Dundee Methodist Church

25 December 2011

Next Sunday
1 January 2012

11 am
Worship led by the Rev Dr Gerald Bostock

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.

Action for Children

December has traditionally been the month for inviting Dundee Methodist support of the work of Methodism's child-care arm. Donations can be made through envelopes (Gift-Aided) for return during worship in the offering plate, or via Margaret (AfC contact) or David (Church Treasurer).

NO separate AfC offering will be uplifted today.

Scottish Methodists Together

The new edition of the District Letter is on the Vestibule table - please take, read, distribute. This edition contains the “faith journey” of someone well known to the Marketgait congregation from leading our worship …….

Bible Groups

As the “Year of the Bible” comes to an end, Tom Penman is consulting those who have attended the two Groups - and any others - about continuing ways of sharing insights and study of Scripture. Please contact Tom with thoughts and suggestions for 2012.

Signpost International Sponsorship

Our sponsorship of Aldrian Songgaling, and thereby his community in the Philippines, has been in place now for several years through a monthly payment of £18 from the Benevolence Fund. Sadly this Fund is diminishing rapidly, and if anybody would like to personally contribute to our sponsorship, please contact David Easson, Church Treasurer.

We have received a Christmas card from him, along with a letter from Signpost International, whose office is in the Mark Henderson Centre in Dundee, with the following message:

“We have great pleasure in enclosing a Christmas card from your sponsored child. Christmas is such a special time as families join together to enjoy the festive season and reflect on the Christmas story. We would like to thank you for all the support and generosity you have shown towards your child, their family and community throughout the past year. Your support makes such a real and tangible difference. We value you as a member of the Signpost International family. We look forward to continuing our journey with you as we seek to eradicate extreme poverty around the world. May you know God's peace and blessing this Christmas.”

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in December for work in Rwanda. Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

  • continued development of HIV/AIDS outreach projects in Finland, Year of the Bible in 2012;
  • progress of Bible Adventure initiative in Sweden, reaching over 30,000 children;
  • new Bible translations into the 2 main languages in Norway;
  • translation of the New Testament into modern Gaelic in Scotland.

The Christmas SBS Appeal is for support of work in Bethlehem,

See library area noticeboard for details of support for this Appeal.

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Saturday 21st January 2012, 2.30pm Dunblane Cathedral Service of Thanksgiving for Scottish Churches House. ACTS and Scottish Friends of Ecumenism are hosting an Act of Worship to express thanks for the 50 years of work and witness through Scottish Churches House Dunblane. If you hope to attend, it would be helpful to notify ACTS via joanpennycook@acts-scotland.org; tel 01259 215964.
Wednesday 29th February 2012, 4pm to 8pm (including meal together) The Bield at Blackruthven Invitation to meet Ann Morisy. Scotland District Learning & Development Forum is hosting an open discussion to be resourced by Ann Morisy. Ann, then visiting Scotland, is well-known as an exciting and encouraging speaker on the churches' engagements with communities, and has written widely on this, including “Journeying Out: a new approach to Christian mission”. To register, please contact the District Administrator, Fiona Inglis, on fiona@methodistchurch.plus.com or 01786 820295 before Friday 27th January.

Prayer Points for this week

  • the world-wide Church's celebration of Christmas, today or in early January;
  • those affected by recent floods in the Philippines;
  • those on duty at work, the agencies and volunteers serving the homeless and lonely during the festive season;
  • residents and staff in the Cornwall District (Methodist Homes);
  • The Leprosy Mission's work in north central India;
  • the work of the Central African Baptist Community in Democratic Republic of Congo (Christian Aid);
  • Mission Aviation Fellowship outreach in Mongolia;
  • The Al-Kafaat Foundation, Beirut, working with children with multiple disabilities (BibleLands);
  • Bible Society work in Rwanda;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Ghana and Nigeria, particularly families & friends of those worshipping in Dundee, (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);
  • we remember fellow Methodists in Woking and Walton-on-Thames (South-East District) and “the Methodist Diaspora in Scotland,” (especially. in Glasgow, Ayrshire & Renfrewshire, and Inverness Circuits).