FROM THE RECTOR
Covid Guidelines - Mask wearing in church
We are now exempt from wearing masks in church. Studies seem to show that masks are useful in preventing the spread of germs to those who are proximate to us, so if you wish to continue wearing masks for some or all of the service you are welcome.
For those who are at all anxious about people in church not wearing masks, I would encourage you to sit at the back, which is socially distanced. This is likely to significantly reduce any increased risk from people not wearing masks.
Scottish Churches Joint Call to Prayer
A prayer from the Scottish Church Leaders Forum in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Living God,
Creator and giver of life to all people:
We ask that you would hear our prayer for peace amongst the nations And for ending of conflict in Ukraine.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Who shall judge between the nations:
We ask that that you would lead the nations in the paths of peace And that the dividing wall of hostility would be broken down.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Who has inspired faith across the ages:
Grant peace in the midst of war
And bring harmony to the commonwealth of nations.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Who gave his only Son that we might have life:
We ask that you would pour out your Holy Spirit And inspire in us hope that peace will be renewed.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
A prayer for Ukraine from World Vision
Heavenly Father, hear our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.
Lord, we ask for peace for those who need peace, reconciliation for those who need reconciliation and comfort for all who don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Lord may your Kingdom come, and Your will be done.
Lord God, we ask for you to be with all – especially children who are suffering as the crisis in Ukraine deteriorates. Lord, for those who are anxious and fearful. For those who are bereaved, injured or who have lost their lives. And for those who have lost loved ones. Lord, hear our prayers.
Prayer for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Almighty and eternal God,
you uphold and govern all things
both in heaven and on earth,
and by your grace alone kings and queens do reign.
We thank you for all the blessings which you have bestowed upon us
throughout the reign of our sovereign lady, Queen Elizabeth,
whom you have set over us these threescore years and ten.
We thank you for the wisdom of her guidance and her love of peace,
for the care and devotion with which she has served her people,
for the example of her gracious life.
As we rejoice before you with thankful hearts,
we pray that we may ever be united in love and service to one another,
as people called to live according to your will,
for the good of all the world,
and the glory of your great name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen



Holy Trinity
EcoCongregation
Let’s talk about the Climate Emergency – June 2022
The topic for this month is REFUGEES. Not just those fleeing conflict in Ukraine or persecution in Afghanistan but especially people displaced by the effects of climate change – drought, floods, hurricanes and wildfires.
The EcoCongregation Team extends an invitation to all to join a 15 minute discussion group after the 11.00 o’clock Service on Sunday 26th June. Grab your cup of coffee and gather in a corner of the Trinity Centre with your ideas.

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
This year’s stamp appeal will be on behalf of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, and will support pastors in Lebanon. There is a box in the porch for used stamps which we pass to a local Church of Scotland. Many thanks.

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


PRAYER RESOURCES ON TELEVISION AND RADIO THIS WEEK
New Every Sunday 7:30am - The BBC isn’t telling us where it’s from!
Songs of Praise - is on Sunday at 11:30am on BBC1.
Worship in Leeds
Kate Bottley joins the children's choirs of Leeds Cathedral, and Radzi Chinyanganya visits a youth group using virtual reality to experience Bible stories.
Sunday Worship - is on BBC Radio 4 at 8.10am.
Father Brian D’Arcy considers what changes the Church might make in a post pandemic situation
List of all BBC programmes on Religion and Ethics
These are very varied and cater for all tastes
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.
This is now available to download at https://edinburgh.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/The-Communicant-29-Jun-22.pdf
Some articles in it:
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Loneliness Awareness Week: A new befriending service comes to Edinburgh
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Nominations open for the UK’s first National Church Awards
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Iona Community looking for volunteers
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
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 – Is taking a break. They were due back ‘in August’ but still no sign of them. Normally, you can join the 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
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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