Author: Bellshill Central

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.

Pray together tonight with Christians across Scotland

by Bellshill Central, posted in Prayer items

Whilst lockdown measures continue to ease in Scotland, this Sunday (12 July), Christians across Scotland will continue to join together in prayer at 7pm in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hands praying

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.

“I’m delighted to have read that in the last couple of months online searches for ‘prayer’ have increased dramatically,” Dr Fair said.

“But reading about what prayer is and how to do it is only the start of it. After that it’s time to actually pray.

“And what better than to join with brothers and sisters from across the nation at 7pm on Sunday to pray our way through this ongoing crisis. I commend it to you and look forward to being with you, in Spirit, on Sunday evening.”

This week’s letter accompanying the prayer, which is also available in Gaelic, states:

“Our human experience is shaped, in part, by our past and by our present situation. Our identity is shaped, in part, by all that we have inherited and by how we affirm and are affirmed in our present situation.

“Over time, our experience and our identity are shaped by a multiplicity of influences.

“As the people of God, our experience and our identity are shaped by the community created by Jesus Christ and sustained and renewed by the Holy Spirit.

“Within that community, where the Spirit of God dwells, we find that our experience and our identity are shaped, not only by past and present, but by the future.

“As we face the future, we hear the words of Scripture within the community of the people of God: ‘There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ (Romans 8: 1 (NRSV).

“Whatever the past has been and whatever the challenges of the present are, we are liberated to face the future with the assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

We pray:

Living God, you are our Creator and our Maker.
You have made us in your image
And sustained us in past days.
Guard us and keep us as we remember those days.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God, you are our Redeemer and our Deliverer.
You reconcile all things through Christ Jesus,
The image of the invisible God.
Hold our lives in your safe keeping at this present time.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God, you are the giver of the gift of the Spirit.
You breathe into us the very breath of life
And renew us by your Holy Spirit.
Lead us into the future, through Christ and by your Spirit.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God, as you have been with us in past days,
Be with us today and in all the days to come.
Grant that we may face the future
Assured that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Sunday 12th July – Join us for online worship from 10.45am

by Bellshill Central, posted in Catch Up, Sunday Worship

Join with us later this morning with the Church of Scotland in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire

Our live stream begins at 1045am and worship from around 11am. Our readings and prayers are from our church members with Revd Kevin beginning a new series for his Sunday messages

Simply watch via the embedded player above, or via our Watch live page, Facebook or direct via YouTube. Facebook and YouTube have live chat facilities should you wish to say hello.

Kevin our minister continues his new sermon series on the Letters to the Church in the New Testament. Our Hymns are All are welcome, At the Name of Jesus, The Splendour of the King and How Great Thou Art. We have participation from Adults and Children helping Kevin to lead our Church Service.

After the service at 12noon we have a Zoom meeting scheduled to catch up over tea & coffee. So, pour your hot beverage and settle down for a half hour chat.

Contact us for the Zoom joining instructions

After church tea/coffee and chat via Zoom

by Bellshill Central, posted in Other News, Sunday Worship, Weekly Church News
Photo by Thought Catalog on Pexels.com

Since last weeks Zoom coffee and tea chat half hour went so well and folks enjoyed it so much were having another! Sunday 12th July From 12noon to 12.30pm.

If you’d like to join us please get in touch for the meeting ID/password, or the joining link.

You can download Zoom for free from your App store (on tablets and mobile phones) or use the Internet if you’re using a computer or laptop.

If you’ve any difficulties get in touch with Hugh, Drew or Alan.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

A Psalm a Day – Psalm 77

by Bellshill Central, posted in A Psalm a Day

Comfort in Time of Distress[a]

77 I cry aloud to God;
    I cry aloud, and he hears me.
2 In times of trouble I pray to the Lord;
    all night long I lift my hands in prayer,
    but I cannot find comfort.
3 When I think of God, I sigh;
    when I meditate, I feel discouraged.

4 He keeps me awake all night;
    I am so worried that I cannot speak.
5 I think of days gone by
    and remember years of long ago.
6 I spend the night in deep thought;[b]
    I meditate, and this is what I ask myself:
7 “Will the Lord always reject us?
    Will he never again be pleased with us?
8 Has he stopped loving us?
    Does his promise no longer stand?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
    Has anger taken the place of his compassion?”
10 Then I said, “What hurts me most is this—
    that God is no longer powerful.”[c]

11 I will remember your great deeds, Lord;
    I will recall the wonders you did in the past.
12 I will think about all that you have done;
    I will meditate on all your mighty acts.

13 Everything you do, O God, is holy.
    No god is as great as you.
14 You are the God who works miracles;
    you showed your might among the nations.
15 By your power you saved your people,
    the descendants of Jacob and of Joseph.

16 When the waters saw you, O God, they were afraid,
    and the depths of the sea trembled.
17 The clouds poured down rain;
    thunder crashed from the sky,
    and lightning flashed in all directions.
18 The crash of your thunder rolled out,
    and flashes of lightning lit up the world;
    the earth trembled and shook.
19 You walked through the waves;
    you crossed the deep sea,
    but your footprints could not be seen.
20 You led your people like a shepherd,
    with Moses and Aaron in charge.