1 March 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.

Welcome to Lily Twist

Today we welcome the Rev Lily Twist, Chair of the Scotland District Synod, to lead our worship in Marketgait. An informal Faith Lunch is being held after worship to give more opportunity for Lily and members of the congregation to meet and get to know each other. Drinks are provided and there is usually sufficient food for all, so please stay if you can, even if have not yourself brought food.

“Messy Church Training Day”

Reminder of this ecumenical event at Saughtonhall United Reformed Church, Edinburgh, on Saturday 14th March (cost £10). Lorna is interested to know of anyone else who plans to go from Dundee.

Preaching Plans for March - May

Now available on the Vestibule table: please take copies for yourself and for others.

“Where are we going next?”

Please read the paper, available on the Vestibule table, and forward any comments, thoughts, responses or questions to either of the Ministers, in advance of the Circuit Meeting on Wednesday 18th March if possible.

Further background to this is available from the Ministers, Circuit Stewards (in Dundee, Keith Pearson), Circuit Meeting or Church Council members.

Lent 2009

• Dundee City Centre Churches study group meetings will be on Tuesdays at 7.30 pm in Meadowside St Paul's Halls (downstairs) using the CTBI material “Sense Making Faith”, linked to broadcasts from today:
  • Sundays at 9.30 am on BBC Radio4.
  • Daily Service at 8.45 am on Radio4 (LW)
  • BBC local radio stations, variously.
• Broughty Ferry Churches Group continue their Lenten journey, also using the CTBI material.

World Day of Prayer

All are invited to join in the world-wide celebration of the Day on Friday (the Day world-wide lasts beyond 24 hours!) using material provided by our Christian sisters in Papua New Guinea on the theme “In Christ there are Many Members, Yet One Body”. The City Centre Churches' Service will be in Dundee Congregational Church, Lower Constitution Road (map) at 2.30 pm. duncee(See poster on downstairs noticeboard). Please see local press for details of other Acts of Worship in local communities.

Church Council résumé

At the recent meeting, the Council

• heard and discussed reports from the Senior Church Steward, Service & Mission and Pastoral Secretaries, the Church Treasurer, Finance & Property and Worship Group Conveners, Children's Work Group;
• discussed the Circuit's “Where are we Going Next?” paper and process;
• agreed a Faith Lunch be held on 25th October, shortly after university Freshers' Weeks;
• agreed allocations of Communion Offerings;
• made appointments of church office-holders.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in March for work in Mali which is one of the world's poorest countries, with low reading levels especially among women. See library area noticeboard for more information.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• literacy courses & use of New Reader Scripture in Mali;
• translation of Old Testament into Seselwa Creole in The Seychelles;
• preparation of material for Evangelical Celebration in Cuba in July;
• focus during the World Day of Prayer (Friday) on Papua New Guinea where there is considerable cultural and linguistic diversity;
• distribution and funding of development of Bible Society work in Panama.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President & Vice-President of Conference in East Anglia, this week;
• Connexional Law & Polity Committee, Monday;
• relationships between Methodists and Anglicans /Episcopalians in the British Isles;
• all involved in preparing and leading worship in our Circuit;
• work in the Plymouth & Exeter District (Methodist Homes);
• Bible Society work in Mali;
• FairTrade Fortnight's second week (Christian Aid);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in south-east India ;
• The Al Karfa'at Foundation's work with children with special needs in Beirut (BibleLands);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino (WCC Prayer Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in St Ives and on the Isles of Scilly (Cornwall District), and in Partick (Glasgow Circuit).

• 22 February 2009
• 8 March 2009

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