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.
Sing to the Lord a new song,(B) his praise in the assembly(C) of his faithful people.
2 Let Israel rejoice(D) in their Maker;(E) let the people of Zion be glad in their King.(F) 3 Let them praise his name with dancing(G) and make music to him with timbrel and harp.(H) 4 For the Lord takes delight(I) in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.(J) 5 Let his faithful people rejoice(K) in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.(L)
6 May the praise of God be in their mouths(M) and a double-edged(N) sword in their hands,(O) 7 to inflict vengeance(P) on the nations and punishment(Q) on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with fetters,(R) their nobles with shackles of iron,(S) 9 to carry out the sentence written against them—(T) this is the glory of all his faithful people.(U)
This Sunday (1 November), as new tiered restrictions have been announced across Scotland, 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 here soon), states:
“As we enter into the season of Remembrance, we are especially conscious of those whose lives have shaped our lives, but who are no longer with us. In one sense, their absence serves to highlight the significance of all that they have given to us.
“Equally, we recall those who have shaped the life of our Church and of our community and the faith that they have passed on to our generation. The hymn writer captures well the thanksgiving of the Church at this time:
For all the saints, who from their labours rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia!
“The vision unveiled in the Book of Revelation sees the ‘great multitude… from every nation’ gathered before the throne of God ‘and before the Lamb’. For those who have endured, the Lamb ‘will be their shepherd…and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’ (Revelation 7: 9-17).
“Our faith invites us to embrace that vision and, in turn, to share the vision with others. In this season of Remembrance, we share the promise of the enduring presence and healing of God.”
We pray:
Living God, We come to your presence And we are conscious that we do not come alone. We come in the company of the saints of God And the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Living God, We come to your presence And we remember those who have given life and nurture to us. We remember those who are no longer with us And we give thanks for their lives. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Living God, We come to your presence And we pray for those who have suffered loss at this time. We ask that they will know the presence Of the One who will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Living God, We come to your presence And hear again the promise of your enduring presence. We ask for ourselves, and for others, That we might know the promise of healing of God. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Living God, We come to your presence And we recall the hymns of faith that echo in our hearts. We lift up our hearts and anticipate the praise of heaven; Offered to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Signed by:
Rt. Rev. Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
Rev. John Fulton, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
Rev. Lindsey Sanderson, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
Rev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland)
Rev. May-Kane Logan, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland
Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
Adwoa Bittle, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Rev. Claire Fender, District Superintendent, British Isles North District, Church of the Nazarene
Pastor Chris Gbenle, Provincial Pastor, Province of Scotland, Redeemed Christian Church of God
Bishop Francis Alao, Church of God (Scotland)/Minority Ethnic Churches Together in Scotland (MECTIS)
Rev Fred Drummond, Director, Evangelical Alliance (Scotland)
Praise the Lord from the heavens;(B) praise him in the heights above. 2 Praise him, all his angels;(C) praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(D) 3 Praise him, sun(E) and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. 4 Praise him, you highest heavens(F) and you waters above the skies.(G)
5 Let them praise the name(H) of the Lord, for at his command(I) they were created, 6 and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree(J) that will never pass away.
7 Praise the Lord(K) from the earth, you great sea creatures(L) and all ocean depths,(M) 8 lightning and hail,(N) snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,(O) 9 you mountains and all hills,(P) fruit trees and all cedars, 10 wild animals(Q) and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, 11 kings(R) of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, 12 young men and women, old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,(S) for his name alone is exalted; his splendor(T) is above the earth and the heavens.(U) 14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[b](V) the praise(W) of all his faithful servants,(X) of Israel, the people close to his heart.(Y)
How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. 6 The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; 11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion.
13 He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. 14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? 18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. 20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws.[b]
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 