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.
The organist entertains seeks to help keep you connected with your Church, the building, it’s surroundings and the sounds of the organ.
Wednesday at 8pm
This is Episode 74 in the organist entertains series which yet again proves to be a super edition of your hymns and requests, and as usual all your words appear on the screen.
Hymns used with permission and with the following CCLI Licences Church Copyright Licence 876673; Music Reproduction Licence 876680 Church Video Licence 2258718; PPL Church Licence 1593113 CLA Church Licence 1002856; PRS for Music Church Licence 1448921 Streaming Licence 1638311
Welcome to our first in-person Worship Service since March 2020. It’s great to finally be back in the pews again. Since we last met together 540 days, or 1 year, 5 months, 22 days, or 77 Sundays have passed!
If you’re not yet ready, or able, to come in-person to church the service will be live streamed using the video player below. Just click the play button between 10:45-11:00am.
This Sunday (5 September), Christians across the country – and further afield – will join together in prayer and reflection at 7pm in response to the pandemic.
As with previous weeks during lockdown, 15 Christian churches and organisations across the country, including the Church of Scotland, have co-signed the letter calling for prayer.
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.”
This week’s letter accompanying the prayer, states:
“‘If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself”, you are doing right.’ (James 2: 8)
“Given all that we face today: How do we know we are doing the right thing? In our personal life and in our shared life, the challenge of doing the right thing is something that we continually face.
“As we reflect upon this, we recognise that knowing “the right thing to do” is not always easy. Nevertheless, throughout Scripture there runs an ancient thread that links the original call to love our neighbour to the summary of the Law given by Jesus. (Leviticus 19: 18; Mark 12: 31)
“The call to love our neighbour is described by James as the ‘royal law’ and is the surest guide we have as to knowing “the right thing to do”.
“As we face the challenge of renewing our society and, at the same time, continuing to face the ongoing pandemic, the need of a sure guide remains constant.
“The ‘royal law’ has been gifted to us by our Creator and renewed by the Lord Jesus Christ. We take it as our guide for these times.”
We pray:
Living God, In the times in which we live You reveal Your way to us through the royal law. We turn to You as our Creator And ask for grace and strength To live according to that law. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Living God, In the times in which we live You reveal Your way to us through the royal law. We turn to those beside us as our neighbours And ask for wisdom that we might do to others As we would have them do to us. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Living God, In the times in which we live You reveal Your way to us through the royal law. We turn to face the challenges of the day And seek to renew our society That it might better reflect Your Kingdom which is to come. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Living God, In the times in which we live You reveal Your way to us through the royal law. We turn to the world before us And seek to do right in Your eyes That we might bring glory to You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Welcome to our first in-person Worship Service since March 2020. It’s great to finally see you in the pews again. Since we last met together 540 days, or 1 year, 5 months, 22 days, or 77 Sundays have passed!
Please watch a short video with the Aitkens about how church might look when you come for in-person services.
However, there are still some restrictions in place
Facemasks must be worn at all times, unless you are exempt
If you join in to sing you MUST wear a facemask
Sanitize your hands entering and exiting the building
Track and Trace details need to be taken.
TRACK AND TRACE – call our Session Clerk, Stanley Cook. Please use the land line number 01698 747144 to leave a voicemail. You can call Monday to Saturday, no calls after 10pm. If leaving a voicemail make sure you leave your name and phone number.
Services will continue to be broadcast live and anytime thereafter on www.bellshillcentral.church/watch-live. Later on Sunday afternoons, you can also listen over the phone (a local rate number) by calling 01698 533211.
