March, April, May 2018

THE PARISH OF

BOWDEN & MELROSE

BOWDEN & MELROSE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Church Office

Weirhill, St Mary’s Road MelroseTD6 9LJ

Tel: 01896 823339 Email bowden.melrosepc@btinternet.com

Website www.bowdenandmelroseparish.org

Scottish Charity No SC 006480

MINISTER Rev. Rosemary Frew

The Manse, Tweedmount Road, Melrose RFrew@churchofscotland.org.uk

01896 822217

SESSION CLERK Richard I. Hill Silverdale, 11 Ormiston Grove, Melrose

01896 822455

TREASURER TREASURER FOR F.W.O/GIFT AID

Gordon S. Chisholm

Office 01896 823339

FABRIC CONVENER Colin Armstrong,

49, Brunton Park, Bowden

01835 823591

CHURCH SECRETARY/ ROLLKEEPER/ GIFT AID SECRETARY

Helen Chisholm bowden.melrosepc@btinternet.com

Office 01896 823339

ORGANIST & CHOIRMASTER

James Marshall 24 Tower Street, Selkirk

01750 21563

ASSISTANT ORGANIST & CHOIRMASTER

James G. A. Letham 16 Abbotsferry Road, Tweedbank

01896 756554

CHURCH OFFICER Yvonne Young

Tweedsyde, Tweedmount Road Melrose

01896 822774

The Manse February 2018 Dear Friends, When winter is around us, we cannot see the spring: But still we know, despite the snow, That spring will come one day. With night-time’s darkness round us, we cannot see the sun; But still we know, as shadows go, That dawn will break next day. Though God is all around us, we cannot see his face; But still we know; our love says so! God lives in every day. In the drabness and darkness and icy cold of winter snowdrops are the first flowers to break through the earth. We have them scattered all around the Manse garden, white and delicate and beautiful. They are seen as messengers of hope that spring is on its way. Whilst we’re still in the darkness of winter we begin on our Lenten journey towards Easter. Dark and difficult days as we walk with Jesus to Jerusalem but culminating in the light and joy of Easter Sunday and resurrection. Kate McIlhagga of the Iona Community wrote this snowdrop prayer. Into the dark world a snowdrop comes: a blessing of hope and peace carrying within it a green heart: symbol of God’s renewing love. Come to inhabit our darkness, Lord Christ, for dark and light are alike to you. May nature’s white candles of hope remind us of your birth and your re-birth in resurrection and lighten our journey through Lent and beyond. Amen. May the snowdrops remind you of God’s love and our Christian hope as we journey towards Easter.

Rosie

An Invitation to Holy Communion

Bowden Kirk

Sundays 1st and 29th April and 27th May 9.30a.m.

…………………………………… Melrose Parish Church

Sunday 27th May 11.00a.m.

Calendar of Events Thursday 1st March 2.30p.m. Guild – Bletchley Park Mary Sherrard Friday 2nd March 2.30p.m. World Day of Prayer, High Cross St Cuthberts Church, Melrose Sunday 4th March 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden Office closed 6th – 9th Rev. Bruce McNicol 10.00a.m. Family Service, Melrose – “That’s not Fair!” Fairtrade 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose Sunday 11th March 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden Rev Brian Embleton 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose Rev Brian Embleton Tuesday 13th March 10.30a.m. Priorwood Court Coffee Morning Thursday 15th March 2.30p.m. Guild – Beekeeping in the Borders Dr. John Wilkinson Sunday 18th March 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden United Service 3.00 – 5.00p.m. Easter Messy Church, Melrose Parish Church Tuesday 20th March 2.00p.m. Songs of Praise, St John’s Wednesday 21st March 11.00a.m. Bowden Community Café Sunday 25th March 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden Palm Sunday 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose Wednesday 28th March 11.45a.m. Mid-week Worship in the Chapel 12.15p.m. Mid-week Lunch

Worship for Holy Week Monday 26th March 7.00p.m. Holy Week Service in Melrose Parish Church Tuesday 27th March 7.00p.m. Holy Week Service in St Cuthberts Roman Catholic Church, High Cross Avenue Wednesday 28th March 7.00p.m. Taize service for Holy Week in Holy Trinity Scottish Episcopal Church, High Cross Avenue

