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.

Your Weekly E-NEWS from BCPC

by Bellshill Central, posted in Weekly Church News

Bellshill’s Central Church (your Church of Scotland Congregation at 346 Main Street) is very much alive and busy being involved in the community which is at our heart during these unprecedented times.

Our doors facing out onto Main Street may be temporarily closed, but the church is it’s people not just the buildings.   Please know that our Minister, Rev Kevin de Beer, is very much available for spiritual help and support to the good people in Bellshill and Mossend.  As the Central Church and your Parish Church we are here for everyone, that is our calling and ethos.  Please get in touch with Revd. de Beer if you need to, he’ll be more than happy to assist.   We’ve been proclaiming the Good News for over 147 years from our place in Bellshill’s Main Street and the Church is more than ever helping where it can.

Sunday worship is continuing, albeit in an online format.   Our minister is currently speaking about “Many Languages” in his weekly messages.   Please visit our website at http://www.bellshillcentral.church/watch-live to take part.   The services begin at 11am, but from 10.45am we share in some news and songs as we gather in our houses as the church.  The services are available at any time thereafter on our YouTube channel.  

 We also have a permanent local rate phone number where you can listen to Kevin’s weekly message and prayers.   Just call 01698 533211 and you’ll be part of our “Dial in Congregation” this is ideal for those folks with no access to the internet, so please share this as widely as possible – and also our online watch live and catch up services.

 To support our online services we are producing a weekly E-News with information that will help you in our online worship and also some pieces of news and information in and around the Church.

This coming Sunday is the Sunday in which we celebrate the church’s birthday and the coming of the Holy Spirit – PENTECOST!  So, on Sunday 31st may we invite you to dress up red, as we would normally do on this particular Sunday, signifying the fire of the Holy Spirit (take a selfie as you take part in Church @ Home and send in to us.)  

pentecost craft challenges!

Pentecost craft challenges we are setting this week include: Pentecost wind twirls (we can see the wind catch them, reminding us of the breath of God always swirling around us), Pentecost Windmills (again showing the wind and breath) and Headbands with the Flames of the Holy Spirit.   INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.   Take your pictures or videos and send them to us to share online.   Sent your videos or pictures by email to bellshillcentral@gmail.com, Facebook or twitter direct messages or via the Church WhatsApp group.

This past week has seen a fair number of birthdays in our Church Community, starting with the minister Rev Kevin de Beer, then member of the congregation Jim Mackie, Sheena Bowman and Liz Morton.   Happy birthday to you all.  We trust and hope you enjoyed your special day albeit in lockdown, and that you stay safe and we can wish you a personal happy birthday soon.

We’ve set up a Bellshill Central WhatsApp group so that we can keep up the friendship and fellowship which very much is Bellshill Central Parish Church.   We have nearing 50 people part of this who enjoy a good morning message to start the day, funny stories and video clips, sometimes a quiz of places in and around Bellshill and just generally a welcoming and safe forum for us to keep in touch.   If your part of our Church Family, formally or informally, and would like to join this group please get in touch via the website or email mailto:bellshillcentral@gmail.com

KEEPING IN TOUCH ONLINE

WEEKLY ONLINE YOUNG CHURCH TIME – via the church website we are sharing something suitable for young folks and adults on Wednesdays at mid-day.  These usually consists of a video message and a bible reading.   Look out for these posts on the website, Facebook and twitter.  You can catch up with them at any time, and might be an ideal thing to watch on the sofa all together.

THE ORGANIST ENTERTAINS – Due to the need to help people keep as physically connected to their church building we have a new ministry which is now in its second week and it’s 4th episode.  Our organist, Alan Mathew, whilst checking on the maintenance of the pipe organ, is recording requested hymns and songs and compiling them into a ½ hour video, introducing them and sharing just who has requested them.   They are available on our church’s YouTube channel.  They premiere on Sundays and Wednesdays at 8pm, but are available to catch up with at any time.  

TIME OF PRAYER

We have a prayer routine at Bellshill Central Parish Church and invite everyone to take part.

  • Sundays at 7pm we join churches across the UK in a time of prayer and reflection.  These have been lead our Moderator Rev Colin Sinclair, but from this coming Sunday the new moderator, Rev Martin Fair will lead the prayers online. 
  • On Sundays at 8pm we are encouraging an initiative from Rev Robbie Hamilton in Airdrie to pause and reflect and simply stand on your door steps for a minute – it’s called Minute to Remember.
  • Each other night Monday to Saturday at 8pm we ask all of our members, friends and wider community to pause and pray and light a candle for the crisis we find ourselves in.  Pause and pray for ourselves, our families, our minister, the leaders and the keyworkers who are keeping the vulnerable safe and protected.  

Via our church website and Facebook/twitter pages we are sharing daily Psalms for the Day.   If you subscribe to the website you will receive these automatically by email.  You can of course browse the website or our Facebook/twitter pages and find them just as easy.   We also share inspirational images from around the world to remind everyone that there is hope, love and security in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and God the Father.    Our website is http://www.bellshillcentral.church and the social media channels are http://www.facebook.com/bellshillcentralchurch & http://www.twitter.com/bellshillchurch

BELLSHILL’S HEARTS OF HOPE

We encouraged people to help brighten up our Main Street starting at the Church at 346 Main Street – Bellshill’s Central Church, to craft a sign of colourful hope and tie it to our railings.    This has been very well supported and also popping up at the Co-op Funeral Care site on Hamilton Road.  We hope you agree that these show signs of hope and light in this difficult and challenging time.   All we need is one person to start and we could see a wash of colour streaming down Main Street towards the Cross at St Andrew’s Church.     If you are our for your daily exercise, just pass by Bellshill Central Church and tie your colourful symbol to our gates and railings.   We want to see wonderful images of community involvement touching the hearts of everyone. 

SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL PARISH CHURCH.

For Church Members – Please keep up to date with your financial giving to your Church.  Please continue with your standing orders and direct debits.  If you give by way of envelopes/donations save these and bring to Church when we re-open.   If you would like to change to direct bank giving please let us know and we can give you the necessary information.   There will be a significant impact on our Church finances over these weeks so your continued generosity will be particularly important and very much appreciated.

For our community – we are financially supported by our members.  This is part of our vows when we join the church.   We cannot directly ask the community for financial aid, this is simply not how we work.  We as members support the church, so that the Church can support you – the local community! However, if you would like to support us by giving a one off donation or even something more regularly you can simply get in touch and we will let you know how to do this.   What would be more than wonderful is that you come along to church the first Sunday we can gather together in the beautiful building at 346 Main Street and support us by your presence as we rejoice in coming together.  So, we hope you can come along when that day happens.  If you want to donate just now or when you come along either would be graciously accepted.  

Our motto is simple

Central to Bellshill, Central to You and Central to Christ.   

Be part of the church family

A Psalm a Day – Psalm 41

by Bellshill Central, posted in A Psalm a Day

Psalm 41 International Children’s Bible (ICB)

Psalm 41:1 NKJV - Blessed is he who considers… | Biblia

For the director of music. A song of David.

41 Happy is the person who thinks about the poor.
    When trouble comes, the Lord will save him.
2 The Lord will protect him and spare his life.
    The Lord will bless him in the land.
    The Lord will not let his enemies take him.
3 The Lord will give him strength when he is sick.
    The Lord will make him well again.

4 I said, “Lord, be kind to me.
    Heal me because I have sinned against you.”
5 My enemies are saying bad things about me.
    They say, “When will he die and be forgotten?”
6 Some people come to see me.
    But they lie.
They just come to get bad news.
    Then they go and gossip.
7 All my enemies whisper about me.
    They think the worst about me.
8 They say, “He has a terrible disease.
    He will never get out of bed again.”
9 My best and truest friend ate at my table.
    Now even he has turned against me.

10 Lord, have mercy on me.
    Give me strength so I can pay them back.
11 My enemies do not defeat me.
    That’s how I know you are pleased with me.
12 Because I am innocent, you support me.
    You will let me be with you forever.

13 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel.
    He has always been,
    and he will always be.

Amen and amen.

A Psalm a Day – Psalm 40

by Bellshill Central, posted in A Psalm a Day

Psalm 40 New International Version (NIV)

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.

4 Blessed is the one
    who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
    to those who turn aside to false gods.
5 Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many to declare.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
    but my ears you have opened—
    burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
    it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
    I do not seal my lips, Lord,
    as you know.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
    I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
    from the great assembly.

11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
    may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
    my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
    and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.

14 May all who want to take my life
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
    be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
    be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”

17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
    may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    you are my God, do not delay.

Pentecost Craft Activities

by Bellshill Central, posted in Mid Week Church, Other News

This week we need you to make some crafty Pentecost items, and take pictures and videos of the finished pieces of craft. There is even a Pentecost Young Church song included and if you want please sing it to us with your crafts.

Wind Twirls from Fun Foam, Card or a paper plate

What you will need:

  • Card, foam or a paper plate.
  • Shapes, glitter, things to decorate with
  • Markers, coloring pens, paint etc
  • String or wool
  • Scissors
  • Hole Punch

What to do:

  1. If using card or foam – Cut a piece of craft foam or card in a circle. (you might want to use a dinner plate to draw around in the first place)
  2. Now you have a circle, then cut around in a spiral until you get to the middle of the circle.
  3. Decorate your spiral with fun shapes or paint it in colourful colours
  4. Hang it up using your wool or string
  5. The finished product will help remind your children that the Holy Spirit is everywhere, and just like the wind we we can’t see it.

Pentecost young church Song

Wind and Fire
Written by Carolyn Warvel
(Sing to the tune of Frère Jacques)

Tongues of fire,
Tongues of fire,
Mighty wind,
Mighty wind,
The Holy Ghost is coming,
The Holy Ghost is coming,
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Pentecost Windmill wheels

(incorporating the wind and fire of the Holy Spirit)

  • Decorate your sails with images of FLAMES!
  • On the sails you can think about speaking in tongues, perhaps using the words LOVE, PEACE, HOPE and JOY (please do think about what they mean to us.)
  • Think of different languages and how your chosen word/words translate in to another Language or tongue. You could think about where you have been on holiday, or a language that a friend or family member speaks.

Headbands with the Flames of the Holy Spirit

What you will need and how to make:

  • Card to make the head band – measure carefully then cut even more carefully!
  • Stick together or staple.
  • Draw your flames and colour, in with vivid & bright colours
  • Stick or staple this to the front of the head band
  • Some help might be needed! Four hands are always better than two!