“The Lord is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” — Psalm 91:2
Last Sunday we marked Sanctuary Sunday, giving thanks for places of worship that have been centres of faith, hope, and community for generations. Yet the message of sanctuary does not end when the service finishes.
Sanctuary is not only a building; it is also a way of living. Wherever people experience welcome instead of exclusion, kindness instead of indifference, and hope instead of despair, something of God’s sanctuary is present.
Jesus continually created spaces where people felt seen, valued, and loved. He welcomed those on the margins, listened to those who were hurting, and offered peace to those carrying heavy burdens. As His followers, we are called to do the same.
This week, consider how you might be a sanctuary for someone else. A phone call, a conversation, an act of generosity, or a simple prayer may become a place of refuge for someone who needs encouragement.
May God’s peace dwell within us, and may His love flow through us into our homes, workplaces, schools, and community.
Prayer
Lord God, Thank You for the gift of sanctuary and for all the places where we encounter Your presence. Help us this week to be people of welcome, compassion, and grace. May our words and actions reflect Your love, bringing comfort and hope to those around us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Come, let us follow Jesus— the One who calls us by name, the One who leads us in love, the One who walks beside us on every road. Come with open hearts, ready to listen, ready to learn, ready to follow.
Hymn 1 – Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons) A natural opening hymn for the theme of discipleship.
Prayer of Approach
Loving God, You call us to follow Your Son, to walk in His footsteps, to learn His ways of compassion, courage, and truth. We come seeking Your presence, Your guidance, and Your renewing Spirit.
Prayer of Confession
Lord Jesus, You invite us to follow, yet we confess the times we choose our own path. Forgive our hesitations, our half‑heartedness, our moments of fear or pride. Lift us again to our feet and set us on Your way.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news: Christ came not to condemn but to restore. In Him we are forgiven, renewed, and set free. Thanks be to God.
Prayer of Praise and Wonder
God of all creation, Your love stretches wider than the skies, Your mercy reaches deeper than the seas, Your grace meets us in every moment. We marvel at the life of Jesus— His welcome, His wisdom, His way— and we praise You for calling us to follow Him.
Bible Reading 1 – Matthew 4:18–22
Jesus calls the first disciples.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Hymn 2 – Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult
A classic hymn of commitment and calling.
Short Reflection
Theme: “Following Jesus – A Daily Yes”
Following Jesus is not a one‑time decision but a daily choice. In Matthew’s Gospel, the disciples leave their nets “at once”—not because they understood everything, but because they trusted the One who called them.
To follow Jesus today means:
Listening for His voice in Scripture and prayer
Learning His way of compassion, justice, and mercy
Living with courage, even when the path is costly
Loving as He loved—especially those who struggle or feel unseen
Discipleship is not about perfection. It is about direction—turning our lives toward Christ again and again, trusting that He walks with us, strengthens us, and leads us into life.
Bible Reading 2 – Luke 9:23–25
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Gracious God, We thank You for Jesus— for His teaching, His compassion, His courage, and His unfailing love. We thank You for the people who first taught us faith, for moments when You guided us, and for the strength You give us each day.
Prayer for the Church Family
Lord Jesus, You gather us as one family in Your name. Bless our congregation— the young, the old, the long‑established, and the newly arrived. Strengthen our fellowship, deepen our care for one another, and help us follow You together with joy, generosity, and hope.
Prayer of Intercession
God of all people, We pray for a world longing for peace, for communities burdened by hardship, for those who feel lost, lonely, or afraid. Guide leaders with wisdom, comfort those who suffer, and inspire Your church to be a light in dark places. Make us faithful followers— ready to serve, ready to love, ready to act.
Hymn 3 – “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (Pescador de Hombres)” Focuses on Jesus calling ordinary people to follow Him.
Blessing
Go now in the footsteps of Jesus— with hearts open, with courage renewed, with love overflowing.
And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you today and always. Amen.
Call to Prayer God of truth and mercy, we gather in Your presence seeking hearts that are honest and spirits that trust in You. Quiet our fears, calm our distractions, and help us to hear Your voice clearly today. May we come before You with openness and sincerity, ready to receive Your grace and share Your love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Approach and Confession Loving God, You know us completely. Nothing is hidden from Your sight, yet You welcome us with compassion and grace. We praise You for Your faithfulness, for Your steadfast love that never fails, and for Your truth that guides us in uncertain times. Forgive us when we are less than honest with ourselves, with one another, or with You. Forgive us for the times we pretend, for the promises we fail to keep, and for the moments when fear overcomes trust. Teach us to walk in integrity. Help us to trust Your wisdom when life feels uncertain, and give us courage to speak truth with kindness and love. Cleanse our hearts and renew our spirits, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
Bible Readings
Gospel Reading — John 8:31–32 Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Additional Reading — Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving Faithful God, we thank You for every sign of Your goodness in our lives. We praise You for the gift of friendship, for families and neighbours, for laughter shared and burdens carried together. We thank You for the honesty of Christ, who spoke truth with compassion and showed us the depth of Your love. We praise You for moments when trust has carried us through difficulty, for prayers answered in unexpected ways, and for the quiet assurance that You never abandon Your people. Receive our thanks for this church family, for worship, fellowship, service, and hope. May our lives reflect gratitude in all we do. Amen.
Prayer for Our Town and Community Loving God, we pray for the people of Bellshill and the wider community around us. Bless our homes, schools, workplaces, and local organisations. Strengthen those who serve others through care, teaching, emergency services, and voluntary work. Bring hope where there is hardship, friendship where there is loneliness, and peace where there is anxiety or division. Help us as Your Church to be a caring presence in our town, sharing kindness, compassion, and the love of Christ with all we meet. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Intercession God of grace, we pray for Your world. Where there is division, bring understanding. Where truth is ignored or distorted, bring wisdom and honesty. Where people are anxious or fearful, grant peace and trust. We pray for leaders of nations and communities, that they may act with integrity, humility, and compassion. We remember all who are struggling today: those who are ill, grieving, lonely, or overwhelmed. Surround them with Your comfort and strength. We pray for the work of Your Church throughout the world, that Christians everywhere may witness faithfully to the love of Christ. We especially pray for the Bellshill Central Church family: for those who worship regularly, for those unable to join us today, for our ministers, elders, volunteers, and young people. Strengthen us in fellowship and service. Help us to be a community marked by honesty, kindness, and trust in You. We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Benediction Go now in truth and peace. May the God who is faithful guide your steps, strengthen your hearts, and teach you to trust Him more deeply each day. And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, remain with you always. Amen.
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 