Dundee Methodist Church

7 November 2010

Next Sunday: 14 November 2010 - Remembrance Sunday

10.45 am
Worship, including the Act of Remembrance at 11am, and Holy Communion, conducted by the Rev Mary Patterson; Communion Offering for Erskine Hospital Ltd (caring for ex-service personnel).

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.

We remember those unable to worship with us regularly in Marketgait and those who feel themselves more constrained in getting about as daylight hours grow shorter.

Rotary Shoe Boxes

Alan Suttie requests that boxes be returned today, please, to allow for collection on the set date.

UNICEF Jars of Grace

Jars in support of this year's theme “helping children in Guyana face the challenges of climate change” are to be returned during worship today. Mary F will be pleased to receive any outstanding Jars in the next few weeks: thanks.

Choir

David & Jenny are delighted that Shitu (who sings in the church choir at home) is now joining them in the choir; anyone else similarly interested is asked to have a chat with David please.

Action for Children - “last orders please!”

A brochure of Christmas cards for Action for Children is on the table at the top of the stairs. Please sign the accompanying sheet if you wish to order cards. The order will be placed this week.

Lunch Invitation

On Sunday 21st November there will be a “Faith Lunch” after worship to give an opportunity to meet people new to the Dundee area, especially students - and to have chance for longer chat with others also!

Pastoral Committee points

At the recent meeting, the Minister and Pastoral Visitors

  • exchanged news and shared concerns of Members' individual circumstances and needs;
  • agreed the total number of Members (ie 69) at 1 Nov 2010, for report on the annual Schedule
  • noted pending implementation of recent Safeguarding legislation anent “vulnerable adults”;
  • gave general support to the “Biblefresh” iniative's approach to revitalising our reading of the Bible in 2011;
  • noted value of further reflection on “Confidentiality” in pastoral care and use of sensitive information;
  • agreed to discuss “Back to Church Sunday” further;
  • agreed next meeting - 7th February 2011 at 7pm.

Meetings this week

Date & timeVenueDetails
Tuesday 9th November 2010, 7.15 pm Hilton Hotel, Earl Grey Place, Dundee “With God on our Side” : In the context of the call of the Methodist Conference to develop our awareness of the complexities and sensitivities of Israeli-Palestinian relationships and the Middle East more generally, the Rev Mary Patterson and Tom Penman draw our attention to the showing of this film. There will be opportunity after to question the Director, Porter Speakman. Poster.
Wednesday 10th November 2010, 12 noon (lunch-bring your own food) to 2 pm St Peter's Free Church, (off) Perth Road, Dundee “Israel and the Church”: Bible Study. An opportunity for study and discussion. More information
Wednesday 10th November 2010, 7.30pm Dundee Methodist Church, “L” Circuit Leadership Team
Thursday 11th November 2010, 7.30 pm Dundee Methodist Church Worship Group open meeting. Discussion will include “early singing”, Advent worship and “Back to Church Sunday” worship approach (for September 2011). Anyone interested in worship is welcome; comments and material for possible use in worship can be given / forwarded at any time to 'tricia.
Friday 12th November, 12 noon - 1 pm YMCA 151 Brook Street, Broughty Ferry (opposite “M&S Food”) (map) Broughty Ferry Churches Group Christian Aid lunch. Soup - a good selection each week - is served with bread & cheese, followed by coffee for £2, in support of this ecumenical aid, relief and development charity. The lunches last year raised over £2,000 for Christian Aid. A warm welcome is given to all to come and share food and fellowship regularly or from time to time.
Saturday 13th November, 12 noon - 1 pm Dunblane District Policy Committee
Saturday 13th November 2010, 1 pm St Paul's Cathedral, 1 High Street, Dundee Music in St Paul's: Hilfoot Harmony - barbershop chorus. Tickets £4 / £3 concessions, £2 children, at door. For series details see Programme.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Churches House Prayer Network

Prayers are invited this week for meetings and events in the House and for the continuing governance process, remembering especially members of the Interim Board and the ACTS Trustees, also House staff and Volunteers.

Meetings and guests in the House this week include NHS Scotland (Monday - Friday), Fellowship of St Andrew (Friday- Sunday), Quakers (Saturday- Sunday).

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited for work in November in Myanmar / Burma. See noticeboard for more information.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

  • new inter-church translation of the Bible in Slovakia;
  • publication of Scriptures aimed at young people in the Czech Republic, under the direction of the Board, its new Chairman, and staff;
  • decision to relocate Bible House in Poland away from its traditional Warsaw city centre site;
  • SBS speakers at the Prayer Focus meeting in Edinburgh on Thursday and 'Women across the Highlands' Conference in Inverness on Saturday.

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Friday 19th November 2010, 7pm to 8.40pm St Paul's Cathedral, 1 High Street, Dundee Dundee 'Christmas Light Night' Music: a programme of choral, piano, & cello music in the Cathedral in connection with this year's “switching on of the city centre lights”. This music will be played before the 9pm fireworks in City Square
Saturday 20th November 2010, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm St Peter's Free Church, (off) Perth Road, Dundee “ Out of the Silent Church” Conference - Speakers and topics:
  • John Lennox - “The Apologetic of Science”
  • Ravi Zacharias - “The Ultimate Apologetic - Jesus Christ”
  • Stuart McAllister - “Is Apologising the best way to spread the Gospel?”
  • David Robertson - “Give me Scotland or I die”

For full details and registration form, see new Solas website: www.solas-cpc.co.uk; tickets £10 - if fully booked, see Tom Penman who may have a spare ticket!

Prayer Points for this week

  • The President of Conference visiting the West Yorkshire District, yesterday to Wednesday;
  • Stationing Matching Group meeting, Monday - Thursday;
  • Connexional Allowances Committee meeting, Tuesday;
  • Those responsible for the inspection and maintenance of the Circuit's property, ie church buildings and manses;
  • The people of Sudan as the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement reaches its final year (Christian Aid);
  • residents and staff in Homes and Schemes in the Manchester & Stockport District (Methodist Homes);
  • The Deaf Unit's vocational training centre in 6th October City, Egypt (BibleLands);
  • Bible Society work in Burma;
  • The Leprosy Mission's work in Burma and Thailand;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda (WCC Ecumenical Calendar)
  • we remember fellow Methodists in the Bromsgrove and Redditch Circuit (Birmingham District) and in Kilsyth (Glasgow Circuit).