We will be Celebrating the Lord’s Supper in both churches on Sunday 26 February. A warm welcome is extended to all.
Sunday worship
Worship this Sunday at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk, 11.00am in Melrose Church will be led by Rev Sara Embleton. The services in Melrose are livestreamed and you can watch on our Facebook page or church website.
The minister is on holiday 18-25 February.
Open Door
Come along to our weekly Open Door every Thursday, 10.00am-12noon, when the hall will be open for tea, coffee, company and chat. If you would like to join the rota of helpers there’s a sign-up sheet in the church kitchen. Thank you!
Lent
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday 22 February. It’s a time to prepare for Easter, traditionally with fasting, nowadays by ‘giving up’ something for Lent or by taking on a challenge. One challenge is to read through the 4 gospels during this time. Here are the readings for the first week.
Wednesday 22 February – Matthew 1-3
Thursday 23 February – Matthew 4-6
Friday 24 February – Matthew 7-9
Saturday 25 February – Matthew 10-12
Sunday 26 February – Take a break
Church Magazine
We will be publishing the Spring Church Magazine at the beginning of March. Any contributions will be gratefully received! Please send to the minister and the Church Office by Friday 24th February 2023. Thank you.
Snowdrop Walk
Come and experience the joy of walking amongst the beautiful display of snowdrops in the woods around Crookston House, by kind permission of The Borthwick Family, on Sat 25th and Sun 26th February from 2pm. (Crookston House is just off the A7, a few miles North of Stow – entrance is well sign-posted on the road-side) Entry will be by donation, and teas and cake will be served. All donations will go to the registered charity set up for Evie Mitchell. Evie is a plucky wee 9 years-old lass who lives in Melrose. She has the cruellest of diseases – Battens Disease, which is the children’s form of MND. In children the physical symptoms of MND, which Evie is now beginning to experience, are preceded by blindness and frequent seizures.
Kirk Session
Reminder to elders….the Kirk Session meets on Thursday 2 March at 7.00pm in Melrose Church Hall.
World Day of Prayer
Each year all the churches in the parish come together to mark the World Day of Prayer. This year’s service will be held in St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Church at 2.30pm on Friday 3 March. A warm welcome is extended to all.
Lent Study Group
This year our Lent Study Group will be exploring the topic ‘God Has No Favourites’. We’ll be meeting on Monday afternoons at 2.30pm in Melrose Church Hall. Each sessions stands alone so you don’t need to attend all of them. There will be a time to listen, a time to talk and a time to pray. All welcome.
Monday 6 March – The Best Picture of God
Monday 13 March – Neither Jew Nor Gentile
Monday 20 March – Neither Male Nor Female
Monday 27 March – Neither Slave Nor Free
Edinburgh Royal Choral Union
In our concert at Melrose Parish Church we in the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union are continuing our celebration of the seasons this year with winter music including Joseph Haydn’s depiction of winter, the fourth part of his oratorio The Seasons. We will also be singing Haydn’s Insanae et Vanae Curae as well as:
- the second performance of water psalms by Thomas LaVoy, commissioned in 2021 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the opening of Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh for worship
- A New Song by Sir James MacMillan
- Now sleeps the crimson petal by Paul Mealor
Conductor: Michael Bawtree
Organ: John Kitchen
Piano: Sam McLellan
Tickets – £15/£12 (£5 students) from on the door or from Ticketsource https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/edinburgh-royal-choral-union/t-qjayjro – or via our website (ercu.org.uk)
Coffee Morning
Many thanks to those who supported February’s Coffee Morning in Bowden Village Hall. The final total of £473.00 was raised for the Special Projects Fund.
Eco congregation Reminder!
Recycling glass can be made at recycling points and Community Recycling Centres in Scottish Borders.
Household waste disposal | Community recycling centres | Scottish Borders Council
Galashiels Foodbank
With the cost of living crisis many are seeking help from the local Foodbank. Donations of food can be left at the pickup points in Galashiels at ASDA, M&S, Poundland, and Iceland, as well as Co-op stores in Melrose and Earlston. Money to buy perishable items can be donated at
https://www.justgiving.com/galashielsfoodbank Thank you!
Church Choir
The choir rehearses on Sundays at 09.45am. Any additional members will be made very welcome. Thank you.
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.