Thursday, 29th March, 7.00p.m. Worship for Maundy Thursday

Sacrament of Holy Communion in Melrose Parish Church

Friday 30th March, 7.00p.m. Worship for Good Friday in Bowden Kirk

Easter Sunday Sunday 1st April

7.30a.m. Early morning Easter Worship on the saddle of the Eildons 9.30a.m. Easter Day Family Worship and celebration of the Lord’s Supper, Bowden Kirk 11.00a.m. Easter Day Family Service, Melrose Parish Church

Thursday 5th April 2.30p.m. Guild – Tall Ships- Sailing for the Disabled Marion Romeril Sunday 8th April 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose Tuesday 10th April 10.30a.m. Priorwood Court Coffee Morning Sunday 15th April 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose Tuesday 17th April 2.00p.m. Songs of Praise, St John’s Wednesday 18th April 11.00a.m. Bowden Community Café Thursday 19th April tbc Guild Spring Outing Venue to be arranged Sunday 22nd April 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose Wednesday 25th April 11.45a.m. Mid-week Worship in the Chapel 12.15p.m. Mid-week Lunch Sunday 29th April 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden Sacrament of Holy Communion 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose 6.30p.m. St John’s Songs of Praise Thursday 3rd May 2.30p.m. Guild Fundraiser – Piano Music Derek Reid Sunday 6th May 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden Rev. Bruce McNicol 10.00a.m. Family Service, Melrose, “Build a Home of Hope” 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose Tuesday 8th May 10.30a.m. Priorwood Coffee Morning Sunday 13th May 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose 3.00p.m. Messy Church Sunday 13th – Saturday 19th May Christian Aid Week Tuesday 15th May 2.00p.m. Songs of Praise, St John’s Wednesday 16th May 11.00a.m. Bowden Community Café Saturday 19th May 10.00a.m. Christian Aid Coffee Morning Corn Exchange Sunday 20th May 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose Wednesday 23rd May 11.45a.m. Mid-week Worship in the Chapel 12.15p.m. Mid-week Lunch Sunday 27th May 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden Sacrament of Holy Communion 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose Sacrament of Holy Communion Sunday 3rd June 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden Rev Bruce McNicol 10.00a.m. Family Service, Melrose, “In the Summertime” 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose Wednesday 6th June tbc Presbytery Guild Council Rally and evening meal. Final details to be confirmed Sunday 10th June 9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Bowden 11.00a.m. Morning Worship, Melrose

St John Scotland is, at its core, a charity dedicated to saving and enhancing life. Headquartered

in Edinburgh, and with twelve Area committees across the country, St John Scotland runs many

projects nationally. With Patient Transport Services in Angus and Dundee, Dumfries and

Galloway, Perth and Kinross and, more recently, in Fife, St John Scotland’s Patient Transport

teams take patients to the dialysis clinics in Arbroath and Kirkcaldy six days a week, every week

of the year, and to hospitals in Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dunfermline for outpatient

oncology treatment.

In Angus and Dundee, St John Scotland supports twenty-two First Responders, tasked by

the Scottish Ambulance Service to respond to 999 calls. They attend emergency incidents,

provide care and assistance until the arrival of an ambulance, supporting paramedics as

required.

Alastair Hutton presents the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team with a defibrillator

The charity provides Public Access Defibrillators through various initiatives; St John

Scotland’s Edinburgh Committee’s ‘St John and the City’ Public Access Defibrillator Project

works with a network of Donors, Hosts and Guardians to place lifesaving defibrillators around

Edinburgh and surrounding areas, while a recently-launched national project seeks to work

with local groups to place community access Defibrillators in every one of our Areas. To

complement this, St John Scotland is also a proud partner of the Save a Life for Scotland

initiative, which seeks to train 500,000 people in the country in bystander CPR skills by 2020.

St John Scotland is proud to be the biggest contributor to Scottish Mountain Rescue teams,

and will have provided over £3.2 million in funding by 2020, mainly through the provision of

bases and vehicles. Since it began its support of Mountain Rescue, St John Scotland has

provided bases for fourteen of the teams, including that in Melrose, and is shortly to assist

with funding the much-needed replacement of the Teams’ vital radio system nationwide. In

partnership with Mountaineering Scotland, St John Scotland also continues to provide

funding for a Mountain Safety Instructor to train our students to be safe in the hills.

