11 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.

Church Council News

Last Monday’s meeting

• considered the effects for Dundee of “Further Forward” and agreed
  • a summarising leaflet to be distributed
  • appropriate changes to be made to information on noticeboard, news-sheet, etc
  • re-labelling of the red tray(s) in the office
  • Councils for the next year to be chaired by the Rev Mary Patterson
• again considered the urgent need for two new Church Stewards from 1st September
• appointed Elizabeth R as the Church Safeguarding Officer
• noted that there will be Acts of Infant Baptism during worship on Sundays July 25th and August 22nd
• agreed Property Committee’s proposals to proceed with redecoration of the interior of our premises, eventual replacement of storage heaters, future plans for Risk Assessment, awareness of fire safety procedure
• noted that Sandy is to act as Finance Convener from 1st September, received the financial report, and agreed a contribution on behalf of Dundee Methodists to the Circuit Retiral Presentation to the Rev Jean Murrie
• received the Service & Mission report anent NCH, Project 2004, the UNICEF Jars of Grace Appeal 2004, JMA award presentations

Future meetings – proposed dates

Please note the following dates and, if relevant, intimate apologies as soon as possible so that change may be made since full attendance is wished:

• Worship Group - Monday 16th August (contact ’tricia)
• Pastoral Committee – Thursday 19th August (contact Jenny E)
• Finance and Property Committees (combined) – Thursday 23rd September (Sandy L / Norah)
• Church Council – Wednesday 6th October (Elizabeth R).

“Quiet Room”

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

Support other Organisations

“Project 2004” – Slessor Foundation

The total raised so far by the “Jigsaw Event” is £280.50. Any more contributions to the Project may be given to the Church Treasurer, Sandy L.

Mission in Britain / Home Missions

Current box-holders may give these at any time to Phemie or David E for emptying – they will also supply boxes to ‘new’ supporters.

Christian Aid Sudan Appeal

“In the last few weeks..thousands of ordinary Sudanese villagers have been killed and over a million people have been forced to flee their homes. These people are not members of rebel groups. They are innocent people – men, women and children – who need our help urgently.

Victims of the recent conflict are fleeing to makeshift camps, or moving with family members in search of safety: ‘In Malakal town, there are over 20 people squeezed into each family hut, which is usually only 10-15 metres square...The situation is very grave, people have no income and are receiving very little relief’

To make things worse, the rainy season has started. This means more mosquitoes and a greater risk of malaria. Many families are still without shelter, mosquito nets and proper sanitation, and supplies of clean drinking water could have been contaminated. In these conditions life-threatening illness, such as typhoid and diarrhoea, are likely to break out. Many children will die unless they receive help quickly.

The recent fighting in Darfur in western Sudan and areas around Malakal in southern Sudan, has made harvesting food difficult, as may people have been forced to leave their friends and farms behind. People are desperately short of food.”

Christian Aid, with Action by Churches Together (an international alliance of church-based relief organisations), is responding to the call by Bishop Deng of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, for immediate help. Local volunteers are distributing cooking pots, water containers, blankets, plastic sheeting to make waterproof shelters and mosquito nets to reduce the risk of malaria. In other parts of Sudan people are recovering from 21 years of war.

Christian Aid has a long history of work in Sudan and partners have asked for continued help in the long-term: ‘We can only avoid future conflict through development. This war has been going on for too long – we all want peace’.

Christian Aid is working to meet the immediate needs of those affected by the current fighting and helping people in all parts of Sudan, regardless of faith, to re-build their lives by speaking out on their behalf, and helping promote peace and reconciliation between local communities.

http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/sudan/

Opportunity to support the above Appeal will be given through a retiring collection after worship next Sunday (18th July) or see http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/give/appeals/sudan1.htm for giving online.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the Rev Will Morrey, President of Conference, visiting RAF stations this week;
• the President-designate, the Rev Tom Stuckey, and the Vice-President-designate, John Bell;
• the work of NCH, especially projects in Dundee;
• circuits welcoming Ministers & families over the summer;
• our Circuit congregations preparing for changes;
• partners in Rwanda (Christian Aid);
• the new Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Myanmar; its Communications Office’s new bookshop (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission’s work in North-east India – Assam, Bihar, Jharkand, Nagaland, West Bengal;
• Bible Society work in East Timor;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Myanmar, and Thailand;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Rotherham Circuit (Sheffield District), and in Milton, including all in Taransay Court (Methodist Homes) (Glasgow Circuit).

• 04 July 2004
• 18 July 2004

© 2002—2003 Dundee Methodist Church.