Remembrance Services
Friday 11 November, 10.45am – Bowden War Memorial
Sunday 13 November, 9.30am – Gattonside War Memorial
10.45am – Melrose War Memorial
2.00pm – Newstead War Memorial
3.00pm – Darnick War Memorial
Sunday worship
We meet for worship on Sunday 13 November at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and, following the 10.45am service at the Melrose War Memorial, in Melrose Church. Rev Pip Blackledge will share in the leading of worship in Melrose. This service will be livestreamed, and you can watch on our church website or Facebook page or catch the recording thereafter. The order of service is attached. A worship podcast based on the service will be posted on Saturday evening on our website, Facebook page and Instagram.
Bowden Community Café
This continues to meet on the third Wednesday of each month in Bowden Village Hall at 11am. All welcome. Forthcoming dates are 16th November; 21st December; 18th January 2023; 15thFebruary 2023.
Open Door
Come along to our first weekly Open Door on Thursday 17 November, 10.00am-12noon, when the hall will be open for tea, coffee, company and chat.
Book Sale in support of the HALO Trust, 19th November 2-4pm, Melrose Parish Church Hall
Melrose parishioner and retired Borders General Hospital doctor and writer, Oliver Eade, was so moved by a recent Southern Reporter article covering the dangerous mine-clearing work being carried out by the HALO Trust in Ukraine that he and five other Borders writers have decided to sell their books in aid of the HALO Trust ion Saturday 19th November, between 2 and 4 pm, in Melrose Parish Church Hall. Members of the public of all ages are welcome, and all proceeds from the sale will go towards helping HALO Trust as they attempt to restore some sort of normality for the lives of the people of Ukraine. Books for adults, young adults and young readers will be on sale and refreshments provided.
Citation from Presbytery of Melrose and Peebles
As required by the Mission Plan Act 2021 (passed by the General Assembly of 2021), Presbytery is required to draw up a Presbytery Mission Plan Act for approval by the end of December 2022.
The Business Committee of Presbytery (following on from the work of the Presbytery Mission Plan Committee) has now prepared a draft Presbytery Mission Plan. This is a five-year Plan and its main aims are to (a) encourage all congregations in their mission over this period, (b) set out how the ministries available to the Presbytery are to be allocated across the Presbytery, and (c) provide a designation of A (to be retained for the Plan period) or B (to be disposed of within the Plan period) for each building owned or vested in the congregations within Presbytery. (Both our buildings have been designated A.)
The draft Presbytery Mission Plan will be discussed and voted upon at the meeting of Presbytery on 16 November 2022. Each congregation within the bounds of Presbytery is hereby cited to attend the meeting of Presbytery for its own interest. The meeting will be held in Innerleithen Church at 7 pm.
Church Choir
The choir rehearses each Sunday from 09.45 – 10.30am and would be delighted to have some additional singers join them on a regular basis, but to prepare for the Remembrance Sunday and Watchnight Services in the first instance. Might you be able to come along and offer vocal support, please? We are a friendly, welcoming group – rehearsals are very light-hearted (no requirement to read music), and are always rounded off with some light refreshments! There’s no need to let anyone know in advance – just turn up at 09.45 on any Sunday, starting on 30thOctober. It would be good to have you join us. Thank you. Jim Letham
Coffee After Church
Teas and coffees are available after the Melrose service in the Church Hall. All are welcome and if you would like to join the rota of helpers, please send a message to the office.
