Dundee Methodist Church

15 August 2010

Next Sunday: 22 August 2010

11 am
All-age 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.

Café Service - Sunday 29th August

We are asked to note and / or act on the following, as preparation for the above Service on the theme of “Picturing God”:

  • Rev Mary Patterson invites us to bring “an item which has shown something to us or helped us understand more about God”. There will be opportunity during worship to say something about your chosen item to others, in an informal setting;
  • serving of coffee will NOT be from 10.45 am as in previous Café Services but refreshments will be served and available during the Service;
  • it would also be helpful for there to be sufficient people in Marketgait from c10 am on Saturday 28th to help set up tables and generally prepare for the café service. If you think you can help, please come!

IBRA & Prayer Handbooks

Heather has succeeded Jean b as our contact with the International Bible Reading Association. If you wish to order daily Bible Study Notes or other material, please sign the paper on the Vestibule table or let Heather know. She is also ordering the Methodist Prayer Handbook for 2010-11 on our behalf, so please also sign the relevant paper or contact Heather to place an order.

Our warm thanks are expressed to Jean for her work over many years as our IBRA link person. Her role as contact with the Scottish Bible Society is now being fulfilled by Jenny.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Churches House Prayer Network

Prayers are invited this week for meetings and events in the House: Catholic Forum, Dortmund (Mon - Sat), Companions of God (Mon), Cursillo in Scotland (Sat).

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited for work in August in Vietnam. See noticeboard for more information.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

  • continuing supply of material in Tunisia where ex-pats and nationals continue to practise their faith in conditions of freedom;
  • current reception of the first Moroccan New Testament;
  • prohibition of Christian Activity in Algeria where more than 100,000 believers face a real possibility of arrest;
  • friendly and fruitful cooperation between churches in Libya where there is freedom of worship enjoyed by the many ex-pat Christians.

Insight Counselling - a request for support

A letter has been sent from this organisation based in 10 Constitution Road Dundee, in the light of the recent suicides in the city. This registered charity serving Dundee and Arbroath (No SC027009) offers individual and group counselling for a variety of issues, a service delivered free at the point of need.

Insight Counselling, which has witnessed an increased demand, is now facing financial insecurity and inviting support from individuals as well as seeking funding from statutory authorities and trusts, now under pressure themselves. Please see the letter and associated papers (including individual donation envelopes) if you wish to consider giving support.

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Monday 23rd - Friday 27th August 2010 Scottish Churches House, Dunblane “Senior Citizens' Break” Hospitality offered includes coffee, all meals, outing on Wednesday, and evening entertainments.
For details, see leaflets / booking forms on the Vestibule table, contact SCH on 01786 823588, see website : www.scottishchurcheshouse.org, or email reservations@scottishchurcheshouse.org.
Thursday 26th August 2010, 1 to 4.30 pm St Luke's & Queen Street Church, Broughty Ferry Broughty Ferry Information Fayre for Older People. The Broughty Ferry Churches Group has discussed the pastoral care of older people, both within and outwith the church community, in its meetings during the year. BFCG member churches have also become involved in Council-supported consultations to seek to address a perceived issue of “lonely and isolated elderly people within the Ferry”. The Churches, among others, are distributing publicity material for this event.
There will be stalls and workers on hand to provide information on a variety of services, ranging from crime and fire prevention, help for carers, to using a Nintendo Wii or learning about Qi Gong. See noticeboard for details / bookings process.
Monday 31st August to Wednesday 1st September 2010 Scottish Churches House, Dunblane Ecumenical Exploration in recognition of Pope Benedict's Visit.
“In 1983, a year after the last Papal visit, a group of British Council of Churches members of the Division of Ecumenical Affairs, with some leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Britain, were invited to a return visit. We enjoyed the hospitality of most major departments of the Curia, among them a memorable conversation with the then Cardinal Ratzinger.”
This gathering in Dunblane will seek to engage with different assertions, made during that visit to Rome, relating to '(the) Truth'. The event is being arranged in connection with the first Papal visit since 1982 and the Guest of Honour is to be the Rt Rev David Jenkins, former Bishop of Durham.
For details, see leaflets / booking forms on the Vestibule table, contact SCH on 01786 823588, see website : www.scottishchurcheshouse.org, or email reservations@scottishchurcheshouse.org.
Wednesday 1st September 2010, 6.30 pm Perth Methodist Church, Scott Street Welcome for Rev Benson Chongo- a warm invitation is extended to everyone to the official Welcome Service for our new Circuit Minister. This Service, led by the Rev Lily Twist, Chair of the Synod, will also include the Recognition of the Rev Mary Patterson as our Circuit Superintendent.
Saturday 4th September 2010, 2 pm Portessie Methodist Church Commissioning Service of Jenny Lee as President of Women's Network Scotland, followed by entertainment and tea. The Service will be conducted by the Rev Lily Twist, Margaret Law as the Retiring Network President, and other District Officers. If you hope to attend it will assist with catering to notify this via 01261 821280; jenny.scouts@btinternet.com before Friday 20th August.

Prayer Points for this week

  • the President of Conference in Cameroon for MRDF until Thursday;
  • the Vice-President on the Isles of Scilly from Saturday for a week;
  • EAPPI accompanists on the West Bank, especially during Ramadan and a period of intense heat;
  • Patronal Festival Event today in St Mary's Episcopal Church, Broughty Ferry;
  • The Rev David Firth, Barbara & Eilidh: Thursday is “removal day”;
  • people, projects and partners in Egypt where 17 million people live below the poverty line (Christian Aid);
  • St Luke's Hospital's 60-bed general facility and its outreach programme for community health improvement (BibleLands);
  • homes, staff and projects in the Bristol District (Methodist Homes);
  • Bible Society work in Vietnam;
  • The Leprosy Mission's work with self-care groups in Mozambique;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of the Pacific Islands (WCC Prayer Calendar);
  • we remember fellow Methodists in the Prestwich and Radcliffe Circuit (Bolton and Rochdale District) and our colleagues based in Riverside, Blairgowrie (Angus, Dundee & Perthshire Circuit).