Sunday Worship
Rev Sara Embleton will be leading worship at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk and 11am 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.
Message from Rev Donald Scott
Dear Friends – on behalf of Roslyn and myself thank you for your very generous and unexpected gift! We were overwhelmed by the kind comments and lovely cakes on Sunday, and your generosity left us speechless! We look forward to continuing our friendships with you in the years ahead. It has been a real pleasure to share in the life of Bowden and Melrose during Rosie’s Moderatorial year, and we wish you every blessing for the future.
Donald and Roslyn
Bowden Kirk
It has been decided to offer tea/coffee/refreshments after the Bowden Church Service on the First Sunday of the month. The next date is this Sunday, 7 June 2026. A rota for volunteers will be displayed in the church.
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).
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!
Messy Church
There will be no Messy Church in June 2026.
Church Choir
Come and Sing with Us!
Do you enjoy singing – even if it’s just in the car or the kitchen? Our church choir would love to welcome new members.
We’re a small, friendly group who sing to support worship and bring a bit of joy to our Sunday services. There’s no audition, no need to read music, and no pressure to commit every week. Just come along, give it a try, and see what you think. We rehearse on Sundays at 9.45am.
Whether you’ve sung in choirs before or you’re completely new, you’ll be met with encouragement, laughter, and a warm cup of coffee afterwards (plus a chocolate biscuit!). Thank you.
Eco Congregation
We collect and recycle stamps (World Mission project to help establish tree nurseries in Central Africa), and specs (for re-use in the Philippines). We also have collection boxes for batteries and printer cartridges…. PLEASE NOTE The Food Bank no longer needs egg boxes and the collection of plastic milk bottle tops has stopped. Many thanks for your support.
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.
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 17 June 2026. All very welcome.
Beer and Hymns
Beer, non-alcoholic drinks, hymns and thoughts on faith, life and anything else that comes up ….3rd Sunday of the month at 6.30pm at Trinity Centre, Holy Trinity Church, Melrose. Contact Sarah Mozumdar on 07807 331150 for more information.
Borders Book Festival
Melrose parishioner, Oliver Eade, and two other Borders members of the Society of Authors, will be talking at the Borders Book Festival on Saturday 13 June at 5.30, in the Creative Hub, about ‘Reality of Fiction… Are you in someone’s novel?’ All money raised through sale of books after the event will go towards MentalHealthWorkersUK4Palestine fund to help three sisters from war-torn Gaza to come to study at Glasgow University in September 2026. https://www.citizenticket.com/events/borders-book-festival/the-reality-of-fiction
MyEducation (WEP) – Host Families Required
My name is Karen Beattie and I am one of the Area Representatives for an international education exchange programme, MyEducation (WEP). Each year, international high school students come to the UK to take part in the WEP High School Exchange Programme as part of their education.
We have a number of students who will be studying at Galashiels Academy and are currently seeking host families in the Galashiels/Melrose area. We are looking for new host families from mid-August 2026 until early January 2027.
We had students who stayed in Peebles last year who became actively involved in the church during their time here, which was a really positive experience for everyone involved.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to get in touch. I would be happy to arrange a call or arrange a visit at a convenient time.
Please contact: Karen Beattie on karenmyeducation@gmail.com
Abbey Consort
Abbey Consort present “A SUMMER GARLAND” this Saturday 6th. June at 7.00pm in Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Melrose.
The programme will feature elegantly arranged folksongs by Holst, Vaughan Williams, John Rutter and Brian Bonsor. The string group Amici del Coro will play excerpts from John Rutter’s Suite for Strings and The Roxburgh Society of Recorder Players led by Mary Bonsor will play The Hebridean Suite for recorders and piano by Hawick composer Brian Bonsor. This year marks the centenary of Brian Bonsor’s birth.
The concert will be followed by strawberries and Pimms and a chance to chat.
This should be a wonderful event not to be missed!
Tickets £15 (accompanied children free) from abbeyconsort.org.uk -Holmes of Melrose-Mimosa of Melrose-from choir members and at the door.
Podcast – ‘Talking Faith’
Rev Philip Blackledge, of Holy Trinity Melrose, and Rev
Lesley Penny of St Peter’s Galashiels are starting a new podcast, called “Talking Faith”. It centres around the questions they get asked in ministry from those who aren’t regular church goers, and is an attempt to reach out to those who are interested in faith but have not explored it further.
Please consider listening (or watching on YouTube) and sharing with those around you who might be interested.
https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingFaithPod
https://media.rss.com/talking-faith/feed.xml
Old Melrose Walks
The dates of the walks for 2026 are – 7th July; 4th August; 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 – 11:00 £5. Warm and welcoming, Move at your own pace, Feel stronger and more balanced.
Hi, I’m Dorthe – Pilates teacher supporting people with aches and pains to move more easily and feel better in their bodies.
This relaxed, friendly class focuses on:
• Balance
• Coordination
• Flexibility
• Gentle strength
• Relaxation
No judgment — just encouragement.
🎶 Music from the 50s & 60s
🪑 Seated exercises with option to stand
🚶 Walking aids very welcome
Just joy, movement, and feeling good.
Warm welcome,
Dorthe. Contact details 07969570109
Borders Chamber Orchestra
Concert in aid of Cycling without Age – Saturday 27 June 2026 at 7pm. Rossini – Overture to the Italian Girl in Agiers; Ravel – Pavanne pour une infant defunte, Ravel – Le Tombeau de Couperin (last movement); Dvorak – Romance in F Minor for violin; Mendelssohn – 1st Symphony. Tickets £15. Under 18s free/. Tickets on the door or via www.borderschamberorchestra.org.uk
Zumba Classes with Lenore
Ready to sweat, smile and dance? Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or have two left feet, my classes are for everyone. Join me for a 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
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.
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!
Contact Details
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
