We meet for 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 service will be posted on Saturday evening. You can listen to it on 01896 80855.
Messy Church
Our next Messy Church is on Sunday afternoon, 3.00-5.00pm in Melrose Church and Hall. Our theme is ‘Preparing for Easter’. Members of the congregation are most welcome to come along and see what Messy Church is all about.
Lent Readings
A reading plan that takes you through each of the 4 Gospels during Lent.
Monday 27 March – John 1-2
Tuesday 28 March – John 3-4
Wednesday 29 March – John 5-6
Thursday 30 March – John 7-8
Friday 31 March – John 9-10
Saturday 1 April – John 11-12
Sunday 2 April – 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 27 March – Neither Slave Nor Free
Easter Services
Next Sunday we celebrate Palm Sunday. In addition to our regular services of Sunday worship we will be joining with Holy Trinity and St Cuthbert’s Churches in worship over Holy Week and Easter.
Sunday 2 April, 7.00pm – Service in Holy Trinity Church
Monday 3 April, 7.00pm – Service in St Cuthbert’s Church
Tuesday 4 April, 7.00pm – Service in Holy Trinity Church
Wednesday 5 April, 7.00pm – Service in Melrose Parish Church
Thursday 6 April, 7.00pm – Maundy Thursday Service in Melrose Parish Church Hall
Friday 7 April, 2.00pm – Performance of St Matthew Passion by Waverley Consort in Melrose Parish Church
7.00pm – Good Friday Service in Bowden Kirk
Saturday 8 April – Churches open for prayer and contemplation.
Sunday 9 April, 7.30am – Early morning worship for Easter Day on the Saddle of the Eildons
Help needed in Melrose!
Waverly Consort are performing the St Matthew Passion on the afternoon of Good Friday, Friday 7 April. They are looking for volunteers to serve teas and coffees at the interval. If you can help please let Rosie or Tracey know. Thanks!
We would like to have the church open on Easter Saturday which is also the day of the Melrose Sevens. For this we need people. There’s a rota in the Gattonside Porch. Help would be appreciated.
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!
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.
Earth Hour – Saturday 25th March
Saturday 25th March is Earth Hour. This annual event encourages people across the world to turn off lights for an hour. It encourages us to do much more than this. The website www.earthour.org has a section of what to do everyday to protect earth’s precious resources.
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.
