Bowden and Melrose Parish Church

Church Office, Weirhill, St Mary's Road, Melrose. TD6 9LJ
Telephone : 01896 823339 E-mail : bowden.melrosepc@btinternet.com
Scottish Charity No: SC006480

Church On-line – Minister's Reflections and Support Information

This page holds all to past reflections and information previously posted on the main COVID-19 page.
These reflections are now shown below in chronological order.

Mid week Reflection – 27th May

Sunday 24th May – Minister's Reflection

As a congregation we support The Leprosy Mission Scotland. Sheila Millar, our contact person, would like to direct you to a Leprosy Mission Service - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33l78_iwtQk

Mid week Reflection – 20th May

Sunday 17th May – Minister's Reflection

You can listen to the song I refer to, On Eagle's Wings, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEdtw63reio

Mid week Reflection – 13th May

Sunday 10th May – Minister's Reflection

You will find the poem referred to in the reflection at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhVb-hVmkbY

Mid week Reflection – 6th May

Sunday 3rd May – Minister's Reflection

New to the material that is being circulated is a “LOCKDOWN NEWSLETTER”. A copy of this can be downloaded by clicking here.

Mid week Reflection – 29th April

Sunday 26th April – Minister's Reflection

Mid week Reflection – 22nd April

Sunday 19th April – Minister's Reflection

Mid week Reflection – 15th April

You can listen to the hymn mentioned during this reflection at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p062p9t9

Additionally The Moderator has written an article for the Scottish Review on how the coronavirus outbreak has already changed us and what we can learn for the future. This can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.

Something a little different to celebrate Easter Monday and to thank God for our beautiful parish. The photos were all submitted to last year's calendar competition.

The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!
For Easter Sunday and, as well as this online reflection, there are different opportunities for joining in worship – Details are given below this Easter Sunday Reflection.

On BBC1 Scotland you can watch Sunday Worship at 11.25am, Reflections at the Quay at 12noon, and Songs of Praise at 3.00pm. We are invited to light a candle and join in prayer at 7.00pm www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2020/churches-in-scotland-join-together-in-prayer-at-7pm-this-easter-sunday

On our church website - http://bowdenandmelroseparish.org/covid.html - You will find new Messy Church stories and activities for Easter Sunday which are ideal for nursery and primary school-aged children.

We use Fischy Music resources at Messy Church, Family Services and in school. They are doing a weekly assembly / singalong of some of their favourite songs which you can access at www.youtube.com/fischymusic Again, if you could make primary school-aged children aware of this that would be great!

If you are aware of anyone who would appreciate hearing any of the online reflections, but who does not have internet access, give them a phone and let them listen that way.

GOOD FRIDAY
There is a green hill far away, outside a city wall, where the dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all. We may not know, we cannot tell what pains he had to bear; but we believe it was for us he hung and suffered there. He died that we might be forgiven, he died to make us good, that we might go at last to heaven, saved by his precious blood. There was no other good enough, to pay the price of sin; he only could unlock the gate of heaven, and let us in. Oh, dearly, dearly, has he loved, and we must love him too, and trust in your redeeming blood, and try his works to do.		Centre panel of the stained glass window in Melrose Parish Church.

Palm Sunday
For Palm Sunday, as well as this online reflection, there are different opportunities for joining in worship.
On BBC1 Scotland you can watch Sunday Worship at 10.45am followed by Reflections at the Quay at 11.15am, and then Songs of Praise at 1.15pm.
Once again, at 7.00pm this evening, we are asked to light a candle, put it at a window, and join people of faith throughout our land in prayer.

#Easterhope - Christians across the Borders are invited to celebrate Easter by making and decorating a cross in their homes. While it is not possible to celebrate together physically this year we can still join together in spirit to focus on the hope of the cross and Christ's death and resurrection for us. Individual households could make a simple cross with paper and pens to go in a window or something more elaborate made from wood or other materials that might stand in a front garden (see the attached example for instructions on how to make a cross from garden branches.) These can be displayed and decorated over the Easter Weekend. We hope that whilst still adhering to social distancing guidelines our neighbours might be able to enjoy seeing this sign of Christian hope in windows and gardens around them. It would be great to share pictures on social media too if this is something you do, quote #Easterhope.

For fuller instructions on how to make the Easter Cross CLICK HERE.

1st April Reflection

Sunday 29th March - Minister's short time of online worship
These are challenging and difficult days but ironically they are also bringing us new opportunities and providing us with different ways of doing things. Please join our church family in this short time of online worship.

Tuesday 24th March - Reflections Trees
Sunday 22nd March - Minister's Reflection

Two prayer that are relevant at this time.

Click on the image on the right to download an A4 copy.

HANDS
A reflection and thoughts for the younger group

Click on the image below to download the full reflection


Reflection - "I to the Hills"

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