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.

May Life & Work free and available online

by Bellshill Central, posted in Other News, Weekly Church News

Dear Church member

We trust you are safe and well wherever this reaches you. During this challenging period, Life and Work is committed to helping keep our Christian community connected and so we have made the May 2020 issue available on our website.

This can be accessed by visiting https://www.lifeandwork.org/resources/free-download-may-2020

We are sending this to everyone so that you may consider sharing with members of your wider faith family that do not receive the magazine.

Suggestions would be arranging to share by email, printing copies or hosting on your Church’s website or social media channels if available. Of course, we understand for several reasons this may not be possible.

The action to share is unique and in response to the exceptional time period in which we are operating. We have deliberately not provided the full digital experience as enjoyed by our loyal online subscribers and equally to protect our subscribers of the print edition.

It has been a challenge for my editorial colleagues to shift direction of their content at the last minute in response to the speed of which the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted daily life. This also includes a change to what would have been coverage of the timetable and fringe diary of the General Assembly, it of course reads rather differently this year. What they have created will become an important historical record for the magazine of the Church of Scotland.

Highlights from this issue includes:

▪ FEEDING THE HUNGRY: Reflection on foodbanks and impact of Covid-19

▪ ‘GOD HAS NOT FINISHED WITH SCOTLAND’: The Moderator-Designate, the Rev Dr Martin Fair

▪ ASSEMBLY CANCELLATION: Church’s business meeting cancelled for first time in over 300 years

▪ WAR’S END: The role of churches in peacebuilding across Europe on the 75th anniversary of VE Day

We trust you and your congregation will enjoy reading this issue. We are even more grateful at this time for your generous support and continued loyalty of Life and Work.

Best wishes

Life and Work Team

A psalm a day – Psalm 16

by Bellshill Central, posted in A Psalm a Day

Psalm 16 New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 16A miktam[a] of David.

1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

3 I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful[b] one see decay.

11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

A Psalm a Day – Psalm 15

by Bellshill Central, posted in A Psalm a Day

Psalm 15 Good News Translation (GNT)

15 Lord, who may enter your Temple?
    Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?

2 Those who obey God in everything
    and always do what is right,
whose words are true and sincere,
3     and who do not slander others.
They do no wrong to their friends
    nor spread rumors about their neighbors.
4 They despise those whom God rejects,
    but honor those who obey the Lord.
They always do what they promise,
    no matter how much it may cost.
5 They make loans without charging interest
    and cannot be bribed to testify against the innocent.

Whoever does these things will always be secure.

A Psalm a Day – Psalm 14

by Bellshill Central, posted in A Psalm a Day

Psalm 14 New English Translation (NET Bible)

Psalm 14

For the music director, by David.

14 Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.”
They sin and commit evil deeds;
none of them does what is right.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven at the human race,
to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.
3 Everyone rejects God;
they are all morally corrupt.
None of them does what is right,
not even one.
4 All those who behave wickedly do not understand—
those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,
and do not call out to the Lord.
5 They are absolutely terrified,
for God defends the godly.
6 You want to humiliate the oppressed,
even though the Lord is their shelter.
7 I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the well-being of his people,
may Jacob rejoice,
may Israel be happy!