18 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.

Ministerial pastoral cover this week

This will be provided by the Rev Mary Patterson to Wednesday, the Rev Jean Murrie to next Friday, on Friday & Saturday by the Rev Gerald Bostock and Rev Tony Pepper. For initial local pastoral concerns, contact Jenny E or a Church Steward.

Christian Aid Sudan Appeal

An opportunity to support the above Appeal will be given through a retiring collection after worship today.

“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/

“Quiet Room”

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

“Come as You Are” – study material

The recent Church Council agreed to a proposal that this material be considered as a basis for a series of gatherings, starting in the autumn, to help deepen our fellowship, especially in a time of change of Ministerial Pastoral Charge for Dundee.

It is hoped that a small group may be formed to look into the most effective way of taking this forward – if you are interested, please talk to David Firth, Mary Patterson, or Jenny E. The Pastoral Committee will discuss this at its meeting in August.

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).

Study Packs

The Methodist Church is encouraging the use of two sets of material to help deepen awareness and knowledge in the complementary fields of inter-faith relations and racial justice:

• “The Life We Share” – inter-faith relations: jointly produced by the Methodist Church and the Anglican USPG;
• designed for groups and individuals who want to be challenged about what people of other faiths say and about the struggles and joys of life;
• consists of Audio CD, CD Rom, introductory booklet, Bible Study booklet, Worship resources booklet;
• available (£10 = £3 p&p) from Methodist Publishing House, 4 John Wesley Road, Werrington, Peterborough, PE4 6PZ, email – sales@mph.org.uk, tel: 020 7467 5175
• “Sangam” – racial justice:
• produced by Network, to accompany the 2-year social action project; for use by anyone;
• “Sangram” is a Hindi word meaning “coming together”;
• pack brings together a range of material to enable, encourage and equip people to eradicate the injustice of racism and to recreate “One Race, The Human Race”;
• the pack contains 4 booklets, poster, game, evaluation card for feedback;
• the material is photocopiable & covers several sessions;
• available (£9.95 + p&p) from Methodist Publishing House, 4 John Wesley Road, Werrington, Peterborough, PE4 6PZ, email – sales@mph.org.uk, tel: 020 7467 5175.

Support other Organisations

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.

Seven Arches Trust

“An ecumenical imitative to help the Churches of Broughty Ferry and Monifieth to reach out with the message of Jesus to young people”. After preliminary discussions, supported by, among others, the Broughty Ferry Churches Group, the above Trust has been established and recognised as a registered Charity by the Inland Revenue (Scottish Charity No SC 035234). Help is now requested in prayer, publicity, fund-raising and general support. Once funding is in place, it is intended to seek a Youth Worker to work with young people, through local schools (already contacted), local congregations, and other activities. For further information, contact David E (one of our reps on the Broughty Ferry Churches Group) or the Trust’s Hon Secretary, William Clark (533696).

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President and Vice-President of Conference in Manchester today;
• the work of appointed chaplains in industry and agriculture;
• Methodists in Shetland, especially the Rev Jeremy Dare, in-coming Chair of the Synod;
• our Circuit Stewards;
• partners and projects in Nicaragua, where 40% of the population live in acute poverty *(Christian Aid);
• theological training in Nusantra Bible Seminary, Indonesia (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission’s work in China, Korea, and Laos;
• Bible Society work in East Timor;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Indonesia, and of East Timor;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Dearne Valley Circuit (Sheffield District), and in East Kilbride, including all in St Andrew’s Court (Methodist Homes) (Glasgow Circuit).

* Prodecoop supports coffee farmers through Fair Trade arrangements as with Café Direct.

• 11 July 2004
• 25 July 2004

© 2002—2003 Dundee Methodist Church.