FROM THE RECTOR
We are now back in church in a more "normal" fashion. Please remember
1) The pews are for people who do not feel the need to socially distance.
The area at the back is for those who still need to socially distance.
2) Doodle polls are now optional but helpful and time-saving as we still have to track and trace.
3) We are still required to wear masks in church unless medically exempt.
4) We will still be livestreaming the service.
5) Our Wednesday services will remain as they are, ie socially distanced.
Scottish Churches Joint Call to Prayer
Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of Your Son,
We hear the call to take up the Cross
And to live in the light of the Resurrection.
Grant us faith to do so
And courage to confess when we do not understand.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of Your Son,
We recognise that we turn too easily
To that which distracts and displaces.
Renew our focus that we might fix our eyes
On the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of Your Son,
We hear the call to become servants,
As Christ Himself became on our behalf.
May we learn the lesson of servanthood
From the One who gave His life as a ransom for many.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of Your Son,
We recognise the children in our midst
Whose lives are a gift from Your Hand.
May we receive them within the community of faith
And so receive Christ in our midst.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Scottish Churches COP26 Pledge:
Divestment and the Just and Green Recovery
EcoCongregation Scotland has urged all member churches to sign this Pledge and, following encouragement from the Diocese and Vestry approval, Holy Trinity is doing so. The Pledge states that:-
“We wish to demonstrate the support of the Scottish Churches for urgent action in response to the climate crisis and to support a just and green recovery from Covid19 as Scotland prepares to host the UN climate talks, COP26 (1-12 November 2021).
“We believe it is unethical for Churches to invest in an industry that is harming the planet, as seen in ever more extreme and life-threatening weather events locally and globally.
“We support the campaign for fossil free Churches and are conscious of the increasingly severe impact of the climate crisis, especially on people living in poverty and on all life in our common home.
“We recognise the urgency of the need for a just transition from fossil fuels to clean alternatives that offers jobs and wellbeing to people in Scotland and across the world.
“We commit ourselves to using our financial resources to contribute to the flourishing of God’s creation, both now and for generations to come. THEREFORE:
“As Congregations we call on our national and regional Church bodies to divest from fossil fuels and will work towards divestment of our own funds as soon as possible, seeking alternative ethical investments where possible.”
The Pledge can also be signed by Denominations (the Scottish Episcopal Church has done so) and by Individuals although people with investments must make their own decisions in this matter.
Creationtide 2021 – Week Three
“The Tree, with their Fruit”
All trees, whether they bear fruit, nuts or whatever, are vital the health of our planet by absorbing carbon and releasing oxygen. This week’s EcoCongregation material touches on the part trees play in the Bible and is available on the EcoCong Website.
https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/ along with many other suggestions for assisting COP26. https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/cop26/
Church cleaners 'still' needed
As we are now having more regular services in church it would be really helpful to have a few more volunteers for the church cleaning rota. If you feel you can help with this please contact via holytrinitymelrose.sec@gmail.com Thank you.
Recycle your soft plastic
The Co-op has introduced soft plastic recycling units to many of its stores including Melrose. Just scrunch your plastic packaging up tight and, if it pings back, it’s soft plastic. Please ensure it is clean before recycling it. And, if you’re not in Melrose, check where your nearest participating store is here https://www.coop.co.uk/environment/soft-plastics#find_your_nearest_recycling_store
USED POSTAGE STAMP APPEAL
There is a box in the porch for used postage stamps which we pass to a contact at St Boswells Parish Church for the Church of Scotland Stamp Appeal charity. For further information about how you can help The Women's Development Centre (WDC) in Kandy, Sri Lanka, please go to www.churchofscotland.org.uk
Old Melrose Guided Walks
These are on the first Tuesday of each month until October.
These walks visit the site of the original 7th Century Anglo-Celtic monastery founded, along with Lindisfarne, by Irish monks from Iona. Some of these are depicted on the capital of Holy Trinity’s south transept pillar.
We meet outside the Old Melrose Tearoom (off the A68) at 1.30 pm and pre-booking is essential; phone Ian Skinner. Donation £2, kids free.
Prayer
The Scottish Episcopal church puts up the official liturgy for daily prayer online every day - Morning prayer, evening prayer and compline are arranged each day for that particular day. https://www.scotland.anglican.org/spirituality/prayer/daily-offices
Choral Evensong online
Available whenever you want it. https://www.choralevensong.org/uk/where-and-when-are-evensongs-streamed-online-around-britain-and-ireland.php
Online Services for Children
Diocesan service from St. Mungos Balerno. Join us for Mighty Mungo’s focused on families and primary age at 10am Sundays. Every week our team are producing high quality resources for our families to engage with as we seek to support our kids in this season. Our resources are here: https://stmungos.org/ Look down the page for Children and Youth and select Pre-school video resources or Primary video resources or Youth video resources
Provincial Children’s Chapel - You can join this week’s Children’s Chapel from 8am at: https://www.scotland.anglican.org/broadcast-sunday-worship/ scroll down to Children’s Chapel and choose either Facebook or Youtube
PRAYER RESOURCES ON TELEVISION AND RADIO THIS WEEK
The present series of BBC 1 Scotland’s Reflections at the Quay and the BBC Scotland service at 12noon have now finished though several previous programmes are still available as podcasts. We will update when they return.
New Every Sunday is at 7.30am BBC Radio Scotland.
Act of Worship with spiritual guide, Mary O'Duffin
BBC’s Songs of Praise is on Sunday at 1.15 on BBC1 this week.
Fruits of Creation
The Rev Kate Bottley joins Christians in Hackney giving thanks for the fruits of creation, as churches prepare to celebrate their harvest festivals.
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Sunday Worship is on BBC Radio 4 at 8.10am.
Hope in Despair
The Right Rev Dr David Bruce, Moderator of the Irish Presbyterian Church reflects on how hope may be found in situations of despair. Led by the Rev. Joanne Smith.
BBC1 Sunday Morning Live 10:30am
Sean Fletcher and Nina Wadia cover the week’s talking points and exploring the ethical and religious issues of the day. Alongside lively chat and special guests the show also shines a light on thought-provoking and inspiring stories from around the UK.
List of all BBC programmes on Religion and Ethics
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/genres/religionandethics/all
Online resources
The web page for the Scottish Episcopal Church broadcasts is located at www.scotland.anglican.org/broadcast-sunday-worship .
The diocesan magazine The Communicant is produced fortnightly and can be downloaded here https://edinburgh.anglican.org/publications/the-communicant/
The Church of England website has lots of resources for daily prayer. https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/prayer-nation
RSCM are putting up words and music of a new hymn to sing along to each day. Have a look here and scroll down on the right for the latest one. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn-vhbQASCJhW_Gz8Fww32Nmy_XuCQmNl
Choral Evensong online - Available whenever you want it. https://www.choralevensong.org/uk/where-and-when-are-evensongs-streamed-online-around-britain-and-ireland.php
For those who are not online the Archbishop of Canterbury has set up a Freephone Daily Hope service of hymns, prayers and readings. It is available 24 hours a day on 0800 8048044
The present series of BBC 1 Scotland’s Reflections at the Quay, the BBC Scotland service at 12noon and New Every Sunday have now finished, though several previous programmes are still available as podcasts. We will update when they return.
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The Communicant
The latest issue of the diocesan newsletter is now available to download at https://edinburgh.anglican.org/publications/the-communicant/
and contains, among other things:
· A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF HOLY TRINITY, MELROSE
· A report on Glen 21
· Season of Pilgrimage 20/21 including The Camino and St. Cuthbert’s Way
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