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.

Sunday 7th May 2017 @ 10.45am

April 30, 2017May 1, 2017 by Bellshill Central, posted in Sunday Worship

The persecuted church

We prepare to worship God
Welcome and Intimations (session clerk)
Choir Introit MP 1008 The Lord’s my shepherd I’ll not want (Psalm 23)
Call to worship
Hymn 7 All creatures of our God and King
Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
We worship with the children
Time with the children
Hymn 135 Father in heaven how we love you
Offering
We hear the Word of God
Anthem CH4 501 Take this moment sign and space
Readings
Hymn 77 Christ triumphant, ever reigning (t. Guiting Power)
Sermon – Alan Spence from Barnabas Aid
We respond as Christ’s Folk
Hymn 640 The Church’s one foundation
Prayer of Intercession
Hymn 359 Jesus calls us o’er the tumult
Benediction and three-fold amen (Sung)
We go out to Love and to Serve

Tea and Coffee are served after the service so please join with us in the hall.

An interview with Hugh Ainsley

April 27, 2017April 27, 2017 by Bellshill Central, posted in An interview with

Continuing our effort to introduce the folks of Bellshill Central to the rest of the church family, visitors and the wider community we are interviewing various “well kent faces” from the congregation. This time we interview our friend Hugh Ainsley, who is also an Elder at Bellshill Central.

My first name is actually George. My father was George Henry Ainsley and was always called Harry, so I suspect that is why my parents always used my middle name.

I lived at home with my parents until I was 30 and in 1984 moved out, buying my first home in MacDonald Grove, Bellshill. As a child I had gone with my parents to Flowerhill Church in Airdrie but my mother stopped going to church when I was in my teens, although my father continued to attend. On moving to Bellshill I decided to try out my local church and enjoyed the services at Orbiston with minister Charlie Greig. I continued to attend Orbiston even after I moved to Larkhall and then after working for 8 months in the Middle East when I came back to Orbiston Martin Johnstone was the new minister.

It was Martin who asked me to become an elder, although I pointed out that I wasn’t good at talking to people and wouldn’t be comfortable doing elder visits. Because of this and also since I didn’t live in the parish I was given the postal district to take care of and also took on the role of looking after the church roll. By this time I had moved house again, back to my roots in Airdrie, just a mile from where my parents still lived, but I continue to attend Orbiston. When the churches were due to merge and there was a lot of uncertainty I considered moving to Calderbank church which is near where I stay but I decided to wait and see how the merger would go and made up my mind to decide once a new minister was appointed. As the churches merged I made many new friends from the MacDonald Memorial congregation and like I think all the other members I enjoyed working with our locum Iain and so I had made up my mind to stay unless I really didn’t like the new minister when he/she was appointed. (Kevin, I’m still here!)

My favourite hymn is probably “How Great Thou Art”, although I am also fond of any hymn sung to either Sibelius’s Finlandia or Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Another reason for my deciding to stay with Bellshill Central was my enjoyment of the organ and I have enjoyed working with Alan for many of our special events.

As you all know my day job is being a maths teacher at Larkhall Academy. For the past three and a half years I have been on phased retirement working only Monday to Wednesday. However I am kept extremely busy with a lot of voluntary work and (including the church board and session) I sit on about 10 different committees and so have meetings to attend most weeks. I am convener for Scottish Schools badminton and Area Organiser for Lanarkshire Schools badminton and also am a member of the Technical Commission for International Schoolsport Federation Badminton, being involved with the running of the World Schools championships every two years. Most recently this has taken me to Bulgaria, Malta and Taipei. If I am not in church on a Sunday I will usually be sitting at a desk with my laptop running a badminton event. I also am a member of Hamilton District Sports Council and I now do a lot of work for the United Kingdom Maths Trust, and have been a coordinator of maths competitions in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Carlisle.

