Dundee Methodist Church

19 October 2008

Next Sunday: 26 October 2008 - Bible Sunday

11 am
Worship led by Mrs Marcia Mackenzie

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.

Christmas Cards for the Armed Forces

Liz has suggested Dundee Methodists consider support of an initiative intimated by a member of Central Baptist Church, as follows

“Can you give a Christmas Card addressed to 'A Member of the Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan & Iraq'? Tell them we are thinking of them. Please take your cards to pick-up points at Asda Kirkton, Morrison's, or City Chambers 18 City Square. No stamps required as Forces deliver their own.”

The 'last posting date' for this is 25th November.

Rotary Shoe Box Scheme

Last Christmas many members supported the Rotary International scheme to fill a small box labelled with small gifts for a child, teenager, household, or older person. The boxes we collected joined over 500 from Fife driven out to the Ukraine & Belarus for distribution, from where Irina and Pasha Ozeruga wrote

“We would like to express our sincere thanks for your labour and care about the Ukrainian people. Your shoeboxes have been given to needy people: children's orphanages, poor families, prison children, children's tuberculosis dispensaries, street children, and those in hospital. May your hearts be filled with love for your good acts.”

If you would like to help again, I will supply the flat-pack box that make up to a size similar to a shoe box and provide guidance on the types of things to fill them: a visit to the 'one pound shop' would soon fill a box. There is a sheet on the Vestibule table for those interested to sign; boxes will be delivered for collection in early November.

When thinking about Christmas shopping, just think of the joy you could bring to someone who could be celebrating Christmas with no gifts at all. Many thanks for your support. Alan Suttie

Last Christmas many members supported the Rotary International scheme to fill a small box labelled with small gifts for a child, teenager, household, or older person. The boxes we collected joined over 500 from Fife driven out to the Ukraine & Belarus for distribution, from where Irina and Pasha Ozeruga wrote

“We would like to express our sincere thanks for your labour and care about the Ukrainian people. Your shoeboxes have been given to needy people: children's orphanages, poor families, prison children, children's tuberculosis dispensaries, street children, and those in hospital. May your hearts be filled with love for your good acts.”

Meetings this week

Date & timeVenueDetails
Wednesday 22nd October 7.30 pm Dundee Methodist Church, “L” Worship Group. Items discussed will include the November “fifth Sunday”, Advent & Christmas-tide worship. and 'after-worship fellowship lunches'; all interested are invited.
Wednesday 22nd October, 7.30 pm Woodlands Methodist Church, 229 Woodlands Road, Glasgow (underground Kelvingrove) Woodlands Lectures: Dermot McGonigle - “The work of the international charity Practical Action” . Please see poster on noticeboard or http://website.lineone.net/~matthenderson/Woodlands%20Lecture%20Series%202008.htm, regarding this year's series of October lectures on Wednesday evenings.
Thursday 23rd October, 10 am (registration) to 3 pm 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN Action of Churches Together in Scotland Autumn Conference, jointly with CofS Committee for Ecumenical Relations, on the theme “He Restores my Soul” (also the Church of Scotland Guild theme). Further details from Church of Scotland 0131 225 5722 - Ros Milne or ACTS 01259 222361; www.acts-scotland.org.
Thursday 23rd October Scottish Churches House, Dunblane Music for an Autumn Evening (dinner & concert). Details and booking from SCH: tel 01786 823588; email : reservations@scottishchurcheshouse.org
Friday 24th October, 12 noon - 1.30 pm YMCA 151 Brook Street, Broughty Ferry (opposite “M&S Food”) (map) Broughty Ferry Churches Group Christian Aid lunch. The weekly lunch (£2) comprises a choice of home-made soups, bread & coffee, plus conversation with friends 'old and new'.
Friday 24th October, 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm The Bield at Blackruthven, Tibbermore, Perth “Art & Spirituality Course”. See noticeboard for details of this course on Fridays from 19th September to 31st October.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Churches House Prayer Network

Our prayerful support is invited this week, particularly at 9 am or anytime on Wednesday for

  • Guests and events past, present, & future:
  • Scottish Churches Scheme
  • Music Evening (for the Appeal)
  • Quakers on Inter-Faith
  • Affirmation Scotland
  • Guntrip Trust
  • Citizens Advice Training
  • (House) Interim Management Group meeting
  • Phase 1 of the Refurbishment, starting this month
  • continuation of the Appeal.

