Sunday sees the start of Prisoners Week, a time for us to focus on prisoners, victims, families of prisoners and for those who work in our prisons. We meet for worship at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and 11.00am in Melrose Church when we will be joined by Craig Renton, a former Prison Officer. Melrose services are livestreamed, and you can watch on our Facebook page or church website. A worship podcast based on the service will be posted on Saturday evening on Facebook and Instagram.
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
We will be Celebrating the Lord’s Supper on Sunday 26 November at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and 11.00am in Melrose Church. A warm welcome is extended to all.
Prison Fellowship Scotland
Prison Fellowship Scotland is a non-denominational, faith-based Christian charity, working with all 15 of Scotland’s prisons. Working in partnership with Prison Chaplaincy our work consists of the following areas:
Weekly conversational/bible study groups
Restorative Justice/Victim awareness courses
Angel Tree Christmas Gift programme for the children of men and women in prison
Adventure holidays for children affected by imprisonment
Prison Fellowship Scotland puts relationships at the centre of all we do. We support volunteers from churches in Scotland who in return help reduce the social isolation of people in prison, give people the opportunity to explore faith, raise awareness of victim impact and through the wider work, support the children affected by imprisonment. If you would like to learn more about how you can be involved in any of the above please get in touch:
Telephone: 0141 266 0136
office@pfscotland.org
www.pfscotland.org
Christmas Cards
We will have some Traidcraft Christmas cards and Fairtrade decorations on sale after worship in Melrose on Sundays 19 and 26 November.
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.
Thursday 23 November, 8.00pm – A performance of ‘The Lamentations of Jeremiah’ by Thomas Tallis in Holy Trinity Melrose to raise funds for the work of the Red Cross / Red Crescent in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Update from Al Shurooq School for Blind Children
We’ve just received a newsletter from the school with this statement – The war in Gaza Strip and the deterioration of conditions at all levels have made it impossible for most of our students to arrive at school during this most difficult period in our beloved homeland of Palestine. Our priority is to ensure their safety and to maintain their learning, which is why a special distance learning plan is being implemented through TEAMS. Our plan also includes the use of special Facebook groups to present videos, teaching materials, and worksheets. Please remember the school in your prayers.
Messy Church
Messy Church meets on the second Sunday of the month at 3.00pm in Melrose Church and Hall. Our next meeting is a Christmas Celebration on Sunday 10 December. Party games, a Nativity Play, Christnas food and lots of 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.
Church Choir
The Melrose Church Choir rehearses on Sunday mornings at 9.45am. 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 20 December. All 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!
Worship and Fellowship at St John’s
We meet in St John’s Care Home for a short service of worship followed by afternoon tea on the second Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm. You are warmly invited to come along and share this time with the residents. Our next service is on Tuesday 12 December.
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!
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.
