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.
Scottish Government’s plans are for churches at PHASE 2 (date not announced) to re-open for private prayer “and other types of ceremonies . . .with minimal attendees”.
At PHASE 3 (date not announced) churches can re-open “to extended groups subject to physical distancing and hygiene safeguards” with “relaxation of restrictions to attendance at funerals, marriages . . . beyond close family.”
Look out for more news as we move forward, of how we may prepare to reopen our church to the folks of Bellshill and beyond. Some light at the end of the tunnel, please God!
Footprints In The Sand is a beautiful and though provoking poem. Reminding us that the Lord is forever by our side. In times of trial he’ll scoup you up in His loving and forgiving arms. This image beautifully described in “Footsteps”
Once you’ve read and have the image in your mind, stop and pray. A prayer of thankfulness and praise.
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belongingto him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the verylowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it:
“LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.
“The LORD replied:
“My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me. 3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin. 4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. 6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. 7 My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. 8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.
9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. 10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes. 11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. 12 Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie.
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak; 14 I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply. 15 Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. 16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”
17 For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. 18 I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. 19 Many have become my enemies without cause[b]; those who hate me without reason are numerous. 20 Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good.
21 Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. 22 Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.
37 Don’t be upset because of evil people. Don’t be jealous of those who do wrong. 2 Like the grass, they will soon dry up. Like green plants, they will soon die away.
3 Trust the Lord and do good. Live in the land and enjoy its safety. 4 Enjoy serving the Lord. And he will give you what you want. 5 Depend on the Lord. Trust him, and he will take care of you. 6 Then your goodness will shine like the sun. Your fairness will shine like the noonday sun.
7 Wait and trust the Lord. Don’t be upset when others get rich or when someone else’s plans succeed. 8 Don’t get angry. Don’t be upset; it only leads to trouble. 9 Evil people will be sent away. But people who trust the Lord will inherit the land. 10 In a little while there will be no more wicked people. You may look for them, but they will be gone. 11 People who are not proud will inherit the land. They will enjoy complete peace.
12 The wicked make evil plans against good people. They grind their teeth at them in anger. 13 But the Lord laughs at the wicked. He sees that their day is coming. 14 The wicked draw their swords. They bend their bows. They try to kill the poor and helpless. They want to kill those who are honest. 15 But their swords will stab their own hearts. Their bows will break.
16 It’s better to have little and be right than to have much and be wrong. 17 The power of the wicked will be broken. But the Lord supports those who do right. 18 The Lord watches over the lives of the innocent. Their reward will last forever. 19 They will not be ashamed when trouble comes. They will be full in times of hunger. 20 But the wicked will die. The Lord’s enemies will be like the flowers of the fields. They will disappear like smoke. 21 The wicked people borrow but don’t pay back. But those who do right give freely to others. 22 Those people the Lord blesses will inherit the land. But those he curses will be sent away.
23 When a man’s steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with his ways. 24 If he stumbles, he will not fall, because the Lord holds his hand.
25 I was young, and now I am old. But I have never seen the Lord leave good people helpless. I have never seen their children begging for food. 26 Good people always lend freely to others. And their children are a blessing.
27 Stop doing evil and do good. Then you will live forever. 28 The Lord loves justice. He will not leave those who worship him. He will always protect them. But the children of the wicked will die. 29 Good people will inherit the land. They will live in it forever.
30 A good person speaks with wisdom. He says what is fair. 31 The teachings of his God are in his heart. He does not fail to keep them. 32 The wicked watch for good people. They want to kill them. 33 The Lord will not take away his protection. He will not judge good people guilty.
34 Wait for the Lord’s help and follow him. He will honor you and give you the land. And you will see the wicked people sent away.
35 I saw a wicked and cruel man. He looked strong like a healthy tree in good soil. 36 But he died and was gone. I looked for him, but he couldn’t be found.
37 Think of the innocent person. Watch the honest one. The man who has peace will have children to live after him. 38 But sinners will be destroyed. In the end the wicked will die.
39 The Lord saves good people. He is their strong city in times of trouble. 40 The Lord helps them and saves them. He saves them from the wicked because they trust in him for protection.
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 