24 October 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.

Methodist Homes Sunday

Next Sunday, 31st October, in this Circuit. Methodist Homes envelopes will be distributed in support of this year’s Appeal – “Every crowd has a silver lining”. Our support is invited. Anyone willing to act as our MH ‘link person’ with the Circuit’s MH Contact (David Nicoll, Arbroath) is asked to contact David E. www.methodisthomes.org.uk

Pastoral Committee résumé

At the meeting on Tuesday

• shared news of individual pastoral concerns
• considered re-allocation of Lists previously held by David Firth
• discussed the guidelines for ‘Ministerial Pastoral Visits’ following Mary Patterson’s taking up Pastoral Charge
• agreed purchase of a “Thanksgiving and Blessing” Register and a recent book on “Baptism”
• agreed that the Schedule of entries as at 1.11.04 be compiled and submitted by the Ministers and Secretary
• noted an increase in ‘student referrals’ to the Chaplain, David Firth
• agreed to facilitate an “Informal Cold Buffet Lunch” after Worship on Sunday December 19th
• fixed next meeting for Wednesday 2nd March 2005, 7.30 pm

UNICEF “Jars of Grace”

Malnutrition:

• more than half of the 11million child deaths that occur each year are associated with malnutrition
• causes of malnutrition include poor diet, frequent illness and inadequate care
• malnutrition is NOT the same as starvation – malnutrition is more insidious and widespread
• malnutrition is a condition that impairs growth and development, weakening the body’s resistance to illness
• poor nutrition in the first 2 years of a child’s life can slow physical and mental development forever: it cannot be made up later and thus affects the child for life.

Therapeutic feeding:

• every day 15,000 malnourished children die, yet a simple course of therapeutic feeding, costing £1, could help reduce this shocking figure
• when a child is malnourished, the solution is not simply “food” as swallowing may be difficult and ordinary food too rich
• therapeutic feeding uses specially formulated milk and nutrient-enriched porridge supplements given over several weeks by trained health workers.

Jars should be returned on Sunday, 6th November, or thereafter.

“Quiet Room”

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

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Head for Holyrood

Head for Holyrood is organised and supported by a coalition of agencies in Scotland, including ACTS, Christian Aid, Church of Scotland World Mission, Justice and Peace Scotland, Oxfam, SCIAF, Tearfund, Working Together for Change, World Development Movement.

Launch of Scotland’s Vote for Trade Justice at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 27th October at 12 noon. – lobby MSPs, cast your own vote ….

Why lobby the Scottish Parliament?

• The Executive exercise important powers over Scotland’s economy, agriculture, business, and inward investment
• Scottish Executive Ministers are responsible for delivering EU farm subsidies in Scotland
• Scottish Parliament considers and reports on EU legislation
• Scottish Executive and UK Ministers work together in Joint Ministerial Committees
• MSPs matter in the campaign to deliver Trade Justice

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President of Conference in Somerset and Devon, and the Vice-President in Bedford, this week;
• the work of Bill Reid, as the Connexional Liaison Officer (Scotland);
• preparations for District Policy Committee in November;
• Arbroath Pastoral Committee meeting on Thursday;
• the work of the United Nations through its staff and agencies;
• Presidential Election in the USA next week (Christian Aid Prayer Diary);
• partners and projects in Guatemala (Christian Aid);
• work with young and displaced people at the Anglican Church of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s new Training Centre for Youth Leaders (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission’s work in Nigeria;
• Bible Society work in Iraq;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Germany;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Sheffield (Brunswick) Circuit (Sheffield District) and in Wallacestone (Central Circuit).

• 17 October 2004
• 31 October 2004

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