We have a Family Service on Sunday at 10.00am in Melrose Church Hall. The theme is ‘All Over the World’ and we’ll be remembering 3 different global celebrations – World Book Day, the World Day of Prayer and Fairtrade Fortnight. Rev Sara Embleton will be conducting worship at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and 11.00am in Melrose Church. The services in Melrose are livestreamed and you can watch on our Facebook page or church website. A podcast based on the Family Service will be posted on Saturday evening. You can listen to it on 01896 808551
Lent Readings
A reading plan that takes you through each of the 4 Gospels during Lent. Here are the readings for this week
Monday 6 March – Matthew 25-26
Tuesday 7 March – Matthew 27-28
Wednesday 8 March – Mark 1-3
Thursday 9 March – Mark 4-6
Friday 10 March – Mark 7-9
Saturday 11 March – Mark 10-Mark 12
Sunday 12 March – Take a break
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
Her Audio Bible
Last summer Rosie recorded Matthew’s Gospel for a project called Her Audio Bible UK. In their words, ‘Her Audio Bible UK exists to reach and represent a greater diversity of voices through creating an Audio Bible voiced by women across the UK. Each book will be read by a different audio artist with her own unique, authentic accent and from a place of faith. The aim of Her Audio Bible UK is to widen accessibility to the Bible by breaking down the barriers of class, race, and gender. Her Audio Bible UK will be free to use and seeks to encourage a wider engagement with the Bible for those of faith or no faith. Everyone contributing is giving their time for free.’
Launch day is Wednesday 8 March, International Women’s Day. https://www.heraudiobible.org.uk/
Bowden Community Café
This continues to meet on the third Wednesday of each month in Bowden Village Hall at 11am – the next is on 15th March 2023. All are very welcome.
Loyal Address
On Thursday Rosie will be accompanying the Moderator of the General Assembly to Buckingham Palace for the Presentation of Loyal Addresses by Privileged Bodies to King Charles III. The privileged bodies of the United Kingdom are those institutions (mainly churches and universities) and corporations which enjoy the historic right to present an address to the Sovereign in person. In modern times this right is exercised on significant occasions in the life of the monarch and at a ceremony specially organised for this purpose.
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!
Edinburgh Royal Choral Union
In our concert at Melrose Parish Church on Saturday 18 March at 6.00pm 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) at the door or from Ticketsource https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/edinburgh-royal-choral-union/t-qjayjro – or via our website (ercu.org.uk)
Eco congregation Reminder!
So what happens to the glass bottles I recycle? They are currently taken to a depot in Bonnyrig. Here they are washed and crushed. Then they can be made into items like loft insulation and new bottles. On another item Ruth is investigating a local place to recycle empty tablet blister packs. More information to follow after her research.
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 athttps://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.