St John Scotland continues to support projects internationally, including the St John Eye

Hospital in Jerusalem and its outstation clinic in Hebron – which was largely funded by St

John Scotland. Internationally, St John Scotland also supports the Primary Healthcare and

Mother and Baby programmes in Malawi.

St John Scotland will host a Songs of Praise in Melrose Parish Church at 6.30p.m. on

Sunday 29th April, 2018, the third event of its kind in recent years.

MESSY CHURCH Following on from the success of our Christmas Messy Church we will be holding an Easter Messy Church from 3.00 – 5.00pm in Melrose Church Hall. Games, crafts, stories, food and fun all with an Easter theme. Children must be accompanied by an adult. UNITED SERVICE At a recent Kirk Session meeting elders (and the minister) were reminded that it is now 10 years since the union that formed Bowden and Melrose Parish Church. To celebrate we are going to worship together in Bowden Kirk on Sunday 18th March at 11.00a.m. There will be no service in Melrose on that day. SAFEGUARDING Attention all Elders! For anyone who missed recent Session meetings, a short Safeguarding Course has been arranged in line with recent General Assembly Deliverances. This will be held on two dates, Thursday 8th March and Tuesday 13th March both at 7.00pm, and it is hoped that ALL Active ELDERS will be able to attend on one or other of these dates. The main purpose of Training is to recognise that they (the Kirk Session) have ultimate responsibility for Health and Safety matters which affect the Safeguarding of all persons within the fellowship of the Church. Also in terms of secular law, the Elders comprising the Kirk Session are Trustees, with all the duties and responsibilities of that role. If you haven’t already done so, could you please sign up for one or other of the above dates with Helen at the Church Office? The meetings will be held in the Chapel.

Robin Sloan, Safeguarding Co-ordinator

LENT SUPPERS Holy Trinity Church is in the midst of hosting this year’s series of Lent Suppers on Wednesdays at either 11.15 a.m. for informal discussions, followed by soup and a roll or 7.00p.m. for a “bring and share supper”. More details are on the posters in the Gattonside porch in Melrose or the Kirk notice board in Bowden.

On 3rd December I received a very kind gift from the congregation at

the morning service at Melrose. The minister presented me with a

book token to mark the 50th anniversary of my ordination that had

taken place in London. The previous weekend my wife and I, joined

by our son and his wife, had gone to St. Columba’s in London. It

was a most happy and nostalgia filled visit for me and I am most

grateful for your kindness expressed to me in your gift that I still

haven’t quite fully spent.

Bruce McNicol

MIDWEEK LUNCH The team, led by Ruth and Barbara, made our Christmas Lunch a very enjoyable event with lovely food and a festive atmosphere. Form 4 from St Mary’s School, accompanied by their music teacher, Kirsty MacRae, provided the entertainment with their selection of Christmas music; some traditional with the inclusion of more modern songs as well. Audience participation was encouraged and we shall have to rehearse our actions to Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer for future use. (It wasn’t as easy as it appeared!)

Fortunately, the snow, which arrived in the week preceding the January Lunch, had disappeared quickly so people were able to get out and come along. We are very grateful to those who have volunteered to join our teams already and would be happy to have any others as well.

Future Dates: Wednesday 28th March Ruth’s/Barbara's team Wednesday 25th April Margaret's Team Wednesday 23rd May Kath's team

There will be a short ecumenical service at 11.45 before the lunch in the Chapel for anyone who would like to attend. 12. 15 – 1.30p.m. Lunch £3.50

CHURCH COFFEE MORNING

The annual Church Coffee morning in Bowden, in aid of Al Shurooq School for Blind and

Partially Sighted Children in Bethlehem and our other special projects, was held on Saturday

3rd February. Things were very busy in the Village Hall as so many people turned out to

support the event. Additional tables had to be set up to cope with the numbers who were

there. £497.00 was raised on the day and a further £30 of later donations resulted in a final

total of £527.00.

