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 song in Psalm 23 mends our broken hearts after reading Psalm 22, though that psalm is an important part of God’s message to us. As Christians, we can consider it an honor to be a partner with Christ in his suffering. But afterward, it is comforting to “rest in fields of green grass,” and to be led to “streams of peaceful water.” our shepherd – Jesus – leads us and refreshes our lives. We are given the wonderful promise: “I will live forever in your house.”
4 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Psalm 19.7, 8
What a wonderful world it would be if we all knew what Daivid misunderstood so well! David doesn’t say that he himself is perfec, and none of us could make that claim either. Only God and his law are perfect. If we could live by the Lord’s perfect Law, imagine how happy we would be. We can begin where David begins – by delighting in the beautiful perfection of the Lord’s law. Jesus was that Law in human flesh. We should think about his perfection and the beauty of his words and works. Then we will begin loving what Jesus loved, seeling to do the things he did, and becoming more like him. We become what we admire.
Good day, welcome to this week’s Sunday Worship service which is REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY from Bellshill Central Parish Church, located right in the heart of North Lanarkshire, UK
This week’s worship is led by our pastor and friend, Rev Kevin de Beer. Members of our congregation take part by reading the prayers, readings and introductions. We are blessed to have guest from our community taking part including some of our Elected officials within NLC.
Join us from the earlier time of 10.30am. Worship itself is from 10.45am and the Act of Remembrance at 11.00am. Tune in live or anytime thereafter with our catch-up videos.
This Sunday (8 November), as we begin the season of Remembrance, Christians across the country – and further afield – will join together in prayer at 7pm in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As with previous weeks during lockdown and the phased easing of restrictions, 14 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 Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, has been taking part alongside them.
“There are some things which make sense for a certain period of time but which come to a natural conclusion – such as clapping for carers during the spring lockdown. Prayer isn’t one of them,” Dr Fair said.
“The Apostle Paul encourages us to ‘pray without ceasing’ and Jesus himself offers parables where persistence in prayer is lauded.
“It can be hard to keep going when there’s no end in sight; much easier when the finishing line comes into view. In the case of the pandemic, it still feels as if there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.
“All the more reason then for God’s people to continue faithfully in prayer. And even better when we can pray across the whole of the Church, unrestricted by denominational divides.
“If Sunday at 7pm is in your diary, keep it there. Thank you. If it hadn’t been, it would be great to have you involved. It matters that we pray.”
This week’s letter accompanying the prayer, which is also available in Gaelic (a copy of which will be available to read here soon) states:
“The season of Remembrance invites us, at one and the same time, to look back and to look forward. As we look back, we recall those who have gone before us and, on a broader scale, the human tragedies that have scarred our world.
“The tragedy of human conflict continues to scar the lives of so many at this time and so our act of remembrance has an immediate resonance in present times.
“As we look forward, we affirm the living hope that is founded in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In affirming this hope, we resolve to live our lives shaped by that hope and so our resolve has an immediate resonance in present times. Remembrance of the past and hope for the future shape our lives in the present.
“In the Gospel of Matthew, we hear of what it is to live as those who pray ‘thy Kingdom come’ and who anticipate the coming of the Kingdom.
“Jesus said: ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.’ (5: 43-45 a)
“In these challenging times, we are invited to embrace the teaching of Jesus anew and to live in the present as those whose lives are shaped by ‘the life of the world to come’.”
We pray:
Living God, We come before you To look back and to remember. In our remembrance, We give thanks for the lives of those who have gone before us And who have shaped the world in the light of your Kingdom. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Living God, We come before you To look forward and to affirm The hope founded in the resurrection our Lord Jesus Christ. May we journey hopefully in these times And live lives shaped in the light of your Kingdom. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Living God, We come before you To remember those whose lives have been scarred By past conflicts. Grant to us grace to live as peacemakers And strength to break down the barriers of division. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Living God, We come before you As we journey forward And face the challenges of our times. Grant to us that we may live As those whose lives are shaped by the life of the world to come. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 