We celebrate Harvest Thanksgiving this weekend.
Saturday 16 September, 10.00am – Come along and help decorate Bowden Kirk for Harvest. Thanks!
Sunday 17 September – We meet for our Services of Harvest Thanksgiving at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and 11.00am in Melrose Church. Melrose services are livestreamed, and you can watch on our Facebook page or church website. A podcast based on the service is posted on Saturday evening.
You are invited to give thanks for the harvest by donating to Christian Aid and/or filling a shoebox for Blythswood Care and/or supporting the Galashiels Foodbank.
Christian Aid
You can pick up a Christian Aid donation envelope at the church or you can donate online https://www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved-locally/scotland
Blythswood Care
Shoebox leaflets are also available in both churches or online.
You have plenty time to fill your shoebox. They are to be collected from Melrose Rugby Club on Monday 23 October at 2.20pm. You can bring them to the church anytime before then. Thank you!
Blythswood Care always needs hats, scarves and gloves. If you’re a knitter and would like to help you can find some patterns at https://blythswood.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Knitting-patterns-for-Shoe-Box-Appeal-2022.pdf
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
Choir rehearsals resume on Sunday, 17th September at 09.45 It would be good to have a few additional singers join the choir – you will be made very welcome!
Bowden Community Cafe
The Bowden Community Cafe meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 11am in Bowden Village Hall. The next Cafe is on 20th September. All very welcome.
Minister’s Holiday
Rosie will be on holiday from Thursday 21 September until Saturday 7 October. Worship will be led by Rev Sara Embleton. Pastoral cover will be provided by Rev Sheila Moir and Rev Graeme Glover.
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
Events hosted by the Presbytery of Lothian and Borders
Friday 22 September – Presbytery will be hosting the first of two Autumn Conferences on the subject of the Five Marks of Mission. The key speaker will be Rev. Tommy MacNeil. This will be held in Jedburgh Old and Trinity Church Hall from 10am to 3.30pm. Tea/coffee will be served from 9.30am. Please bring a packed lunch. Everybody is welcome. If possible, please e-mail your interest to fiona@glenholm.co.uk.
Sunday 24 September, 2.30pm – Forest Church Taster Day. Gather at Penicuik House Estate Car Park. To sign up and for more information please contact Peter Wood, the Presbytery Mission Officer, PWood@churchofscotland.org.uk
Saturday 30 September – Presbytery will be hosting the second of its two Autumn Conferences. This one is on the subject of Music, Mission and Worship. The keynote speaker will be Richard Michael of the Heart and Soul Swing Band. This will be held in Longniddry Parish Church from 10am to 3.30pm. Tea/coffee will be served from 9.30am. Please bring a packed lunch.
Donations for the CofS HIV Programme welcome. Everybody is welcome. If possible, please e-mail your interest to fiona@glenholm.co.uk.
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.
Eco Congregation
We collect and recycle stamps (World Mission project to help establish tree nurseries in Central Africa), egg boxes (for the Galashiels Food Bank), specs (for re-use in the Philippines), plastic milk bottle tops (supporting cancer and palliative care charities). We also have collection boxes for batteries and printer cartridges…. PLEASE NOTE We are no longer collecting blister packs as there is no-one prepared to recycle them.
Messy Church
Last Sunday our ‘Messy children’ planted 500 daffodil bulbs in the grass outside the church and learned more about re-cycling. Thanks to Alan and Yvonne Young and Ruth Collin for coming along to support our Messy Team.
Messy Church meets at 3.00pm on the second Sunday of the month in Melrose Parish Church and Hall. Stories, games, crafts, singing, food and fun… Messy Church is for families however members of the congregation are most welcome to come along and watch or join in. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Sunday 8 October – Bowden Browse – a visit to Bowden Kirk
Sunday 12 November – Remembrance Ramble
Sunday 10 December – Christmas Celebration
Worship and Fellowship at St John’s
Our first short service of worship followed by afternoon tea in St John’s Care Home was a great success and much appreciated. Services are on the second Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm. You are warmly invited to come along and share this time with the residents. Future dates are Tuesday 10 October, Tuesday 14 November and Tuesday 12 December.