GUILD NEWS

Our Guild had a false start to 2018, when our first meeting was cancelled due to snow and ice in abundance. Our Speaker, Arabella Lewis, was relieved when we called off, and we very much hope she can come next session to tell us about her involvement with the Samaritans. Ian Millar, speaking about Dogs and Dog Shows; gave us a fascinating history of dogs and the progression of owning dogs up until recent times, now with many dogs being pets rather than guard dogs. He also highlighted the development of dog breeding, leading to Crufts and all that this entails. Dave Frew took us walking to Santiago de Compostela, with a fascinating insight. As detailed in our previous magazine report our programme for the rest of this term, meeting on Thursdays at 2.30 in Melrose Parish Church Hall, is as follows: 1st March – Mary Sherrard giving her first hand experiences of Bletchley Park; 2nd March (Friday) – World Day of Prayer at 2.30pm at Melrose Catholic Church for a service shared with the other Melrose churches; (no longer Women’s World Day of Prayer, all very welcome who treasure the coming together of communities throughout the world). 15th March – Dr. John Wilkinson talking about Beekeeping in the Borders; 5th April - our speedy AGM will be followed by Marion Romeril telling us about “Tall Ships” Sailing for the Disabled. We then have a change to the printed syllabus which is a straight swap, and on 19th April we will celebrate with our Spring Outing – venue and time to be confirmed. We will then complete our Guild syllabus with our Fundraiser on 3rd May when Derek Reid will entertain us with Piano Music, there will be extra good eats, and a collection taken to support “Caring for Mother Earth Bolivia.” Do bring friends and family along to swell our numbers on this very special afternoon. As always members and friends (female and male) are very welcome to come to any of our meetings. Come along and give us a try! Blythswood Shoebox Appeal – An enormous thank you to all who contributed filled shoeboxes for the Christmas appeal. 74 boxes left Melrose, to combine and bring the total distributed by Blythswood to 115,932 boxes – think of all the happiness this brings!

Elizabeth Fraser, Guild President. ST JOHN’S HOME SONGS OF PRAISE On the third Tuesday of each month, the residents of St John’s Home, High Cross Avenue, gather in their sitting-room. There, they share time with members of Melrose Parish Church choir and others, singing for half an hour of Songs of Praise. Hymns can bring back memories which are shared. The residents appreciate this experience: some choose to join

in and others prefer to listen. Those involved would welcome anyone else who would like to swell our numbers. Do come and find out how it works or chat to choir members to find out more. A BRIEF LOOK AT THE BRUNTON TRUST ... In 1848, James and Margaret Brunton set up a Trust for the relief of “poor and indigent persons residing in the Parish of Bowden”. The property placed in it comprised twenty acres of fields (“All and Haill these two Parks or Enclosures of Land in Bowden intersected by the public road from Bowden to the Jedburgh Turnpike ...”), which, when rented out, provided an income. In the early days of the Trust, forty or so individuals received a regular allowance of coal, sugar, tea and flour. Since 1929, the Trust has been administered by the Minister and Elders of Bowden Kirk, the Elders having to be resident within the Parish of Bowden. In time the fields were sold and the proceeds placed in investments to provide a regular income, and the objectives amended to include not only the relief of poverty, but also the provision and organisation of recreational facilities in the “former Parish of Bowden”. The organisation and objectives are approved by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). In recent years, the Trust has supported, in addition to individuals, the village’s defibrillator appeal, the Bowden Community Cafe, the annual carol service, and the children’s Christmas party, as well as making small and sundry awards. Should anyone wish to contact the Trust, contact can be made through the Church Office, the Minister, or any Elder who lives in the former Parish of Bowden. Dr Malcolm Morrison

CHRISTIAN AID

Together We’re Stronger

British and Irish churches founded Christian Aid in 1945 to

support refugees who had lost their homes and possessions in

the Second World War. Twelve years later, Christian Aid Week

was launched to help fund this ongoing work. Christian Aid

works for and with people of all faiths and none, as well as with

churches and other organisations, to promote sustainable

development, strive for social justice and pursue the vision of a world without poverty.

This year the theme is “Together we’re Stronger” the concern being for the millions of displaced

people in the world. Once again refugees are the focus for Christian Aid.

House-to-House Collection

The Melrose & Bowden Christian Aid Committee will be

organising a house-to-house collection during Christian Aid

Week. We are grateful to the many volunteers who deliver and

collect envelopes. However, we always require more. If you could

join the many committed Bowden & Melrose volunteers to collect

for the world’s most vulnerable it would be much appreciated.

