Edinburgh Royal Choral Union Concert in Melrose Parish Church at 6.00pm on Saturday 18 March. The Edinburgh Royal Choral Union are continuing their celebration of the seasons this year with winter music including Joseph Haydn’s depiction of winter, the fourth part of his oratorio The Seasons. They 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)
Sunday worship
We meet for worship at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and 11.00am in Melrose Church. We will be celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism at both services. The services in Melrose are livestreamed and you can watch on our Facebook page or church website. A podcast based on the 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 20 March – Luke 13-14
Tuesday 21 March – Luke 15-16
Wednesday 22 March – Luke 17-18
Thursday 23 March – Luke 19-20
Friday 24 March – Luke 21-22
Saturday 25 March – Luke 23-24
Sunday 26 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 20 March – Neither Male Nor Female
Monday 27 March – Neither Slave Nor Free
Bowden Community Café
This continues to meet on the third Wednesday of each month in Bowden Village Hall at 11am – the next is on 19th April 2023. All are very welcome.
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!
Messy Church
Our next Messy Church is on Sunday 26 March, 3.00-5.00pm in Melrose Church and Hall. Members of the congregation are most welcome to come along and see what Messy Church is all about.
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.