When I am at home I enjoy working in my garden, reading books and listening to music. I enjoy classical music, particularly the works of Tchaikovsky and Wagner. My favourite classical singers are Placido Domingo and Jessye Norman and my favourite non classical artist is the French conductor Franck Pourcel who died in 2000. I am trying to complete my collection of all the tracks he ever recorded and have well over 100 CDs, LPs and tapes of his music. My music collection consists of around 2000 albums and my book collection is also well over 1000 so it is just as well that I am now progressing to having my music and literature on my kindle as I am running out of storage space.

I would like to see people throughout the world working together to avoid conflict. In the badminton world I have seen so many people each trying to do their own thing and not working with others for the better good. In my early years on the ISF technical commission we had difficulty at the meetings because my colleague from France didn’t speak good English and my French wasn’t good enough to follow a discussion in a meeting. I therefore think we need to do more to try to learn foreign languages as I don’t believe we should always expect everyone else to speak our language.

At school the three subjects I didn’t like were P.E., music and art. Strangely enough I then got involved with sport and have enjoyed playing tennis, golf, squash and badminton although the only one I still play is badminton. I also developed a liking for music but have never really got around to appreciating art.

My only relatives are 2 cousins, both of whom are older than me and we only meet 3 or 4 times a year. I find it difficult to make friends and am particularly uncomfortable in crowds unless I have a job to do and so enjoy the companionship of the church here at Bellshill Central.

Weekly news from Central

April 26, 2017April 20, 2017 by Bellshill Central, posted in Weekly Church News

Sunday worship takes place at Bellshill Central Parish Church at 346 Main Street, on Sunday 30th April at 10.45am, when our Minister Rev’d Kevin de Beer will conduct worship and our Young Church and children’s activities will be available. Bible readings are from Daniel 7:15-22 and Matthew 28:16-20, this is our second week looking at the words from Daniel. Our hymns include I will sing the wondrous story, Tell out my soul and Christ whose Glory fills the skies. Our choir lead us in a continuation of exploring the Psalms with a setting of 119 with “How can I ever thank the Lord”. Visitors are always welcome to come along. We are a warm and welcoming church at the heart of our town — Central Church is Central to Bellshill, Central to Christ and Central to YOU!

Monday 1st May at 7.30pm in the Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre sees another Anne Guy Clothes Show. Tickets are on sale priced £2.00. Refreshments will be available along with the usual raffle prizes. Please do come along to this popular event, which raises funds for Bellshill Central Parish Church.

Our Minister is lead the Community in prayer and reflection throughout the season of Lent, and these are available to read by looking for #prayerinlent on our Facebook page. This is was our second online initiative with our minister, and we hope that the daily updates reached out to many.

Looking towards the Summer months we are proposing to pilot a weekly end of say service (Sundown Services) in our Church to which all are warmly welcomed to attend. The services may take place mid-week on Wednesday’s around 7.30pm/8.00pm and last around 40minutes. Being led by different people/ministers and leader’s means that these Sundown services will offer a theme, a song and a mood to suit everyone. Tea/Coffee and refreshments would be served either before or after. We think that this quieter time of the year calls for a way of coming together as a community to share stories, faith journeys and time of fellowship together. If you would be keen to see this pilot take place please let us know. Either through our facebook page or via the button on our website’s home page.

We are a Parish Church, and are here for you in times of joy and sadness. Our minister, Rev Kevin de Beer, is available to the local community to offer spiritual support or to simply offer prayer. Each week in our Sunday Service we offer prayers for those needing remembered. If you would like to add names to our prayers, or require the services of your local Parish Church please get in touch – contact details are available on our website and our church notice board.

Our organisations give a warm invitation, and you are warmly welcomed to come and join in:

The Church Choir normally meets on Friday evenings at 7.30pm, we next meet on Friday 5th May in the Church. New members are always welcome, and we invite anyone who like to sing to come along. We’re a friendly bunch, who don’t bite, and encourage anyone to try out the choir.

Our Brownie Pack meets on Thursdays at 6.15pm, and all girls aged 7-10 years are welcome to come along. The Brownie Adventure is about trying new things that teach girls about themselves, their community and their world. The Brownie programme deserves to be called an Adventure. The name reflects the world of new opportunities, challenges and fun that girls become part of when they join.

