St Cuthbert’s Way / Pilgrimage
For the last few years the minister has represented us on a group now known formally as St Cuthbert’s Way Churches Together. The aim of the group is to enhance the spiritual experience of those walking St Cuthbert’s Way, to make it more than just a long-distance walk. Last year a leaflet for walkers was produced which was well received. It is being re-printed for this year. (Please pass copies on to those you know who are walking even part of the Way.) A website has just been launched which will be developed over time. You can take a look – www.scwchurches.co.uk The group is also in discussions with the different local authorities responsible for the route about additional signage at points along the way. On Friday the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum is meeting in Melrose Church Hall and representatives from St Cuthbert’s Way Churches Together will be sharing the story so far…..
Sunday worship
We gather for worship at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and 11.00am in Melrose Church when we’ll be looking at the experience of the travellers on the road to Emmaus. Emmaus, symbolic of the places where hopes have been quashed, dreams shattered and the raw emotion of grief felt most profoundly. Melrose services 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.
Summer Newsletter
Our summer newsletter will be published on Friday 12 May. Please send any items for inclusion to Rosie or Tracey in the church office by Friday 5 May at the latest. Thank you.
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!
Melrose Historical & Archaeological Association
The next meeting of the Melrose Historical & Archaeological Association will be on Tuesday 25th April at 7.30 p.m. in Marmion’s@The Wynd (located in at the back of Marmion’s Brasserie in The Wynd leading off Buccleuch Street). The evening will commence with a short Annual General Meeting to be followed by an illustrated lecture presented by Dr. David Caldwell from his recent research on the subject of – ‘The Battle of Pinkie, Musselburgh 1547’.
All are welcome. Free for members. £4 for visitors.
Bowden Community Café
This continues to meet on the third Wednesday of each month in Bowden Village Hall at 11am – the next is on 17th May 2023. All are very welcome.
Kirk Session
Just a reminder that the Session meets on Thursday 4th May at 7,00pm in Melrose Church Hall.
Messy Church
Our next Messy Church is on Sunday 28 May, 3.00-5.00pm in Melrose Church and Hall, and hopefully outside too….It’s Pentecost Sunday and we’ll be celebrating the birthday of the church with a party! All welcome. Our planning meeting is on Friday 12 May at 4pm in Melrose Church Hall. If you are interested in getting involved please come along!
New clarinet stop in memory of Jim Marshall
It is felt that a fitting tribute to Jim Marshall’s 56 years as organist would be to install an additional, and much needed, solo stop to the organ. If you would like to sponsor an organ pipe in Jim’s memory, information sheets and donation envelopes are available in both churches.
Re-engage Survey
We received a request for help from the engagement officer from Re-engage Scotland. In her words…
‘We will be applying to The National Lottery to bring our successful physical activity groups (currently delivered in Wales and West Yorkshire) to parts of Scotland. We have identified the Borders as the area of focus for the application. The aim of these groups is to combine the health benefits of physical activity with the opportunity to make new friends, contributing to our aim of reducing loneliness for the ‘oldest old’ (those aged 75+). The free groups consist of 45 minutes of gentle exercise (such as chair yoga or chair tai chi) led by an experienced fitness professional, followed by 20-30 minutes for the group to socialise. An advisory group of older people help to shape the project. These groups have proven to be very beneficial for older people, and we are now seeking to replicate them in other areas. Before making our application, it is vitally important that we understand the local landscape in the area we are applying for, particularly around need and existing provision. This will inform the first stage of our funding application, and ensure that we are targeting the right areas. Part of this includes a short 5 minute survey with people aged 75+.
If this is you, and you would like to take part, you can access the survey here – https://ecv.microsoft.com/Sgk2I2qV3U Thank you. Some paper copies are available in the church.
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.
BBS UK ‘We Carry the Gene’ Challenge
Jemima Billam is part of our church family. She was diagnosed with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) in 2018 when she was 12 years old. There are currently around 640 families affected by Bardet-Biedl syndrome in the UK. BBS is a rare, recessively inherited syndrome, affecting approximately 1 in 100,000 babies born. Features include rod-cone dystrophy, a progressive eye disorder that leads to blindness, obesity, renal abnormalities, developmental delay, speech and language difficulties, extra digits, and learning difficulties. Not all the features are always present in those diagnosed as having BBS and each one can vary in severity and appearance.
Jemima along with her brothers and their team of supporters are taking part in the BBS UK ‘We Carry the Gene’ Challenge, specifically supporting the Team Scotland leg, which will be run (walked and cycled) throughout April and May 2023. This Team Scotland, leg, will see around 350 people take part, carrying the baton over the 12 sections of the Caledonian route. Find out all about the route and how to get involved, or simply to support by making a donation and/or sharing the campaign page to your networks, check out their crowdfunding page: carrythegeneteamscotland. Thank you!
