04 July 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.

“Project 2004” – Slessor Foundation

Thanks are expressed to those who supported the recent “Jigsaw Evening”, which was much enjoyed by over 20 persons. Sponsorship money or donations should be handed to the Church Treasurer, Sandy, as soon as possible so the total raised can be ascertained and the money forwarded for work in Nigeria.

Church Council

Tomorrow evening’s meeting will consider the practical effects of the Circuit Meeting’s decisions on “Further Forward”, including allocation of pastoral charge in Dundee to the Rev Mary Patterson from 1st September.

“Quiet Room”

The downstairs back room is being prepared as a place for quiet reflection & personal prayer before worship on Sundays.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society News

The Bible-a-Month Club invites our support in July for work in East Timor, whose population declined by a quarter during the 25-years before independence. Bible Society work is now encouraging a Bible in the Tetun language which is widely spoken. See library noticeboard and leaflet for more details of how to join the Bible-a-Month Club.

SBS reports that

• so far this year more than £84,000 has been raised to help fund Bibles for rapidly expanding work in China
• to support work in Scotland, a Priority Area Fund has been established with other Church agencies, to provide Scriptures in various formats (free or subsidised) for churches working in areas with very little financial support
• a new production is nt:sport, a magazine-style New Testament, to be available in August price £9.99
• a series of Sponsored Walks is being planned for Saturday 23 October – see leaflet on library noticeboard, or contact Catherine on 0131-347-9812, email catherine.johnstone@scottishbiblesociety.org

http://www.scottishbiblesociety.org/

Methodist Relief & Development Fund

Bam Earthquake

The Appeal for funds to assist in relief and re-development following the severe Boxing Day earthquake in the historic city of Bam, Iran, has raised almost £62,000.

The effects were devastating:

• Iranian officials now put the death toll at over 43,000 persons, and a further 100,000 residents left homeless.
• Health service provision was badly affected with buildings damaged and 40% of the area’s medical staff killed
• The effects of trauma and bereavement continue - over 5,000 people have lost at least one parent

MRDF donations are channelled through Action by Churches Together (ACT), which works with partner organisations on the ground. Assistance has been given in

• erecting large camps on the city outskirts to shelter homeless people left vulnerable to freezing cold and after-shocks, and then providing more permanent earthquake–resistant housing
• providing counselling and mental-health services for those who need them
• providing boxes of medical supplies and mobile field-hospitals whilst the infrastructure is rebuilt
• providing skill-training and small-scale loans to allow people to start earning a living again.

(from “Sharing News” – Methodist News Service & “Just Living” Connexional Mailing leaflet)

Other Materials

• The new Harvest Pack– “Our Common Ground” – with information about land issues in Nicaragua, Cameroon and India
• MRDF Annual Review 2002/3 – “One in a Million” - an overview of a year in which MRDF income topped £1million for the first time
• MRDF Video (DVD or VHS) - useful for small groups or an introduction to MRDF work
• Also – Reflections Newsletter, Legacy Pack, ‘Vote for Trade Justice’.
• Mary F, as our church Service & Mission Secretary, can help obtain more information and materials

http://www.mrdf.org.uk/

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• Connexional Conference Office and those communicating & implementing Conference decisions;
• “Breakout” Youth Event in Blackpool next weekend;
• Methodist Ministers & families leaving or coming to Scotland;
• Jean Murrie’s arrangements for “sitting down” (‘retirement’);
• partners in Mindanao, southern Philippines (Christian Aid);
• Library provision in the Bethel Theological Seminary, Myanmar (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission’s supporters and promotional staff;
• Bible Society work in East Timor;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Kampuchea, Laos, and Vietnam;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Retford Circuit (Sheffield District), and in Anniesland (Glasgow Circuit).

• 27 June 2004
• 11 July 2004

© 2002—2003 Dundee Methodist Church.