Our Rainbows meet on Tuesday nights at 7pm for all girls aged 5-7years. Rainbows – it’s all about learning, it’s all about developing self-confidence, building friendships, learning new things and having fun. Girls get their hands dirty with arts and crafts, getting in touch with nature and playing games – it’s all about learning by doing. Rainbows follow a diverse and engaging programme called the Rainbow Jigsaw, through which they can take part in lots of different activities with girls their own age.

The Church Guides continue to meet on Thursday’s from 7.45pm for girls aged 10-14 years. The Guide programme is simply what you’ll do as a Guide – from taking part in lots of exciting activities at regular meetings, to special events and trips away. What you do is up to you. You will choose from different badges and awards which will help you learn new skills and try new challenges. You can do some programme independently, and others in small groups of Guides known as Patrols.

The Bellshill Probus club meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1.30pm in the church hall. This is an open club for all local men. Come along and ask for Mr Conquer who will be only too pleased to welcome you to the group.

Our Church bowling club meets on Wednesdays in the Church hall at 7 pm. This is a group for all abilities. Here you’ll find a group of friendly competitors, who offer a friendly and supportive environment. A weekly treat of tea and cakes are served up in-between ends.

Our Friday Night ALL-AGE Club has returned for 2017 on Friday nights at 7pm in the Church Hall, next meeting on Friday 5th May. This bi-weekly club has activities for all ages, table tennis, crafts, games, and refreshments served. Adults, Children and Families come back time and time again.

Advance dates for your diary

Monday 1st May Anne Guy’s annual clothes show takes place in the Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Anne at the church, members of the fund raising team or by paying on the door on the night. It has been asked….”just how many spare rooms does Anne have, or indeed how many wardrobes does she possess, as she holds at least an Annual Clothes show once a year and has a different array of clothes available each time!” Come along and ask, and put this great Bellshill mystery to rest!!!!

Sunday 7th May – morning worship at 10.45am – conducted by Rev de Beer, with special guest Alan Spence who will talk to us about Barnabus Aid – the theme is Persecuted Church. This being the 1st Sunday of the month we will have tea and coffee fellowship in the hall after the service.

Wednesday 10th May – Beetle Drive and Bingo Afternoon in the Church Hall with Sheena and Liz, with tickets available at £3.00 which includes your afternoon tea. Please get your tickets asap as they usually go quite quick. Always a good fun and friendly afternoon.

Tuesday 16th May – our Board and Session meetings take place from 7.30pm. These are open meetings remember, and any member of the congregation is welcome to come along and see and hear the discussions your trustees have.

Friday 2nd June sees the Church Guilds annual outing – this year to Musselburgh. Seats are still available on the bus should you wish to go along. Estimated cost is around £25.00. Please speak to Sheena Bowman if you want to reserve a place.

Our hall and facilities are available at other times during the week and are available to be hired for one off occasions or longer term lets. Please get in touch with us if you need a space to hire. We have now installed Wi-Fi which means we can offer facilities for online events taking place in the church and halls.

Check out our online activities – our website at http://www.bellshillcentral.wordpress.com, http://www.facebook.com/bellshillcentralchurch and our YouTube channel. You can find our more information on Sunday Services, Weekly activities and catch up with our services from our uploaded videos. We are occasionally LIVE on the internet with events we hold. These are usually streamed via YouTube, and links are available from our Facebook and Website addresses.

Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Peter Duncan

April 23, 2017April 23, 2017 by Bellshill Central, posted in Weekly Church News

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and loved ones of the late Peter Duncan who has passed away.

A funeral service and time for thanksgiving for Peter will take place within Bellshill Central Parish Church on Thursday 27th April 2017 at 1.30pm. Rev’d Kevin de Beer will conduct the service. Thereafter a service of committal at Holytown Crematorium will take place.

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There is no right or wrong way to grieve, everyone does it differently. As followers and believers in Christ, we turn to God’s word to find strength and comfort as we grieve.

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”