The more collectors we have, the easier the task for all involved.

Please give your name to Helen Chisholm in the office or Nancy McNicol. Thank you.

CHRISTIAN AID QUIZ SHEET

Theme: Characters in Films and Literature Challenge for those who like puzzles and

crosswords – available at the end of April

Prize: Traidcraft Hamper

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*Details nearer the date

In 2015 Melrose became the third town in the Scottish Borders and one of almost 100 communities in Scotland to be awarded Fairtrade Status. This achievement recognises the large number of local businesses that stock Fairtrade products and the level of engagement by groups in the community to raise awareness of the benefits of Fairtrade for those working and living in developing parts of the world. For example, last year Melrose Rotary Group and Melrose Primary School and local churches engaged in activities supporting Fairtrade.

This year a group of pupils from Earlston High School will attend a meeting of the Greener

Melrose group on Thursday 8th March to make a presentation explaining their engagement

with Fairtrade. You can play your part and maintain Melrose Fairtrade status by supporting

events and businesses stocking Fairtrade products, especially during

Fairtrade Fortnight 26th

February – 11th

March.

Fairtrade Coffee Morning Sat.3rd MARCH, 10 - 12noon at the Corn Exchange

The Fairtrade Foundation has close links with TRAIDCRAFT.

Since 1979, TRAIDCRAFT has been working for trade justice for growers and producers in the

poorest countries around the world. Traidcraft was a pioneer of the Fairtrade movement in the

UK and along with other organisations, namely Christian Aid, CAFOD, Global Justice Now,

Oxfam GB, and Women's Institutes founded the Fairtrade Foundation in 1992. Traidcraft’s

activities include overseas development programmes, trade policy, and trade justice

campaigning. Find out more at http://www.traidcraft.co.uk/

You can engage with the work of Traidcraft by supporting the monthly Traidcraft stall at church

and in March the stall will be available every Sunday for cards and Easter eggs.

Christian Aid Coffee

Morning

SATURDAY 19th May

10 – 11.30 a.m.

Corn Exchange

Market Square

Melrose

A daily devotional guide will be available at

Bowden and Melrose Churches. More

information at www.christianaid.org.uk

GO ON! Indulge yourself….. at the same time support the producers

of the many products (tea,coffee,chocolate) we cannot produce in

Scotland but enjoy so much.

If you would rather order items and have them delivered to you, please

ask the person on the stall for a catalogue. N.McNIcol

Melrose Fairtrade Church Link BOWDEN COMMUNITY CAFÉ

This continues to meet on the third Wednesday of each month in Bowden Village Hall at 11am.

Future dates are (all Wednesdays): March 21st; April 18th; May 16th. All are welcome to come

along for the chat. Why not have a walk round the village first and pop in on your way past?

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS

Spring is in the air..... From time to time!

The first books have already been donated towards the annual Community Council Bookshop to

be held at the end of August / beginning of September. (Date to be confirmed later.) If you are

spring-cleaning your bookshelves, then unwanted books can be given to or collected by Val

Miller, 01896-822758 or Dorothy Cameron, 01896-822787. Proceeds in aid of local projects

MILK BOTTLE TOPS OF HUMAN KINDNESS Thank you to everyone who continues to collect milk bottle caps. This effort is on-going but we would ask that only milk bottle tops are handed in for this specific cause. There is a collecting bag on the kitchen window sill in the church hall. Although these red, blue or green circles of plastic can be recycled, they can also help to raise money for local palliative care services.

Once a month, a group of volunteers meets on a Monday night to ensure all donated tops are the right sort. Then they are taken to a local firm who use them to make insulation for wires. The Rotary Club of Galashiels and District continue to use the funds raised to divide between Marie Curie and Macmillan. If you want to donate your own tops or you think you might have a free evening to help with the sorting please see Ruth in the choir or email her on rdmcollin@yahoo.co.uk

This picture shows the number of bottle tops which are sorted in a typical session. Please help us to make it even more.

