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.
Sunday worship continues at 11am each Sunday morning at 346 Main Street – Bellshill Central Parish Church. Our church is Central to Christ, Central to Bellshill and Central to YOU! For 147 years we have shouted out the Good News of Jesus Christ and of His love for one and all. We offer a warm and generous welcome to all, on Sundays or throughout the week at any of our week day activities and groups. Our minister, Rev’d Kevin de Beer, loves being in our Faith Family and reaching outwards into the communities of Bellshill Town Centre, Mossend and Orbiston. As the Church of Scotland Parish for Central Bellshill, including the Town Centre, we want to you be part of what is a wonderful community of fellowship and faith. Please simply #comeasyouare!
This Sunday morning, 8th March our minister Rev’d Kevin continues a 5 week series for the season of Lent. Just come along and join us at 11.00am at the church at 346 Main Street right at the Centre of our town. The readings are Psalm 121 and John 3:1-17. Our hymns include: I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, Baptized in water, I to the hills, and two lovely hymns from the USA – Remember me & God we long for our own comfort.
The service this week sees two Sacraments being celebrated. The sacrament of adult Baptism and the sacrament of Holy Communion. We have a retiring offering for British Heart Foundation.
Our Sunday services are live streams via our Church Website and YouTube Channel and are uploaded for viewing later at your leisure. Services are able to be reproduced on Tape, CD and DVD. Portable DVD players are also available. Please just get in touch with Drew Aitken at the Church.
MINISTERS BLOG – our minister Revd Kevin de Beer blogs via YouTube each week, with reflective and inspirational messages, designed to make the Word of God relevant in a modern world. Look up Kevin de Beer or visit our Church Facebook. If you like what you hear why not subscribe.
HEART AND SOLE – Our Church Walking Group – next meet on 22nd March after the Church. Please bring along a sandwich to have (or to share) over a cuppa in the hall. We will likely walk Strathclyde Park stopping for a cuppa before heading home. Remember to dress appropriately!
PASTORAL CARE is important in our Church Family. Please let the minister, session clerk or any office bearer know of anyone who is ill, struggling, or simply just in need of a visit. We do try and regularly keep in touch with folks, but in times of need we can be there. Contact details are on our weekly Pews News, but please use the contact option on the website too.
Dates to note:
Tuesday 10th March at 7.30pm, our board and session meetings
Saturday 28th March – Daffodil Tea 1pm to 3pm and tickets on sale very soon, also pay at the door. Easter gifts, cards, yellow themed tombola and lovely home baking and goodies.
Sunday 29th March – Stated Annual Meeting with presentation of accounts.
Saturday 4th April – Come and Sing Stainer’s Crucifixion, organised by the Lanarkshire Organists (12pm rehearsal, 4pm performance)
Sunday 5th April – Palm Sunday Service, Hot Cross Buns served afterwards.
Easter Sunday – 9am Garden Service, 9.30am Breakfast in the Church Hall, 11am All Age Service with informal communion
The Church, Hall and rooms/kitchens are available to hire to the community. They are ideal for group activities, parties, lectures, coffee mornings, meetings etc. The Church has multimedia facilities. The Hall has portable Audio and Visual equipment available. Competitive rates available. Please just get in touch. We are open to the community.
Other activities/groups taking place this week are:
Wednesday – Music Makers and Shakers (all morning); Bowls Club 7pm;
Thursday – Brownies 6pm; Guides 7.45pm
Friday – 3pm World Day of Prayer Service at St Andrews Church; 7.15pm Church Choir
Sunday – Morning Service 11am, Young Church and Crèche 11am;
Monday – Guild meets at 1.30pm in the hall. Come along to meet the members, enjoy a cuppa and hear about the visit of the National Convenor the following week.
Tuesday – Rainbows 6pm; Board and Session meetings 7.30pm
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER service takes place at St Andrew’s Church on Friday 6th March at 3pm. The theme this year is “Rise, take your mat and walk”
“I’M NOT ASHAMED TO OWN MY LORD” “For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed” (Lk. 9.26).
We sing this hymn, Sunday 8th March 2020, as we begin our worship service which starts with an Adult Baptism. In Baptism we declare that we are not ashamed to own our “our” Lord. In our worship we seek to be inclusive and use hymns both OLD & NEW.
A much-loved hymn which presents the idea of not being ashamed of Jesus is “I’m Not Ashamed To Own My Lord” (#645 in Church Hymnary 4th Edition). The text was written by the great British hymn-poet, Isaac Watts (1674-1748). It first appeared in his Hymns and Spiritual Songs of 1707.
The song presents several reasons why we should not be ashamed of Jesus.
Verse 1 begins by saying that we should not be ashamed of Jesus because He is our Lord. “I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, Nor to defend His cause; Maintain the honors of His Word, The glories of His cross.”
Both at His birth and at the establishment of the church, Jesus Christ was proclaimed as Lord: Lk. 2.11, Acts 2.36
Because He is Lord, we must be ready to defend His cause by maintaining the honor of His word, the gospel: Phil. 1.17
And we must uphold the glory of His cross, the symbol God’s plan for our redemption: Gal. 6.14
Verse 2 says that we should not be ashamed of Jesus because His name is all our trust. “Jesus, my God! I know His Name, His Name is all my trust; Nor will He put my soul to shame, Nor let my hope be lost.”
The name of Jesus means Savior: Matt. 1.21
Therefore, trusting in the name of Jesus is important: Acts 4.12
There is nothing about Him concerning which we should be ashamed if we serve Him: 2 Tim. 1.8
Verse 3 says that we should not be ashamed of Jesus because His promises are as firm as His throne. “Firm as His throne His promise stands, And He can well secure What I’ve committed to His hands, ‘Til the decisive hour.”
Through Jesus Christ, God has granted to us many exceeding great and precious promises, including the promise of eternal life: 2 Pet. 1.4, 1 Jn. 2.25
And these promises are said to be as firm as His throne: Heb. 8.1
Therefore, we can trust that He can well secure what we have committed to His hands: 2 Tim. 1.12
Verse 4 concludes that we should not be ashamed of Jesus because He will own us before the Father “Then will He own my worthless name Before His Father’s face, And in the New Jerusalem Appoint for me a place.”
Jesus has promised that if we have the conviction and courage to confess Him before men, He will confess us: Matt. 10.32-33
This He will do before His Father’s face: Rev. 3.5
And the result will be that He will appoint for us a place in the New Jerusalem: Rev. 21.1-5
Paul determined that he would not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1.16). And he encouraged others to have the same attitude of not being ashamed of the testimony of our Lord (2 Tim. 1.8). Therefore, every Christian should have the courage and conviction to say, “I’m Not Ashamed To Own My Lord.”
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 