Further to the Scottish Government’s announcement earlier in the week allowing places of worship to reopen from 26th March, subject to continued improvement in the Covid-19 statistics, it is our intention to reopen our church buildings on Sunday 28 March.We will still be subject to the restrictions we were following before Christmas – a maximum of 50 in attendance in Melrose, 20 at Bowden, with the requirement for distancing, hand sanitising, trace and protect, no singing etc. Looking ahead to Easter we will not be able to have a service on the saddle of the Eildons however the provisional plan is…
Sunday 28 March, 9.30am – Palm Sunday Service in Bowden Kirk
11.00am – Palm Sunday Service in Melrose Church
Thursday 1 April, 7.00pm – Maundy Thursday Service in Melrose Church
Friday 2 April, 7.00pm – Good Friday Service in Melrose Church
Sunday 4 April, 9.30am – Easter Sunday Service in Bowden Kirk
11.00am – Easter Sunday Service from Melrose Church
All services in Melrose Church will be live streamed.
Sunday worship
As you are aware we are transitioning to a new website which is not proving straightforward… so our Sunday Service will be posted on both Facebook and Instagram at 6.00pm on Saturday evening. You can watch it anytime thereafter. You can also listen by phoning 01896 808551. In our worship during Lent we are looking at the events of Holy Week through a series of objects. On this fourth Sunday of Lent our focus is more an action than an object, a kiss.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Bowden-and-Melrose-Parish-Church-432876940395760
Instagram – bowdenandmelrose
Lent
During Lent you are encouraged to follow our daily reading guide through Mark’s Gospel. A recording of the reading and a short reflection is being posted each day on Facebook and Instagram….and on the website as soon as possible…
Messy Church
Messy Church activities for Lent have been posted on our Facebook page, Please use and share!
Moderator’s Service
As in previous weeks the Moderator, Rt Rev Martin Fair, has curated a service. You may wish to join church folk from around Scotland in worship. The YouTube link goes live at 3am on Sunday morning. https://youtu.be/bptc_kSam-s
Television and Radio
There are other worship opportunities on Sunday. On BBC 1 Scotland at 11.15am you can watch Reflections from the Quay. On BBC Scotland at 12noon Mark Fyfe leads a service of worship from Kirkintilloch Baptist Church. This week Songs of Praise is on BBC 2 at 1.15pm. New Every Sunday is at 7.30am on Radio Scotland and Sunday Worship at 8.10am on Radio 4. Both will be available afterwards on BBC Sounds.
Prayer
This Sunday Christians across the country – and further afield – will once again join together in prayer and reflection at 7pm in response to the pandemic.
God whose love endures
And is revealed in Jesus Christ,
May we hear the words of the Psalmist
Who calls us to remember:
The steadfast love of the Lord endures for ever.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God whose love endures
And is revealed in Jesus Christ,
Be with us in all we endure at this time.
Grant that we may know Your love
In days of light and in days of shadow.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God whose love endures
And is revealed in Jesus Christ,
Be with all who find themselves
At the limit of their endurance
And embrace them in the depths of Your enduring love.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God whose love endures
And is revealed in Jesus Christ,
As a mother comforts her child
May You comfort all who call upon You.
Hear us, as we give thanks for all who have nurtured us in this life.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God whose love endures
And is revealed in Jesus Christ,
Grant to us a vision of a community and society
That will endure in times to come
And hear us as we pray: Thy Kingdom Come.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God whose love endures
And is revealed in Jesus Christ,
May we live our lives
In response to the gift of the life of Your Son
In whose life is love embodied.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Offering
Our buildings may be closed but the work of the church continues. Thank you for your ongoing support. Many of our members now make their offering by standing order and we would encourage you to do so! Please contact Helen to set this up – bowden.melrosepc@btinternet.com Alternatively you can send or deliver your offering to the church, or you can make an online offering to Bowden and Melrose Church via the Church of Scotland website. https://cos.churchofscotland.org.uk/donate/?cong=040271
