Dundee Methodist Church

09 May 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.

Communion Celebration

Following discussion and decision in the Open Meeting in March and the recent Church Council, on one month in three (ie once a Quarter), the distribution of the bread and wine will follow an invitation to “go forward and stand before the Table”. The first occasion on which this practice will take place will be next Sunday.

Quiet Room

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

General Church Meeting

This opportunity for reflection and decision by ALL involved in the life of the Methodist people based in Marketgait will be after worship on Sunday 23rd May. Nominations for 2 new Church Stewards are invited, plus designation of a “Senior Church Steward”. Expected Agenda items also include confirmation / election of representatives to the Church Council, election of Church Treasurer, and designation of Finance Committee Convener.

Nominations (and suggestion of any other matters to be discussed) should be given to the Minister 2 weeks in advance or intimated through a Church Steward.

Easter Offerings Appeal

Thanks are expressed for the contributions to this annual appeal for the work of the world-wide Church. The amount raised was £110.

Meetings this week

Date & timeVenueDetails
Wednesday, 12th May, 7.30 pm United Free Church, Caird Ave Service to recognise the designation of the Rev Stephen Matthews as Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Free Church of Scotland from 10th June. The service will include a presentation of Robes to Mr Matthews.
Wednesday, 12th May, 7.45 pm Dundee Methodist Church, “B” Service & Mission Committee
Thursday 13th May, 7.30 pm Dundee Methodist Church, upstairs The Leprosy Mission. Doctors Murdo and Rachel Macdonald, who are home on leave from Anandaban Hospital, Nepal, will be the speakers.
Thursday 13th May, 4 pm to 9 pm Scottish Churches House, Dunblane “Dunblane Conversations”. Spirituality and Creation – with J Philip Newell (Cathedral of the Isles, Cumbrae). A meeting to “explore one of the themes of (his) publications: ‘Listening for the Heartbeat of God’. The Celtic tradition emphasises that in every moment and in every created thing we may be aware of the beat of God’s presence.” Cost - £10 each, B&B in the House (£18) can be arranged. For details / booking contact Scottish Churches House, Dunblane (01786 823588); reservations@scottishchurcheshouse.org or www.scottishchurcheshouse.org

Support other Organisations

Christian Aid

Our prayerful support is particularly invited during Christian Aid Week, as follows:

  • Monday : for collectors - patience, encouragement, witness
  • Tuesday : for donors - with understanding, courtesy, generosity
  • Wednesday : for use of money - for lasting change for poorest
  • Thursday : those supported - inspiration, strength & protection
  • Friday : ourselves - challenged to change lifestyle
Prayer
There is nothing better than shared bread,
And a life of love shared every day.
God bless our bread with your goodness;
God bless our lives with solidarity.
Amen
(from Christian Aid Prayer Diary, Feb / May 2004)

Spoken before meals in the One Respe schools in the Dominican Republic (featured during Christian Aid Week)

Traidcraft

There will be a stall next Sunday (May 16th) – contact Margaret G for advance orders.

Scottish Churches Community Trust

The Communion Offering in May is for the work of the Scottish ecumenical equivalent of the Methodist “Mission Alongside the Poor” Fund. The Methodist director on the Trust’s Board is Ruth Angove (Edinburgh).

Scottish Bible Society

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

  • work in Ascension, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha - islands where support is by the Bible Society of South Africa
  • UBS World Service Centre in Reading, looking to the future of work worldwide and evolving needs
  • Europe-Middle East Regional Centre in Crawley, proposing initiatives, and undertaking training and monitoring of finances “from Greenland to The Gulf and Tenerife to Tajikistan”.
  • Dr Alison Elliot, Moderator-designate of the Church of Scotland General Assembly (15th – 21st May).

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Saturday 22nd May, 6 pm Broughty Ferry Churches Youth Initiative - Treasure Hunt Walk & BBQ. For further details, please contact Jenny or David E or Beth Duncan (779887).
Wednesday 16th – Sunday 20th June,10.15 am – 3.45 pm (Wed-Sat), 2 pm – 7 pm (Sun). Intervals – 1 hour break Wed-Sat; 1/2 hr break Sun Dundas Estate (South Queensferry) “The Life of Jesus Christ”, open-air performances presented by the Dundas Foundation, taking the form of an open-air promenade, with a walk between scenes.
Tickets on sale now, family tickets available, from the Hub Office - 0131 473 2070 or on-line at www.jesus-at-dundas.com. More information from 0131 331 5912 (Caroline Cockburn) or email jscoffice@dundascastle.co.uk .
A copy of the STV Eikon programme video about the production is also available. See letter in library area, leaflet on noticeboard.

Prayer Points for this week

    • The President and Vice-President of Conference in the Plymouth & Exeter District this weekend, and in the Bolton and Rochdale District next weekend;
    • Methodist Council Strategy & Resources Cttee, Thursday;
    • Women’s Network Pilgrimage to Iona, next weekend;
    • communication from the District and within the Circuit;
    • events and people in Christian Aid Week (Christian Aid);
    • Pakistan Bible Correspondence Institute offering courses in Hindi, Urdu and English (Feed The Minds);
    • The Leprosy Mission’s promotional work in Scandinavia, Germany, Hungary, and Bangladesh;
    • Bible Society work in Colombia;
    • we pray with and for the peoples of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland;
    • we remember fellow Methodists in the Winchester Circuit (Southampton District), and in Abbeyhill, Edinburgh (Edinburgh & Forth Circuit).