The Church of Scotland is running a Week of Prayer from Monday 17 to Saturday 22 August.
At 8am each morning a pre-recorded reflection will go live on the Church of Scotland website and on Facebook (we will share this content on our page).
There will be a suggested prayer activity that you can choose to take up at some point during the day.
Each of these activities has been designed for all ages but certainly with children and families in mind.
In the evenings, there will be a ‘live’ gathering on Zoom in which we hope many from across the country and perhaps further afield will participate.
These will commence at 8.30pm – giving time for those who need to settle young children and for those who may have earlier meetings to join.
The Church of Scotland has asked us not to share the zoom details publicly but these can be obtained via an email to Bellshill Central at bellshillcentral@gmail.com
This Sunday (16 August), Christians across Scotland will once again join together in prayer at 7pm in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As with previous weeks during lockdown and the phased easing of restrictions, 14 Christian churches and organisations across the country, including the Church of Scotland, have co-signed the letter calling for prayer.
Scottish Christians have been continuing to answer the call to pray at the same time each week, and Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, has been taking part alongside them.
“I’m delighted to have read that in the last couple of months online searches for ‘prayer’ have increased dramatically,” Dr Fair said.
“But reading about what prayer is and how to do it is only the start of it. After that it’s time to actually pray.
“And what better than to join with brothers and sisters from across the nation at 7pm on Sunday to pray our way through this ongoing crisis. I commend it to you and look forward to being with you, in Spirit, on Sunday evening.”https://www.youtube.com/embed/WAPx_1qksmY
“Occasionally, when we purchase something, we change our mind and we return our purchase. However, over these last months that regular feature of the shopping experience has become somewhat more challenging. If this is so, the result might be that we stay with the decision we have made and choose not to change our mind.
“The apostle Paul writes that ‘the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable’. (Romans 11: 29) God has made a choice and that choice is to call the people of God into being and to make a covenant with them. Having made that choice, the mind of God does not change. God remains faithful to the covenant and to the covenant promise renewed through Jesus Christ. Knowing this to be so, we turn with confidence to the faithful God.”
We pray:
Faithful God, You have called us to be the people of God. We thank you that your calling remains and abides. Make us faithful to your calling at this present time. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Faithful God, You are the God who makes a covenant with your people. We thank you that you remember us even when we forget you. Remember us today and all who journey in hard places. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Faithful God, Your gifts to us are many and without number. We thank you for the gift of life And the gift renewed through Jesus Christ. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Faithful God, You are merciful and gracious and you abound in steadfast love. When all around us seems to shift and uncertainty prevails, We search for you and discover again that you are ever present. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Faithful God, You are the God who breaks down the dividing wall And makes us one in Christ Jesus. Grant to us the strength to overcome division and renew our common life. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
This Sunday (2 August), Christians across Scotland will once again join together in prayer at 7pm in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As with previous weeks during lockdown and the phased easing of restrictions, 14 Christian churches and organisations across the country, including the Church of Scotland, have co-signed the letter calling for prayer.
Scottish Christians have been continuing to answer the call to pray at the same time each week, and Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, has been taking part alongside them.
“I’m delighted to have read that in the last couple of months online searches for ‘prayer’ have increased dramatically,” Dr Fair said.
“But reading about what prayer is and how to do it is only the start of it. After that it’s time to actually pray.
“And what better than to join with brothers and sisters from across the nation at 7pm on Sunday to pray our way through this ongoing crisis. I commend it to you and look forward to being with you, in Spirit, on Sunday evening.”
“The present times continue to be ones in which uncertainty casts a shadow over the future. Our onward journey appears to be one that will not be straightforward or necessarily clear. Indeed, we might find ourselves having to take a step back before we go forward again.
“There are occasions in the Gospel when we see that Jesus has to take a step back and go ‘to a deserted place by himself’. On such occasions, we know that Jesus prayed and sought the renewed presence of God. He does so in order that he might continue the ministry that God has given to him.
“In the Gospel of Matthew and following such an occasion, we see the compassion of God made known to us through Jesus. In response to the need of those who come to him, Jesus feeds them with good gifts. (14: 13-21) At this present time, may we know the compassionate presence of God revealed to us as we make our onward journey.”
We pray:
God of all compassion, Be with us at this present time. As you have been with us in times past, Continue with us in the times that are to come. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God whose compassion knows no bounds, Meet us when we come to the end of our own strength. Lead us to the place of renewal, That we might know your presence and find ourselves renewed. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God whose compassion is embodied in the presence of Jesus, May we know that presence revealed. In the presence of your Son, Grant that we may know that he is there for us and for all who hunger today. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God whose compassion responds to human need, May we bear witness to the response of Jesus to the hungry and the weak. Grant that in our witness, We might respond to the needs of those around us. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of all compassion, Encompass our world in your unceasing love. May your compassion flow to the ends of the earth And embrace the suffering of this world. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Signatories:
Rt. Rev. Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
Rev. John Fulton, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
Rev. Dr David Pickering, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
Rev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland)
Rev. May-Kane Logan, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland
Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
Adwoa Bittle, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Rev. Jim Ritchie, District Superintendent, British Isles North District, Church of the Nazarene
Pastor Chris Gbenle, Provincial Pastor, Province of Scotland, Redeemed Christian Church of God
Bishop Francis Alao, Church of God (Scotland)/Minority Ethnic Churches Together in Scotland (MECTIS)
Rev Fred Drummond, Director, Evangelical Alliance (Scotland)
Christians are encouraged to come together in prayer at 7pm this evening.
“In the midst of the life we share, God creates, through Christ and by the Spirit, a community in which we are affirmed as children of God.”
Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly, said he is delighted to have read that in the last couple of months online searches for ‘prayer’ have increased dramatically.https://www.youtube.com/embed/JjWlBGgFzeE
We pray:
We praise you, living God And cry: ‘Abba’, Father! For you are the One who creates life And loves all that your hand has made. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
We praise you, living Christ And confess that Jesus is Lord! For you are the crucified and risen One Through whom we have peace with God. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
We praise you, Spirit of the living God And thank you that we are adopted as children of God. For you are the One who shares in all our struggles And inspires in us hope. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
We praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit And worship and glorify your name. We cry: ‘Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory.’ Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 