Thank you!
A big thank you to all who donated so generously to Christian Aid at our Harvest Thanksgiving Service last week. You’re not too late to support any of the 3 appeals that were highlighted.
- Make a donation to Christian Aid. There are envelopes to fill in the church or you can donate online. https://www.christianaid.org.uk
- Give to the local foodbank – the easiest way to do this is as you do your shopping in one of the local supermarkets. You can donate online at https://www.justgiving.com/galashielsfoodbank
- Fill a shoebox or drawstring bag for Blythswood Care. Leaflets are available in the church. More information at https://blythswood.org/shoeboxappeal/ Shoeboxes will be collected from Melrose in late October.
Sunday Worship
This week we have a Family Harvest Thanksgiving Service at 10.00am in Melrose Church Hall. A podcast based on this service will be posted on Facebook and Instagram on Saturday evening. You can also listen by phoning 01896 808551.
Rev Sara Embleton will be conducting worship at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and 11.00am in Melrose Church. 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….
Mid-week Reflection
You can listen to the mid-week reflection ‘Thank you for the food we eat’ on Instagram or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BowdenandMelroseParishChurch/
National Giving Day
All Church of Scotland congregations are being encouraged to participate in a National Giving Day in either September or October 2021. This will provide people of all ages an opportunity to reflect on God’s presence with us through these challenging times and to offer gifts of thanksgiving back to God. We have designated Sunday 10 October as our giving day. Your gifts will go into our Special Projects Fund. In recent years this has helped fund a holiday for the children of the Al Shurooq School for the Blind in Bethlehem. There will be a retiring offering next Sunday or you can put your gift in an envelope marked ‘National Giving Day’. Thanks.
Keeping Safe
Whilst most Covid restrictions in Scotland have been lifted the virus is still a threat and care still needs to be taken. Physical distancing is still recommended as is hand sanitising and the wearing of masks at indoor events. Complying with Test and Protect remains in place. The Church of Scotland is advising that we continue to observe 1 metre distancing in the short term. This gives us good capacity in both our buildings – up to 180 in Melrose and 40 in Bowden. Different options for joining in worship are now a part of church life. Please do what is right for you.
Television and Radio
There are other worship opportunities on Sunday. Songs of Praise is on BBC 1 at 3.10pm. 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.
The place we inhabit is the point of tension between the world we see and the world as God intends it to be. In this place, and by the grace of God, ‘we see Jesus…now crowned with glory and honour because He suffered death’ and we resolve to live out our faith as we follow the One who is the author and pioneer of our salvation. (Hebrews 2: 5-12/Psalm 8: 4-6)
We pray:
Living God,
You give life to the world
And to all Creation,
And we seek Your guiding hand
In the days in which we live.
Grant that we might discern Your guidance
And live faithfully in accordance with Your will.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
You give life to the world
And to all Creation,
And Your care for Creation
Overflows to all the earth.
Grant to us the resolve to care for Creation
In the place we inhabit and in the time You have given to us.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
You give life to the world
And to all Creation,
And You create us to reflect
The image of God.
Grant to us that we may see in our neighbour
A reflection of Your image and so value the lives of all.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
You give life to the world
And to all Creation,
And we see the world as it is
And know that it is not yet the world as You will it to be.
Grant to us faith that we might see Jesus and follow the One
Who is the author and pioneer of our salvation.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
