1 February 2009

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.

Homelessness Sunday

'Income poverty' is set at 60% of the median household income - £301 a week for two adults with two children. People below this level count as poor.

Key issues in Scotland today:

• Lack of affordable housing
• Low pay/working poverty
• Street homelessness
• Asylum destitution
• Fuel poverty
• Rural poverty
• Women experiencing violence

Learning & Development

As a result of Methodist Connexional policy and funding, “Learning & Development” in Scotland Methodism is now to be facilitated by a recently-appointed Team of Three ie 1 National Learning & Development Officer (NLDO) & 2 Regional Learning & Development Officers (RLDOs).

The NLDO is Helen Wareing (ex-Training & Development Officer / “TDO”) and the two RLDOs are Gary Williams and Sally Robertson. Although they act as a Team, Gary's remit will include general responsibility “South” and Sally's “North”. The Scotland and Shetland Districts are both included in the Team's area, ie “the Methodist Church in Scotland”. They are to work with Circuits and congregations to help develop spiritual life and exploration of mission and outreach in local and wider communities.

Rotas

Mary F, as Senior Church Steward, will soon be preparing the rotas for stewarding and other Sunday duties; she would be pleased to hear from or of people willing to join the Teams of Door Stewards or Coffee Makers - there are vacancies and the more folk on the list, the less frequently names come round! Warm thanks are expressed to those no longer able to be on the rotas, as to those continuing to serve in providing a valuable and much appreciated ministry of welcome on behalf of the whole Church.

Methodist Prayer Handbook 2009 : contributions

The Connexion's request for contributions to the next Handbook is commended to us by the Rev Lily Twist, Chair of the Synod.

Contributions of specially written prayers or favourites throughout the centuries are invited, as are our photographs, providing they are copyright-compliant.

The theme for the Handbook is “Each Returning Day” taken from John Keble's hymn “New every morning” (H&P 636).

Contributions should be sent by Tuesday 10th February to Fiona Inglis, District Administrator, Methodist Office, Scottish Churches House, Dunblane FK15 0AJ, or by email : meth@scottishchurcheshouse.org

For details on copyright etc, see email on noticeboard or contact Fiona (as above or telephone : 01786 820295).

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in February for work in Ukraine, where Children's Bibles are being distributed among at least 17,000 orphaned or abandoned youngsters living in remote boarding schools, often feeling isolated from the rest of society with seemingly bleak future prospects. See library area noticeboard for more information. Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• sharing of experience by visiting group and support for Light in the North-East Project in Brazil;
• new Board of the Bible Society in Niger searching for fund-raising ideas and effective partnerships in distribution work;
• completion of Bible House extension in Chad, also progress on Arabic Bible translation despite political instability.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President & Vice-President of Conference at the Holiness & Risk Conference, Swanwick, next weekend;
• The Diocese of Brechin (Scottish Episcopal Church) as it welcomes the Rev Jonathan Bower;
• candidates for Presbyteral Ministry in the Methodist Church;
• work in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District (Methodist Homes);
• young people without access to schooling (Christian Aid);
• The Bethlehem Arab Centre for Rehabilitation's work with children with severe physical difficulties (BibleLands);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in situations and times of change;
• Bible Society work in Ukraine;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Ireland and the United Kingdom (WCC Prayer Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Camelford &Tintagel (Cornwall District) and all in the Livingston Ecumenical Parish (Edinburgh & Forth Circuit).

• 25 January 2009
• 8 February 2009

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