25 January 2004

We give the assurance of our thoughts and prayers to all who are unwell, awaiting or undergoing treatment, or anxious or grieving for the loss of loved ones.

Iran Earthquake Appeal

As intimated last week on behalf of the Service & Mission Committee, there will be a retiring collection today for the appeal by the Methodist Relief and Development Fund towards relief and re-development work after the recent earthquake in Iran.

Ecumenical Worship

* A warm welcome is given to everyone to join with our ‘City Centre Churches’ friends from Meadowside St Paul’s Church of Scotland, Salem United Reformed Church, and Dundee Congregational Church in the series of monthly United Services this evening at 6.30 pm in Meadowside St Paul’s – worship will be followed by “A Haggis Supper”.

* Broughty Ferry Churches Group will mark Lent with a series of ecumenical evening Acts of Worship, beginning with the Service of Ashes in Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) on Wednesday 25th February. The Service on Wednesday 31st March will be in Marketgait with preparation and leadership shared between ourselves and St Aidan’s Church of Scotland. It is hoped that there will be good support for our hosting of this Service; members of the Group expressed a wish to share fellowship and worship in our premises which some of them know as members of ‘User Groups’. If you wish to help in the preparation / leading of worship, please contact David Firth, Kate G, David or Jenny E.

Service & Mission Committee Résumé

The S & M Committee members draw attention to the following discussion / decisions of their recent meeting :

• As follow-up to the presentation by Alistair Chisholm on the Mary Slessor Foundation, opportunity to consider practical ways of making this our ‘Project 2004’ will be given from 10.15 am to 10.45 am on Sunday 8th February. All welcome but this invitation is particularly emphasised to those who, in the “small groups process”, indicated their wish for a Project to help draw people closer together. Coffee will be available, as also requested by some in the “small groups process”.
• More encouragement is to be given to sharing, publicising and facilitating ecumenical worship (and other activities).
• Donations via the ‘plate’ at weekly coffee-after-worship have increased income for both the Fund for World Mission (‘Overseas Mission’) and “Mission in Britain (‘Home Mission’) Funds – thanks!
• Support for the monthly Traidcraft stall has produced income of £836 in 8 months - warm thanks from and to Margaret G!
• The UNICEF Jars of Grace Appeal has raised £147.84 – thanks, especially to Mary as “facilitator”.
• Initial planning for “Mission in Britain” Sunday was made.
• Discussion took place about NCH communication of news about specific projects to local Methodist congregations – Margaret G continues to pursue this, ask her!
• David Firth reported encouraging developments in Chaplaincy work in the School of Design (University of Dundee / Duncan of Jordanstone) where he will now have a “regular booking with room allocated” on Tuesdays between 1 pm and 2 pm; there was also discussion about Chaplaincy in Abertay and St Andrews;
• MHA – a local Dundee ‘link person’ is being sought as contact between MH National Offices and the Circuit Link (David Nicoll of Arbroath). Notice of a Service, to mark the 60th Anniversary of MH was given which is to be on Sunday 29th February at 3 pm in Gowan Park, Arbroath (contact David Firth).
• Next meeting – Marketgait – 7.45 pm – Wed 19th May

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Traidcraft

The New Year Sales catalogues, plus order forms, are on the Vestibule table – order items through Margaret. Next stall will be on Sunday 22nd February; contact Margaret if you wish food items before then.

NCH

January is designated as “kitchen” month in our request for surplus items for use by the Cowan Grove and Families projects. See Margaret for more details.

Homelessness

Dundee Methodist Church supports work in this area through

• regular subscription to The Big Issue – see library area
• support of NCH Projects including Cowan Court
• informed prayer (as well as the above prayerful action)

What more could / should we do – as individuals and together?

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The Vice-President of Conference at the Connexional Children’s Committee, and at the District Children’s and JMA Secretaries Consultation next weekend;
• Women’s Network Connexional Committee next Saturday;
• World Leprosy Day today;
• Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday;
• Superintendent Ministers in the Scotland District;
• Circuit Leadership Team work on the Circuit Forum outcomes;
• provision of Christian books for children and teens by Ediciones Verbo Vivo in Peru (Feed The Minds);
• projects and partners in Jamaica, especially Jamaica AIDS Support (JAS) and the S-Corner Clinic’s anti-violence projects (Christian Aid);
• The Leprosy Mission’s work in Central India – Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa;
• Bible Society work in Ethiopia and in Slovenia;
• we pray with and for the peoples of the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong, Macao), and Taiwan;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Portland Circuit (Southampton District), and our own witness based in Dundee (Angus, Dundee & Perthshire Circuit).

• 18 January 2004
• 01 February 2004

© 2002—2003 Dundee Methodist Church.