Sunday Worship
Rev Donald Scott 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 next Messy Church is on Sunday afternoon (11 October) 3 – 5pm in Melrose Church and Hall. We’re continuing the story of Joseph with a focus on harvest. 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.
Harvest Thanksgiving
We celebrated Harvest Thanksgiving last week. You were invited to show your thanks by giving to the Christian Aid Harvest Appeal, by filling a shoebox for Blythswood Care or by supporting the Galashiels Foodbank.
Shoebox leaflets are available in church. You can download one at https://blythswood.org/shoeboxappeal/ The filled shoeboxes will be collected from Melrose Rugby Club on Monday 26 October between 14.20 and 14.50. Please bring to church by Sunday 25 October. The shoeboxes will be distributed around Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.
Christian Aid envelopes are also be available in church or you can give online at https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/harvest-appeal
Melrose Church Choir
The Church Choir made an impassioned plea for new members last Sunday!
We lead you in the hymns
To praise the Lord we strive
Please join us as we harmonise
To keep your choir alive!
No auditions, no pressure, and no need to read music. No choir practice on Sunday 11 October. Come along the following week and try? – 40 minutes – 09.50 – 10.30am. 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
Yvonne’s Retirement
After many years of service Yvonne is retiring as Beadle at the end of November. The Elders and Congregation would like to mark their gratitude for her (and Alan’s) service with a Presentation. If you would like to contribute to this Presentation, please place in an Envelope marked with Yvonne’s name and put in the Collection or give to the Elder on duty (or to William Windram or the Church Office). Thank you.
Volunteers Needed
With Yvonne and Alan moving on there are many gaps to fill and we are looking for volunteers to fill some of these. A ‘caretaker team’ to help keep an eye on the fabric of the building and to assist any groups using our buildings for the first time. A ‘decorating group’ to prepare the church for Christmas and other festivals, to arrange flowers etc. Names to William, Rosie or Tracey. Thanks!
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 Wednesday 14 October at 7pm. She’ll also be addressing the U3A which meets in the Church Hall on Monday 19 October at 2pm.
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. Our next service is this week – Tuesday 13 October.
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 21 October 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://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).
Community intimations
Melrose Historical Trust
An illustrated lecture by Derrick Johnstone – ‘Scots Emigrants to East New Jersey – 1682 – 1702‘ (including people from Melrose. Lilliesleaf, Askkirk, Lauder and Bemersyde. Tuesday 13 October at 7.30pm. All Welcome. Large Hall, The Ormiston Institute, Market Square, Melrose. Free to members, £5.00 to visitors.
Borders Chamber Orchestra
Saturday 31 October at 7pm at Melrose Church – Concert in aid of Crohn’s & Colitis UK. Conductor – Tim Espin, Soloist – Nikita Lukinov – Rachmaninoff – Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Amy Beach – Symphony in E Minor ‘Gaelic’. Tickets £15 includes programme and interval refreshments – Under 18s Free. Purchase on the door or via website – https://www.borderschamberorchestra.org.uk/dbpage.php?pg=view&dbase=events&id=196181
Music for Absent Friends
You are invited to an evening shaped by the Margaret Kerr Unit Bereavement Playlist – songs to sing, music to listen to and memories to share. Open to anyone affected by loss or grief, participation welcome. 17 November from 7 – 9pm (doors at 6.30pm, please arrive in time for 7pm start). MacArts, Galashiels. Free Entry. Age 14+ (14 and 15 year olds must be accompanied by an adult at all times). Bring an instrument if you would like.
Singing – Listening – Talking – Snacks – Bar Available.
Scottish Country Dance Class
Scottish Country Dance Class in an Afternoon – at Melrose Parish Church Hall 2 – 4 pm every Tuesday until 8th December. £3 per session. All welcome – contact Eleanor 07974 745344.
Drop-in Cafe 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 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.
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
