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.
Welcome to day 8 of our reflections in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Today’s reader is Naomi Dornan. Please watch each video, and reflect when we hear music. There are points to ponder and questions/go and do actions at the end.
Growing into Christ
Verse for the Day
‘The gifts he gave were … for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:11-13).
Scripture Passages
Proverbs 9:10
Psalm 119:97-103
Mark 12:28–34a
Prayer
May I rise with You, Light of the World,
called to bring grace and mercy.
May I journey in the wake of Your Spirit,
called towards righteousness and peace.
May I rest with the hope of good things
in the places of Your creation that You, O God, call me to bring healing.
May we all, with courage and joy,
work faithfully for the coming of Your kingdom.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and always and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Questions
Personal: Where have you experienced ‘stretching’ as you strive for the full stature of Christ? Reflect on what you learned.
Local: Who do we need to stretch us a bit more in our loving and serving in our local context?
Global: Who do we need to journey with to stretch us in our loving and serving in a national and global context?
Welcome to day 7 of our reflections in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Today’s reader is Riris Ainsley. Please watch each video, and reflect when we hear music. There are points to ponder and questions/go and do actions at the end.
Christ’s gift
Verse for the Day
‘But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift’ (Ephesians 4:7).
Scripture Passages
Luke 4:17-19
Jeremiah1:4-9
Psalm 131
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
You have bestowed wonderful graces and multiple gifts upon us
for the sake of building up Your Body, the Church.
Help us to embrace and recognise our individuality,
so that we may be caught up in the childlike wonder of Your diverse making and creating.
Breathe in us with Your creative Spirit,
that we may respond and spread Your word, Your dream, Your grace and Your beauty,
to every place that we can reach,
as we play and pray in Your name.
Amen.
Questions
Personal: What are Christ’s gifts to you?
Local: Where do you recognise the richness of God’s Dream/Kingdom expressed in diverse ways in your local context?
Global: How can we as the Church live out the ideals of diversity, inclusion and equality – in ways that uphold them in this time?
Global: Where do you notice examples of exclusion and weaponising of difference in society? Explore Christian Aid or CAFOD stories from around the world and try some of their suggestions about engagement.
Personal: Speak to some people you trust about what gifts they recognise in you and explore how you might invest in them and use them for God.
Local: Seek out projects in your area that are good examples of diverse groups coming together, and volunteer.
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 