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.
This Sunday (26 September), Christians across the country – and further afield – will join together in prayer and reflection at 7pm in response to the pandemic.
Scottish Christians have been continuing to answer the call to pray at the same time each week, and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Lord Wallace, is taking part alongside them.
“We should always be mindful for the wisdom handed down to us from past generations; much of it learned the hard way, from mistakes made and consequences suffered,” Lord Wallace said.
“So, too, we are grateful for the richness that comes to us from living alongside people of other traditions. In our day and generation we must surely allow our minds and hearts to be open so that we can risk getting to know them and learning from them.
“In this pandemic, our responsibility is to come together and offer our prayers for all the many diverse expressions of our Christian faith that enrich life, as we have done for many months now.
“Let us not forget that behind each death there will be grieving family and friends; behind each hospitalisation there will be a suffering patient, an anxious family and a caring and skilled medical team.
“And behind each vaccination, let us recognise, with thanks, the skill of the scientists’ research and those who make distribution and vaccination possible. Let us remember, too, those in countries who still wait anxiously for vaccines to arrive. May our leaders respond imaginatively and generously to that challenge.
“A pattern has been set for us, lived out in Jesus Christ, made possible by the Spirit. May we follow in His way, and be guided by the one over-riding rule of love in all that we say and do.”
‘May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.’ (Psalm 19: 14)
The Psalmist turns to God, as we ourselves do, in search of the One who will accept us as we are and who will be our strength in hard times. The times in which we live will feel to many of us like hard times. In these times, the Psalm speaks to us and for us.
We are conscious that the words we offer are but frail and we sometimes fear that they will not carry to God. Likewise, we fear that our hearts are faint. In these times, the Psalmist stands where we stand and calls upon the Lord as the One who is our rock and strength, and as the One who will bring us into the living presence of God. The words are offered from open lips and an open heart and rise into the presence of God. The words are offered trusting that they will be pleasing before God. In similar fashion, we offer our words from open lips and open hearts and we trust, that in these times, they will be heard by the One who is our Rock and Redeemer.
We pray:
O Lord, You are our Rock and our Redeemer, Hear us as we call to you With open lips and open hearts. Hear us and accept us we are. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
O Lord, You are our Rock and our Redeemer, Hear us as we call to you In the times in which we live. Hear us in hard times and answer us in your time. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
O Lord, You are our Rock and our Redeemer, Hear us as we call to you With the words that you have given to us. Hear us with words hewn from the experience of life. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
O Lord, You are our Rock and our Redeemer, Hear us as we call to you Though our words are often frail and our hearts sometimes faint. Hear our words and accept the offering of our hearts. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
O Lord, You are our Rock and our Redeemer, Hear us as we call to you And may the words we offer and the meditation of our hearts Be acceptable in your sight. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Bellshill Central Parish Church at 346 Main Street is now open for in person worship!
Our in person services on Sunday Mornings begin at 11am ( just as they did pre-Covid). Our doors open around 10.30am and we do not need any pre-booking beforehand. However, we ask that you call our Session Clerk to advise of your attendance so we can prepare the Trace and Protect sheets, as we need to keep a record of those in attendance, and by calling Stanley it will speed things up at the front door. Stanley’s number is 01698 747144. Or you can email bookings@bellshillcentral.church and we’ll make a note of your details and look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
Sunday worship will be live streamed from inside the Church (and recorded) so that those who are not able, or don’t feel comfortable yet with in person worship, to take part in the service virtually. Just go to www.bellshillcentral.church/watch-live to take part. If the service isn’t available straight away it will be by Sunday afternoons on our YouTube and Facebook pages.
As Sunday worship is the only in person activity in the buildings at present, we are continuing to be the church locally in the community of Bellshill and Mossend by being active online, with Kevin’s continuing pastoral work and being a family of faith. Our groups and church members are in daily contact with each other.
How are we doing this?
Our website at www.bellshillcentral.church is continually updated and refreshed. Have a look. Services and other outreach online is available here.
WhatsApp groups for our church family and most vulnerable folks. Our church chat of 50+members keep upto date, sharing important news, moments of humour and prayers. There are also separate WhatsApp groups for our choir and guild.
Online midweek all age worship church on Wednesday at 12noon.
Organist Entertains provided by our own organist and maestro, Alan Mathew. The latest episode (number 76) is available each Wednesday at 8pm. All your favourites in one place, played on a REAL PIPE ORGAN with your requests. www.bellshillcentral.church/organist-entertains.
ZOOM COFFEE CATCH UP – Sunday, 3rd October, at 12.30pm for ½ an hour. Get your cuppa ready and enjoy a chat. Please email hello@bellshillcentral.church for the Zoom link and joining instructions.
WALKING GROUP meets on Tuesday evenings. We need to take details for Test & Protect, so it would be good to know if your coming beforehand. Let us know via hello@bellshillcentral.church
When you shop at AmazonSmile, AMAZON will make a donation to Bellshill: Central Parish Church Of Scotland. Use this link to help us out while you shop. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/SC012556
WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE 2021 STAMP APPEAL – during COVID support for World Mission 2020 stamp appeal faced some challenges. The 2021 appeal will continue to benefit The Women’s Development Centre in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Please hand in your used stamps on a Sunday morning at the Church (box in the table in the vestibule).
We continue in our online prayer group. Just half an hour once per week. At this time in our world when things seem to be out of control time talking to God in prayer is even more important! If you’re interested get in touch. If you would like a person, family, situation remembered in prayer please let us know. These take place on Mondays at 7pm via zoom. Contact us via email hello@bellshillcentral.church for the joining codes. Private prayer and support is available from Rev de Beer.
Updated this week…… The virtual prayer walk around the town of Bellshill continues. We will choose an area of Bellshill and ask you to pray and remember all who live and work there. Look up #bellshillprayerwalk on Facebook and Twitter to follow our journey. The prayer walk will be available on the website also. Check out https://bellshillcentral.church/bellshill-prayer-walk/
As your Church in Bellshill we are looking out beyond our four walls – we are the Church Without Walls!
Join us during COVID19. If there’s something you thing we could be doing, organising or focusing on, please tell us!
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 