Join Revd. Iain from Bothwell Church in the Manse today as he reflects on our words and the power to unite and to tear apart. We pray today for the people of Ukraine and for the innocent people caught up in Russia.
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#churchofscotland #bothwell #bothwellparishchurch #prayforukraine #prayforpeace🙏 #lanarkshire #churchathome #midweekreflection
Today, please use this devotion as your 7pm prayer focus. Many have received this devotion from Tearfund and will be praying with you.
‘Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.’ (Psalm 30:5)
Today’s devotion isn’t quite going to be what was planned. The content for this series was written before recent events shook the world.
I think we’ve all been shocked and disturbed and upset by what’s happening in Ukraine right now. It’s certainly affected me. My great grandparents were refugees from Ukraine. They fled persecution in the early part of the 20th century. And now a million more refugees are running for their lives. And of course violent conflict is a plague in so many places around the world. It can be hard to know how to respond.
The plan for these Sunday devotions was to share a poem. To have it as a kind of Sabbath Day – where we can just spend time with the words and soak in God’s presence.
The poem I was planning on sharing today is about hope. And I wondered whether this was still appropriate. But then I thought, what could be more appropriate? The situation in Ukraine seems kind of hopeless. So many situations, globally and in our own lives, can seem hopeless.
But we hope anyway. Because hope is a choice. One that we always have. And it is a choice today that is rooted in truth – the truth that hate can’t win. Love wins. Hope wins. So, we’re going to share this short poem about hope. And we’ll keep sharing these devotions as we planned to – because we choose to, because the truths of the gospel never change, and because it’s in the darkness that those truths shine brightest.
Read the poem slowly. Ask God to speak to you through it. And let’s declare hope over the world.
A new light arrives
Buried in the night,
anxious thoughts crowded darkly
around me.
The last thing I expect
is a miracle;
the last thing I anticipate is God
riding the dawn.
But then,
like the only answer we ever need,
a new light arrives,
splashing grace-paint
on the worn-out canvas of my heart,
and all of a sudden
hope is running along the tops of the trees
wild-eyed
and rampant.
Gideon Heugh
Gideon writes for Tearfund and is a poet and environmentalist.
Poem is © Gideon Heugh, taken from Rumours of Light.
Good morning!
Sunday worship from Central Church begins as usual at 11am in person and online
Our theme this week is Out of the Wilderness
Bellshill Central is your Town Centre Church with a warm and welcoming Church Family waiting to say hello.
Our Sunday School has resumed during morning worship so we look forward to welcoming families along to our time of worship
We have tea and coffee served after the service and we hope you can stay behind
There will be a retiring offering at this weekends service in aid of the Scottish Bible Society Ukraine Appeal. If you can please give if you can.
Our services are slowly returning back to normal and it’s great to be able to gather together to worship God
We’re singing (with masks) 4 main hymns in our services and this week we have something for everyone (hymn sheet attached if you are worshipping from home)
Download our order of service and news sheet from this link
If you are coming along in person there are still some COVID precautions in place
Online worship is available from around 10.45am. Don’t worry if you cant join us in person!
The watch live page on our website will be updated with a new live stream link
Just go to
Kevin’s theme for the service is Out of the Wilderness, with the reading being from Duteronomy (reader is Helen Daly)
We look forward to welcoming you whatever way you choose to worship
Blessings.
Bellshill Central Church of Scotland
Registered Charity: SC012556
346 Main Street, Bellshill, ML4 1BA
✉ hello@bellshillcentral.church
www.facebook.com/bellshillchurch
‘Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.’ (John 1:12)
Jesus came to bring life, and life to the full (John 10:10). Poverty and abuse can stop us from stepping into this. Read this prayer out loud and let the truth soak into you: you are created and you are loved. And, as we journey together this Lent, let us ask God how we can seek freedom for others too.
God of creation,
of the parted seas and the miracle birth,
the empty tomb and risen King,
help me to see myself as part of your story.
Wash away any shame or fear that is holding me back,
declare over me again that I am a new creation in you, Lord.
Show me the areas of my life where I need to prune,
so I can walk in greater freedom with you.
And when life is difficult:
grant me patience, like you did Joseph;
grant me boldness, like you did Rahab;
grant me courage, like you did Ruth;
grant me wisdom, like you did David.
God of my past and my future,
let me never forget that you are working in the present,
help me to see myself in your greater plan.
Show me how I can best serve you with all of me,
as a beloved child of God,
because – yes – that is who I am.
Amen.
Rachael Adams
Rachael is the Editor of Tearfund’s weekly prayer email.
