Church intimations
Sunday Worship
Very Rev Rosie Frew will be leading worship at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk, and 11.00am in Melrose Church. All welcome.
Melrose services are livestreamed, and you can watch on our Facebook page or church website.
Just a reminder that we have induction loops in both buildings.
Please switch hearing aids to the T setting, if appropriate.
Messy Church
Our first Messy Church of the new session is on Sunday 13 September, 3.00pm-5.00pm in Melrose Church and Hall. Messy Church is for all ages, though children must be accompanied by an adult. Messy Church is church but in a different way. It’s music, stories, crafts, games, food, indoors, outdoors, fun, sometimes a bit of mess… Come along and see for yourself.
Wednesday 2 September, 12noon – 2.00pm
Come and meet Rev Tara Curlewis, minister of St Andrews Church in Rome and one of the Presbytery’s Mission Partners. Find out about her work representing the World Council of Reformed Churches there. Rosie met Tara when she was with the King going to visit the Pope! You’ll hear all about that very special day. Melrose Church Hall. A buffet lunch will be served.
Presentation – a Year as Moderator
Rosie will be giving presentations on her year as Moderator in words, pictures and memorabilia in Melrose Church Hall on Thursday 24 September at 2.00pm and Wednesday 14 October at 7.00pm. She’ll also be addressing the U3A which meets in the Church Hall on Monday 19 October at 2.00pm.
Tea and Coffee
Refreshments are served in the Church Hall after the Melrose service each week, and in the vestry after the Bowden service on the first Sunday of the month. All welcome!
Worship and Fellowship at St John’s
We meet for worship in St John’s Care Home on the second Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm – followed by afternoon tea. You are warmly invited to come along and share this time with the residents.
Bowden Community Cafe
The Bowden Community Cafe meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 11am in Bowden Village Hall. The next Café is on Wednesday 16 September 2026. All very welcome.
Open Door
Come along to our weekly Open Door every Thursday, 10.00am – 12noon, when the hall is open for tea, coffee, company and chat. Over the summer months we will be joined by Melrose volunteers from Cycling Without Age Scotland along with their electric trishaw ‘Trimonty’. CWAS provides free rides in the fresh mobility or disability. Come along and give it a go!
Podcast – ‘Talking Faith’
Rev Philip Blackledge, of Holy Trinity Melrose, and Rev Lesley Penny of St Peter’s Galashiels have a podcast, called “Talking Faith”. Have a listen!
https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingFaithPod
https://media.rss.com/talking-faith/feed.xml
Eco Congregation
We collect and recycle stamps and specs and also have collection boxes for batteries and printer cartridges. Many thanks for your support.
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 the Co-op store in Melrose. Money to buy perishable items can be donated at: https://www.justgiving.com/galashielsfoodbank
Thank you!
Bowden Kirk Flower Rota
The flower rota for 2026 is now on display in Bowden Kirk. It would be helpful if volunteers could add their names to the list. (There are artificial flowers available if desired).
Melrose Church Choir
After an extra week’s holiday, the choir is back on Sunday 6th September. We are still hoping to welcome some new singers. No auditions, no pressure, and no need to read music. Why not come and try? – 40 minutes – 09.50 – 10.30. We promise a warm welcome and a cheerful start to your day – and the biscuits and coffee are usually good too. If it’s not for you, we’ll still be friends! Thank you. Jim Letham
Street Pastors
2026 marks 10 years of Street Pastors in the Scottish Borders. We are hosting an evening of thanks giving and celebration on Friday 4th September at 7pm at Galashiels Baptist Church, Victoria Street Galashiels, TD1 1HH. As part of the service, we will be commissioning ten School Pastors, who are now part of a new initiative at Hawick High School. It would be lovely if you could join us as part of our celebrations! Duncan Cameron. (Coordinator)
Community intimations
Scottish Country Dance Class
Scottish Country Dance Class in an Afternoon – at Melrose Parish Church Hall 2 – 4 pm every Tuesday until 8th December (except 18th August to 8th September). £3 per session. All welcome – contact Eleanor 07974 745344.
Drop-in Café at St John’s
The staff at St John’s Care Home, Melrose, invite you to come along and join their residents for refreshments and home baking every Tuesday, 2pm – 4pm. Dementia friendly, accessible and open to all ages.
Borders Music Festival
The programme is now available for the Borders Music Festival at
https://bordersmusicfestival.com being held during September. A number of venues are being used with Melrose Church hosting events on Saturday 12th, Sunday 13th, Tuesday 15th and Friday 18th September. Please pick up a leaflet at the Church or check out events on the website mentioned above.
Borders Cancer Peer Support Group
A welcoming relaxed and informal monthly peer support group for adults who have lived through or are living with cancer. Meet on the last Thursday of every month from 5 – 6.15pm in The Chaplaincy at Borders General Hospital. Free to attend and Refreshments provided.
Old Melrose Walks
The dates of the walks for 2026 are 1st September and 6th October. Old Melrose has long been known as the ‘probable’ site of one of the most important early monasteries in northern Britain – possibly dating from the 7th century AD – and famously associated with St. Cuthbert as the place where he began his monastic life. Starting at 1.30 p.m from the courtyard of the tearoom on the estate the whole circuit of the walk is 1.5 miles or 2.3 Km and involves some gentle climbing. This guided walk takes us through about 2,000 years of history, entering parts of the estate not normally open to the public.
All are welcome. Adults £5. Children free. Dogs on leads at all times.
All donations go to the Old Melrose & Environs Project for the future excavation of the site.
Use it or Lose it
Gentle Movement Class – Melrose Church Hall – Wednesdays 10:15 – 11:00am, £5. Warm and welcoming, move at your own pace, feel stronger and more balanced. For more information contact Dorthe 07969 570109.
Zumba Classes with Lenore
Fun Zumba class every Tuesday 10am at Melrose Parish Church Hall or Monday and Wednesday 6:15pm at the Pavilion Cinema. Book your space on 07826 849115.
Musical Memories
For people living with Dementia and their partners or carers. Fun, lively sessions of singing in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. In the Blue Room at Langlee Community Centre, Galashiels from 10.30 – 12.00 twice a month. For dates, please contact: Prue Pullen -pruepullen@hotmail.com or phone 07806 619989
Intimations
Please contact Tracey in the Church Office with any information you would like included in the weekly Intimations by 9.00am Thursday morning. Thanks.
Contact Details
Rosie, our minister can be contacted on 01896 822217 or RFrew@churchofscotland.org.uk
The Church office contact details are 01896 574124 or bowden.melrosepc@btinternet.com
Website – https://bowdenandmelrosechurch.org/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BowdenandMelroseParishChurch
