The minister will be on holiday throughout July. During this time worship will be led by Rev Sara Embleton. Sara and Rosie trained together for ministry at New College ‘back in the day’. Sara is retired and lives in Peebles. Her husband Brian has provided cover in the past. The 11.00am service will be livestreamed as usual (thanks to John Pollitt and Gillian Arbuckle for volunteering) but there will be no Sunday podcasts or mid-week reflections. Pastoral cover will be provided firstly by Rev Sheila Moir and then Rev Margaret Steele.
During the summer months we are journeying through the Old Testament. The Mid-week Reflection on ‘Favouritism’ and the story of Joseph is on our church Instagram and Facebook pages. https://www.facebook.com/BowdenandMelroseParishChurch/ On Sunday we will be Celebrating the Lord’s Supper in Bowden and the Sacrament of Baptism in Melrose. In both services we will be looking at part of the story of Moses – his birth in Melrose and the Passover in Bowden.
Worship
We meet for worship at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and 11.00am in Melrose Church. Numbers in the buildings are still limited and there is still the requirement for distancing, face masks, hand sanitising and trace and protect. You can join us live at 11.00am on Sundays on both Facebook and our website www.bowdenandmelrosechurch.org or watch the recording thereafter. The hymn sheet is attached so you can sing along…. A Sunday Worship podcast will be posted on Facebook and Instagram at 6.00pm on Saturday evening. You can also listen by phoning 01896 808551.
Television and Radio
There are other worship opportunities on Sunday. On BBC 1 the final programme in the present series of Reflections at the Quay is at 11.30am and will be presented by Archbishop Leo Cushley and Very Rev Lorna Hood with music by Gary Innes. Songs of Praise from Iona is at 1.15pm. On BBC Scotland at 12noon Right Reverend Joseph Toal, Bishop of Motherwell, will lead Holy Mass for the Feast of St Peter and St Paul. 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.
The Gospel of Mark records the story of a woman who reaches out to Jesus and does so from the depth of her suffering. She does so because she ‘had heard about Jesus’ and longed to find healing. The Gospel describes how a large crowd was following Jesus ‘and pressed in on him’ and it is from the midst of the crowd that the woman reaches out. In the moment that she does so, Jesus senses ‘that power had gone forth from him’. In response to his question: “Who touched me?”, the woman comes ‘in fear and trembling’ and tells ‘the whole truth’. In response, Jesus affirms that her faith has yielded wholeness and peace. (Mark 5: 21-43)
In times of suffering, we may find ourselves worn out and uncertain as to the strength of our faith. Whether from the depths of the crowd, or in the loneliness of our isolation, Jesus invites us to reach out and experience the healing and peace of God.”
We pray:
Living God,
Move among us
And invite us to reach out to your presence revealed in Jesus.
When we are fearful,
Calm our fears and bring us safe into your presence.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Move among us
And invite us to reach out to the One who inspires faith.
When we sense our faith ebbs low,
Renew our faith and reassure that your faithfulness abides forever.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Move among us
And invite us to the place of healing.
When we are broken,
Lift us up and remake us in your image.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Move among us
And invite us to the place of peace.
Where peace seems absent,
Fill the place of absence with your abiding presence.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Move among us
And invite us to step out of the crowd.
Where we are hesitant to do so,
Reassure us that you see us and know us and accept us as we are.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
