26 June 2011

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.

Methodist Conference 2011

Conference meets this year in Southport (Liverpool District), beginning with Ministerial Session on Thursday, followed by the Representative Session from Saturday to the following Thursday (7th July). The Scotland District representatives, in addition to the Rev Lily Twist as Chair, are the Rev Alan Anderson (Glasgow), Deacon Roger Hensman (Inverness), David Easson (AD&P), Betty McCredie (Ayrshire & Renfrewshire) and Jenny Lee (North of Scotland Mission Circuit). (Jenny Easson will also be in Southport, listening from the public gallery at times!).

Information on Conference including the (3-volume) Agenda, arrangements for Conference & Ordination Services, & on-line data, can be found on www.methodistconference.org.uk.

“Singing the Faith”

The BBC is celebrating the forthcoming publication of the new Methodist hymn book with a 'singing the faith' special edition of BBC One's 'Songs of Praise' this afternoon (BBC1 5pm). The programme will reflect upon what makes a truly inspiring hymn and features interviews with some of those involved in the production of the new hymn collection.

Church Council résumé

At Wednesday's meeting, members undertook a general overview of the life of our church life including

• items for wider discussion at (yesterday's) General Church Meeting;
• aspects of worship and fellowship;
• Bible study, including arrangements for “Hearing the Word” event on Saturday 13th August (see above);
• ways of encouraging “welcoming and belonging”;
• acknowledgment of 26 years of the Link Club's work;
• need for awareness and appropriate response to social issues in our local neighbourhood and in civic life (eg Safeguarding).

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in June for work in Nepal and in July for work in Russia. See noticeboard in library area for more information. Our prayerful attention is drawn to

• translation projects in the South Pacific, including Bible comics, Bible study resources, and the Dayspring yacht ministry to remote islands;
• prison literacy project in Papua New Guinea, also translation and audio projects;
• attraction of funding for projects in Micronesia, including supplying Bibles at subsidized prices;
• staff in the Bible Society branch in Novosibirsk, Russia (serving a population of 25 million spread across an area the size of Canada);
• small team sharing a range of Scriptures through bookshops, churches and other partners, seeking to reach minorities in remote areas of Russia from the Arctic to the Chinese border.

Scottish Bible Society Magazine: 'Alive and Active'

As Jean's successor as SBS link person, Jenny receives the supply of the SBS magazines. It would help to know who still wishes to have the magazine or of new people who might wish a regular copy (eg those attending the two Bible Groups).

If you have been receiving a copy (from Jean / Jenny) please take a copy of the Spring 2011 edition from the pile on the Vestibule table and sign the paper.

If you also wish to be given a copy in future, please sign and indicate accordingly.

Jenny will re-assess the list at the end of June and, if necessary, order more. Thanks!

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• Methodist Conference meeting in Southport;
• Fiona Inglis, Scotland Methodist District Administrator;
• staff and volunteers at Scottish Churches House, facing redundancy and change;
• Methodist Refugee Sunday, 26th June;
• residents and staff in the Leeds District (Methodist Homes);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Mozambique, southern Africa, Zimbabwe;
• Musalaha Ministry of Reconciliation, West Bank, working with Palestinian women (BibleLands);
• the people of Haiti (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Nepal;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Bolivia, Chile & Peru (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Bangor and Holyhead Circuit (Wales Synod) and in the City of Edinburgh Methodist Church (Edinburgh & Forth Circuit).

• 19 June 2011
• 3 July 2011

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