Photos courtesy of Ruth Collin

ROB, RUGBY – AND ROMANIA We bumped into Rob Moffat (former PE teacher, rugby and cricket player and coach at the highest level, Ex-Melrosian and Vice Chairman of Melrose Festival) the other day and we were delighted that he accepted our invitation to tell us about his latest sporting adventure, far from the Greenyards (and in a country the Romans knew well). [Editor]

Photo courtesy of Douglas Hardie

‘Almost two years ago, just after Sue and I took the decision to stop working full-time, I received a phone call out of the blue from a friend, Lynn Howells, with whom I have worked in the past. He has been Head Coach of the Romanian rugby team for five years. His question was “Do you fancy helping me coach Romania?” I thought – this sounds a plan! So basically I now spend 18 weeks a year in Romania, helping coach their National team. I am enjoying the experience very much indeed. The challenge – apart from obviously trying to develop them as rugby players – has been to understand and respect their culture. I have coached now for almost forty years, but virtually always with Scottish players.

The Romanians are a pleasure to work with. Frankly, they have never been coached (they might say the same, even now!) Until thirty years ago they lived under the communist regime, and that was brutal. Food was rationed – one meal a day, and electricity was limited to two hours a day. Their upbringing made no room for praise if they did something well; if they were not so successful they were severely criticised. In sport they were told exactly what to do; not to think for themselves; and they were continually shouted at. My challenge has been to get to know the players and gain their trust. I think I have now managed to do both. We also have a few “outsiders” playing for us – New Zealanders, Tongans, South Africans and Australians who have spent more than the required three years in Romania to gain residency and qualify to play for us. They have helped develop the way we coach, train and play. We are now 15th in the world rankings, just behind Italy. We beat Samoa in November and just lost to Tonga. In the past year we have defeated USA, Canada (twice), and Georgia and lost narrowly to Japan, in Japan. Provided we qualify for the World Cup (this will be finalised over the next few weeks) we will be in a pool with Scotland, Ireland, Japan and probably Samoa – which will make for interesting times! The players are still ‘quiet’ and have to be encouraged to express themselves. As before, they are still expecting to be told what to do. They are very proud to play for their country and, though they are all professional and are paid modest amounts, they do ‘play for the jersey’. They are very respectful (of their coaches) and try very hard to improve and develop their skills. They are BIG men and like the physical side of rugby, but they play the game fairly and uphold the strong rugby ethos. People often ask how I manage with the language. The players are all encouraged to speak English and most do so – better than me! I do receive some cracking messages and e mails from them. They are often not in the best English grammar! The people are very friendly and appreciate anything you do for them. They love their food (so do I) – plenty of meat and great desserts. I think their economy is improving. They are now in the EU, which has undoubtedly helped their industries. Every flight I take to Bucharest (usually through Amsterdam, as there is no direct flight from Edinburgh) is full – a mix of Romanians on their travels and business people. Bucharest is like any other European city – full of good hotels, restaurants and bars. Most of the people out socialising are the young ones (most people are younger than I am now!). The older generation either don’t have the money or have not been used to this way of life. I have not spent too much time in the rural areas of the country, but it is common there to see farmers using a horse and cart, and you can see that the way of life is much poorer. There is a strong religious culture. The priest comes into our hotel the day before a game and a lot of players go and see him. Many of our support staff – doctor, physios and admin regularly demonstrate their strong religious beliefs. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity of not only coaching a National rugby team but also of being afforded the chance to really experience a completely different culture to our own. We are fortunate to live in Melrose (I would never suggest Romania is as beautiful), but Bucharest is a city well worth visiting and the country well worth exploring’. Rob Moffat

PARISH REGISTER New Members By Transference of Certificate Rev Marion Dodd, “Esdaile”, Tweedmount Road, Melrose Mr & Mrs P De Pree, Burnside, Midlem

Funerals 2017 27th December Mr James Bird, Thornfield, Selkirk, (formerly St Dunstan’s Park, Melrose) 2018 8th January Mrs Anne (Nancy) Bartlett, St John’s Care Home, Melrose 12th January Capt. James Banna, 29 High Cross Avenue, Melrose 16th January Mrs Margie Findlay, Riverside Healthcare Centre, Selkirk (formerly Quarrydene, Melrose) 17th January Mrs Anne Elliot, 4 Weirhill Place, Melrose 19th January Mrs Anne Guthrie, Thornhill Court, Falkirk (formerly Priorwood Court, Melrose) 29th January Mrs Joanne Marshall, St John’s Care Home, Melrose 6th February Dr Derek Mills, 5 Heiton Park, Darnick 14th February Mr John Crawford, Dunkeld, Fordel Gardens, Melrose 16th February Prof Donald Brydon, The Hedges, Gattonside 19th February Mrs Pat Elliot, Brunton Park, Bowden 22nd February Mrs Betty Hook, Riverside Healthcare Centre, Selkirk (formerly Abbotsferry Road, Tweedbank)

