A Big THANK YOU – Our recent Harvest offerings for Christian Aid raised a total of £711, of which £545 was donated under Gift Aid. Contributions from our National Giving Day earlier this month raised £693.36. Much of this includes Gift Aid and will be used to support the Al Shurooq School for Blind and Partially Sighted Children in Bethlehem. They will use the funds to allow them to plan a summer camp for the pupils. Monday saw a busy afternoon at Melrose Rugby Club as folk from many local churches brought carloads of shoeboxes for Blythswood Care. The shoeboxes collected in Melrose will be going to Moldova in time for Christmas. A big thank you to all who donated to these appeals.
Family Service – Our next Family Service ‘A Time to Remember’ is on Sunday 7 November at 10.00am in the Melrose Church Hall. Face masks must be worn unless exempt, 1 metre distancing between families.
Remembrance – The traditional Remembrance Sunday parade in Melrose is planned to go ahead, subject to Scottish Borders Council permission, on Sunday 14 November. We gather at the war memorial at 10.45am, continuing our worship in the church thereafter. There will be Acts of Remembrance at the war memorial in Bowden on Thursday 11 November and at the memorials in Newstead, Gattonside and Darnick on Sunday 14 November.
Tea and Coffee after the Melrose Service – We are serving tea and coffee after worship in Melrose once again. If you would like to volunteer for the rota please contact Helen in the office. We need 2 people each week. There are some ‘rules’ that we must follow to keep everyone safe….
If you wish to stay for tea or coffee please access the church hall from the Gattonside porch. Try and observe 1 metre distancing, keep your mask on – you can take it off when you are drinking, sanitise your hands as you pass, put your ‘trace and ptotect’ slip in the box in the hall so we know who has stayed for a drink. You will be served your drink, milk, sugar and a biscuit from the hatch and then you are asked to take a seat. Try and sit with someone you don’t normally get a chance to talk to…. Leave your mug on the table when you have finished. Leave by the Gattonside door. It’s another step forward….
Sunday Worship – We meet for worship at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and 11.00am in Melrose Church. The theme of the service is ‘Surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses’. In Melrose we will be joined by members of the Border Church Recording Group who will be presenting us with a record of our church building and furnishings. The 11.00am service is livestreamed on both Facebook and our website www.bowdenandmelrosechurch.org or you can watch the recording thereafter. The hymn sheet is attached so you can sing along…. A podcast based on this service will be posted on Facebook and Instagram on Saturday evening. You can also listen by phoning 01896 808551.
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 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.
The generation of which we are a part has the responsibility of passing to those who come after us the commandment to love God with heart and soul and strength. In similar fashion, we have a responsibility entrusted to us to pass on a land that will sustain the flourishing of human life. As those so entrusted, we pray to the One God, who is ‘the Maker of heaven and earth’…
Lord our God,
We turn to You as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear us as we seek to love You
With heart and soul and strength.
Hear us and our prayer for all Creation.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lord our God,
We turn to You as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear us as we behold the beauty of the gift of Creation
And give thanks to You for Your many blessings.
Hear us as we sense the fragility of Your gift at this time.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lord our God,
We turn to You as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear the voices of those from North and South,
And East and West, who cry out on behalf of a fragile creation.
Hear the voice of all Your people and answer their cry.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lord our God,
We turn to You as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear the voices of those who journey as pilgrims
And long to know a land flourishing with good gifts.
Hear our voices as we share the pilgrim way.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lord our God,
We turn to You as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear our prayer that the creation may be set free
And no longer bound to the bondage of decay.
Hear the voices of those who rejoice in anticipation of that day.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.
