here, we welcome you, and invite you to share the joy that we have found.
‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ (Romans 12:2)
The first day of Lent is known in many traditions as Ash Wednesday. Ash is the aftermath of fire – the remnant of a burning away.
Part of the spiritual journey is learning to let go; it is to subtract whatever the world has put upon us to make more room for God’s abundance. So, to begin Lent, let us reflect upon some of the things it might be time to burn away from our lives:
Negative beliefs about ourselves. For example, ‘I’m not enough’. You are more than enough for Christ.
Bitterness and unforgiveness. The only person it’s hurting is you.
Whatever the ‘thing’ is that you’re waiting for to complete you. ‘If only I had that job/that house/that person etc.’ It won’t complete you; you are already complete.
Material possessions. These can be anchors that weigh us down. It is liberating when we realise that all things belong to God.
Self-centredness. There is a desperate need for society to move from ‘me’ to ‘we’; from ‘I’ to ‘all of us’.
Write down a list of some of the things that you want to subtract from your life this Lent. Commit your list to God.
Gideon Heugh Gideon writes for Tearfund and is a poet and environmentalist.
Shrove Tuesday is the beginning of the 40 days leading into Easter, which will be observed on Sunday 17 April in 2022.
Lent is traditionally a time of fasting and sacrifice, and often Christian children give things up – such as chocolate.
Why do we eat pancakes?
The tradition comes from families using up all ingredients in their cupboards so that they can start Lent the next day.
The ingredients – eggs, flour and milk – used to be very common things for people to give up for Lent, so it made sense to use them all up.
These days it’s probably the toppings that we’re likely to give up – such as chocolate or sweets!
What is Lent?
Lent is a period of 40 days where Christians remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God and whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity.
A lot of people use Lent as a way of testing their willpower – often giving up things like chocolate or other sweet treats before Easter.
Millions of people do this as a sign of sacrifice, and Christians do it to represent Jesus Christ’s sacrifice when he went into the desert to pray and fast for the 40 days before later dying on the cross.
According to the Bible, Jesus then came back to life on Easter Sunday. This is the most important day in the Christian calendar.
What do you like on your pancakes?
What is YOUR dream pancake? From lemon and sugar, to chocolate, or maybe even…bacon?
Perhaps you’d like a savoury pancake with cheese or pizza toppings or maybe you go all-in with loads of different ice creams and sauces?
A prayer for Ukraine by The Church of Scotland Faith Impact Forum:-
The news can be difficult to listen to and to read. When that news relates to faces we know And to voices familiar to us, It becomes all the harder to hear. Lord God, We ask you to hold the people of Ukraine deep in your heart. Protect them, we pray; From violence, From political gamesmanship, from being used and abused. Give, we pray, the nations of the world the courage and the wisdom to stand up for justice and the courage too, to dare to care – generously. Lord in your mercy, Take from us all, The tendencies in us That seek to lord it over others: Take from us those traits that see us pursuing our own needs and wants before those of others. Teach us how to live in love And dignity And respect – following your example. In your name and for your sake, Amen
For what is beyond, not invented or made up Let us offer God our thanks and praise.
For thoughts and ways that are not ours, Let us offer God our prayers and reflections.
For the love that loves first and shows us what love is Let us offer God our fellowship and service.
For the light that shines from the face of Jesus Christ and enlightens every human being. All: Let us offer God our joy and worship.
Holy, holy, holy, God, to You we come rejoicing in who You are. You are light and in You there is no darkness at all, You are faithful and true and there is nothing false about You, You have shown us how much You love us in Jesus Christ, who became one of us and for our salvation.
Freely, gladly we bring ourselves to You. Holy Spirit help us, that with all that is within us, we may bless Your holy name.
Living God, joyfully we find in Jesus what it means to be fully human. You give us hope that one day we shall be like Him. May all His sisters and brothers know fullness of life and God’s glory be seen.
Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer
We pray for people who are hungry or thirsty, in need of food and drink, for strangers hoping for a welcome, for people without proper clothing, for those who are ill at home or in hospital, and for people in prison and all affected by crime.
Lord, these are our sisters and brothers too, help us to do what we can to care and to ensure adequate support.
Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer
We look to the day when all of creation will be set free from decay to enter into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We pray for the climate crisis that the world’s governments may not falter in their commitment to reduce global temperatures. We pray for the work of NGOs, charities and faith groups raising awareness, lobbying governments and garnering support.
Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer
Lord God, who has made it known that You love justice and equity, we pray for a better sharing of the world’s resources, for an end to poverty and inequality. We remember the work of Christian Aid working with some of the world’s poorest communities and we pray for the work of Covax, the World Health Organisation’s body tasked with the equitable sharing of vaccines. You invite us to collaborate with You and our sisters and brothers towards the day when Your kingdom is complete and poverty and injustice will be no more.
Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer
Compassionate Christ, as Your disciples did in Galilee, as the men in the gospel did for their sons, we bring to You now people we would ask You to bless, in moments of quiet we pray for them.
Silence
Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer
Gracious God, as Lent approaches and we journey with Jesus towards the cross, may we ever be aware of His glory. Amen
PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Loving God, We pray for the people of Ukraine, for all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to them and protect them.
We pray for world leaders, for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.
We pray for the world that in this moment of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in need.
May we walk in your ways so that peace and justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world.
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 