Elders on Duty - MELROSE Mar 4th 11.00a.m. John Gaddie Ian Purves 11th 11.00a.m. John Henderson Malcolm Morrison 18th United Service at Bowden Kirk – no service at Melrose 25th 11.00a.m. Hilary Thomson Gilmour Forrest 29th 7.00p.m. Richard Hill William Windram April 1st 11.00a.m. George Bunyan John Butcher 8th 11.00a.m. David Peters Ian Forsyth 15th 11.00a.m. John Pollitt Hamish Carruthers 22nd 11.00a.m. Robin Sloan Murray Thom 29th 11.00a.m. Robert Fraser Elizabeth Fraser May 6th 11.00a.m. Martin Baird Robbie Brown

13th 11.00a.m. Helen Chisholm Walter Riddell-Carre 20th 11.00a.m. Elsa Barker Richard Hill 27th 11.00a.m. Jim McCulloch Roger Wardman Holy Communion

June 3rd 11.00a.m. Pat Mackenzie Ian Purves 10th 11.00a.m. Alastair O’Neil William Windram

Elders on Duty – BOWDEN Mar 4th 9.30a.m. Alastair O’Neil Ian Forsyth 11th 9.30a.m. Ishbel Gordon Jim Thom 18th 11.00a.m. Russell Sanderson Robin Cochrane Special Service David Peters Anne Cochrane Jim Letham Owen Rowlands 25th 9.30a.m. Angus McLay Jim McCulloch 30th 7.00p.m. Pat Mackenzie Ian Purves

April 1st 9.30a.m. Irene Armstrong Owen Rowlands Holy Communion John Henderson Esther Crawford 8th 9.30a.m. Ian Wilson Alison Bacon 15th 9.30a.m. Murray Thom Roger Wardman 22nd 9.30a.m. Ian Purves John Gaddie 29th 9.30a.m. Irene Armstrong Gilmour Forrest Holy Communion Helen Chisholm John Henderson

May 6th 9.30a.m. John Pollitt Hamish Carruthers

13th 9.30a.m. Robin Sloan Pat Mackenzie 20th 9.30a.m. David Peters Alastair O’Neil 27th 9.30a.m. Irene Armstrong Ian Forsyth Holy Communion Martin Baird Hilary Thomson

June 3rd 9.30a.m. Walter Riddell-Carre Ishbel Gordon

10th 9.30a.m. John Henderson Malcolm Morrison

Elders unable to undertake duty on the date allocated are personally responsible for arranging a substitute and are asked to advise the office.

Beadle Duty – Bowden 1st Sunday – Bill Wilkie 2nd Sunday – Liz Sanderson 3rd Sunday – Ken Swinton 4th Sunday Ken Swinton (when necessary) last Sunday – Colin Armstrong

If you are unable to undertake your allocated duty please try to arrange for another rota member to cover and then advise the office of this change so that the names in the Orders of Service are accurate.

The copyright of each article in this magazine is vested in the author.

Permission to reproduce must be sought from the Editor.

DUTY ROTA

March 4th Margaret Lang Helen Rennie

11th Kathleen Henderson Ruth Collin

18th United Service at Bowden

25th Lorna Masson Liz Mitchell

April 1st Sheila Millar Eleanor Connochie

8th Meg Robbie Lyn Bryce

15th Yvonne Eade Oliver Eade

22nd Irene Thom Gillian Arbuckle

29th Sheila Millar Gill Howard

May 6th John McLaren Kath McLaren

13th Eleanor Palmer Ian Millar

20th John Miller Val Miller

27th Kerry Clark Eleanor Johnstone

June 3rd Kenny Hay Sandra Hay

10th Hilary Ford Catherine O’Neil