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in October for work in Nicaragua. See library area noticeboard for more information. Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

  • meeting on Tuesday of 2011 Trust preparing for the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible;
  • meeting on Thursday of denominational church representatives at Bible House;
  • early completion, despite setbacks, of Klao (Kru) translation of the Bible in Liberia.

Translation Work - do you know about

  • 550 Bible Societies' projects around the world at any one time?
  • 667 languages translated in the first half of the 20th century?
  • 1,200 languages translated since 1950?
  • 145 Bible Societies involved in translation work?
  • the millions who receive the Bible as a result?
  • SBS support for the 6 translation projects in Africa into languages for people in Malawi, Sudan, and Mozambique?

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Wednesday 29th October, 9.45 am to 3.45 pm The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh “Old Age: Wasteland or Harvest Field?” This “ecumenical exploration of the needs of older people and the gifts they bring to the churches” is being organised by ACTS in collaboration with the Church in Society Committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church and with Faith in Older People. There is no charge for the Conference: coffee, tea and lunch are included. Speakers include Fr Gerard Hughes, Margo MacDonald MSP, and Rev Dr Albert Jewell (former Director Methodist Homes). For details / booking, see leaflets on the Vestibule table or contact Tom Moyes at ACTS; email tommoyes@acts-scotland.org.
Wednesday 29th October, 7.30 pm Dundee Methodist Church Pastoral Committee
Thursday 30th October, 7.30 pm Blairgowrie Methodist Church, Riverside, Blairgowrie (map) An evening with Alastair McDonald, 'Folksinger, Entertainer, Broadcaster'. Tickets are priced £6 adults, £5 concessions, and £3 children. See poster on downstairs noticeboard
Friday 31st October, 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm The Bield at Blackruthven, Tibbermore, Perth “Art & Spirituality Course”. See noticeboard for details of this course on Fridays from 19th September to 31st October.
Saturday 1st November The Wynd Centre, Oakshaw Trinity Church, Paisley “Threads” : Gathering for those interested in Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs). Bookings close on 30th September.  There will be a creche facility and the day will cost £5. Contact ACTS 01259 222361; www.acts-scotland.org.
Monday 27th November, 6 pm University of Dundee Dalhousie Building (former New Teaching block, corner of Old Hawkhill & Hunter Street) - building 15 on Campus map Public Debate on “Physician-assisted Suicide” : an open event organised by the student Christian Medical Fellowship in Dundee. For details of the Motion and invited eminent Speakers, please see poster on noticeboard or contact cmfdundee@googlemail.com.

Prayer Points for this week

  • The President of Conference's visit to Bangladesh this week;
  • Connexional Law & Polity Committee meeting, Tuesday;
  • District Consultation for Circuit Learning Groups, Saturday;
  • preparations for musical concert in Blairgowrie;
  • work in the Beds, Essex & Herts District (Methodist Homes);
  • Disarmament Week, remembering the costs & consequences of arms production, trade and use (Christian Aid);
  • The Leprosy Mission's International Directorate;
  • Bible Society work in Nicaragua;
  • work of El Saray Evangelical Church, Alexandria, at Fairhaven School for those with special needs;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, (WCC Prayer Calendar);
  • we remember fellow Methodists in Ely and Newmarket (East Anglia District) and ourselves, based in Marketgait, Dundee (Angus, Dundee, & Perthshire Circuit).