Category: Other News

CHRISTMAS FUN with Sing-a-song for Christmas!

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

WEDNESDAY 11TH DECEMBER AT 7PM in BELLSHILL CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL SING A SONG FOR CHRISTMAS.

This is a charity fund raising night for CHRIS’S HOUSE – a worthy local charity.   We look forward to hearing and singing with the kids from Lawmuir and Mossend Primary Schools.   The Church choir will sing some songs from our Christmas Musical. 

We urge the whole community to come along on Wednesday night, to really get into that Christmas spirit, enjoy hearing children sing AWAY IN A MANGER, and having fun.    

Entry is TOTALLY FREE, but a donation will be taken for CHRIS’S HOUSE if you can contribute.   Refreshments in the hall afterwards. Remember your Christmas Jumpers!

CENTRAL CHURCH GOES BLUE FOR ST ANDREW!

by Bellshill Central, posted in Other News

Bellshill Central Parish Church, your town centre church, was lit up BLUE from Friday 29th November to Monday 2nd December each night as it was St Andrew’s Weekend.

Here are some other surprising facts about Saint Andrew you might not have known – and the day we celebrate in his honour.

He’s not just Scotland’s patron saint

St Andrew officially became Scotland’s patron saint in 1320, when the Declaration of Arbroath affirmed Scotland’s status as an independent nation.

But he’s not just Scotland’s patron saint. Saint Andrew, who was born in Israel between 5 and 10 AD, holds the same honour in Amalfi, Barbados, Greece, Poland, Russia, Romania and Ukraine.

He was a fisherman who converted to Christianity and became one of Jesus Christ’s original disciples, so perhaps it’s no surprise he’s also the patron saint of fishermen and fishmongers. Why he’s the patron saint of singers and pregnant woman and is believed to offer protection against sore throats and gout is not so clear.

He never came to Scotland… but parts of him did

Saint Andrew never actually visited Scotland during his lifetime but his kneecap, arm and fingerbone did arrive in Scotland – among other relics – after his death.

Fourth century monk Saint Rule was instructed to take them and sail west until he became shipwrecked and to establish a church wherever he landed.

He ended up in the small coastal village of Kilrymont, which we now know as St Andrews. St Andrews Cathedral was built to house the relics in 1318, but both were destroyed during the Scottish Reformation.

Prayer for St Andrew’s Day (30th November 2019)

by Bellshill Central, posted in Advent Reflections, Other News, Prayer items

Loving God,

We think of Andrew, called first among your disciples,
Leaving his nets to follow Jesus, leaving his life behind to answer your call,
We thank you for Andrew, an example to all who follow you
Trusting blindly in your promise, trusting in a better life with you

Leader: You have called us into your service
All: Make us your true disciples

We think of Andrew, spreading the gospel in times of persecution and hostility
When the church was young and regarded with suspicion
Inspired by the Holy Spirit to convince others of the good news of Jesus Christ
Disregarding danger and hardship, doing your will as your disciple, your apostle.

Leader: You have called us into your service
All: Make us your true disciples

We think of Andrew, remembered on his cross, tortured and put to death for his faith,
Confessing Jesus bravely in pain and fear, trusting in him to the end, leaving us the legacy of God’s good news
We thank you for Andrew, a warning for us to remember those tortured and persecuted today, to remember why you sent your son, to remember Jesus as the prince of Peace

Leader: You have called us into your service
All: Make us your true disciples

We think of Andrew, whose message travelled to the farthest corners of the world,
Whose message is heard here in Scotland, whom we remember when we search the sky for our answers
We thank you for Andrew whose message is heard in Russia and Greece, in Europe, Asia and Africa, remembered as one of your first servants
To make disciples of all nations, to make us all follow the Prince of Peace

Leader: You have called us into your service
All: Make us your true disciples

God of all nations, you have sent us Andrew the apostle, inspired by your Spirit to spread your news, let us find his courage to follow you, let us find his passion to be your witness, let us be your disciples.

AMEN