30 October 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.

Harvest - Methodist Relief & Development Fund

Envelopes are still available for return via the offering plate. This year's amount so far is around only a quarter of last year's - please help!

UNICEF “Jars of Grace”

Jars are to be returned during worship today; please return any still at home to Mary F - thanks!

Meeting to consider our mission

From The Rev Mary Patterson: “The District at the moment is struggling with times of change within the Methodist Church in Scotland and at the District Policy Committee in November discussion will take place around the District Development Review and a new way of structuring the Methodist Church in Scotland.

Needless, to say, this will affect every individual Methodist society so it is the light of this bigger picture of Methodism in Scotland and also changes that have taken place recently within this Circuit, that each church in the Circuit is being asked to take a look at their own society and consider their mission in the places where they are.

A specially convened OPEN CIRCUIT MEETING will take place here on November 23rd at which we expect to hear from our five churches feedback on the discussions which have taken place. This will all be helpful information for the Circuit Meeting and Leadership Team as we try to determine the future of the Circuit.”

As part of Dundee's contribution to these discussions, there will be a LUNCH AND OPEN MEETING after worship next Sunday to share views and help inform our appointed representatives and others going to the Open Circuit Meeting. The “Discipleship” booklets and material have been distributed to help our background thinking to both these meetings, which ALL are encouraged to support. If you are unable to attend, please make your views known to the Minister or any member of the Circuit Meeting (Dundee members are Tom, Heather, Alan, David, 'tricia and Lorna).

For the Lunch please bring food to share (or for yourself in case of special dietary requirements) - drinks will be provided.

Pastoral Committee résumé

At the meeting this week, members

• shared, on a confidential basis, news of Members on their Lists and associated matters;
• undertook the annual Reading of the Membership Lists;
• agreed the figures for return on the annual Schedule (Membership as at 1.11.2011 = 68);
• agreed that, as for many years, Christmas Cards be sent on behalf of the Church to Link Club Members;
• agreed that an Act of (Re)Commissioning of Pastoral Visitors be held during worship on a convenient Sunday;
• agreed to request the Circuit to consider a 'pastoral sharing event', possibly using material in Reports to recent Conferences (eg 'With Integrity and Skill' 2008; the draft 'Theology of Pastoral Care' report by the Faith and Order Committee, 2011).

Date of next meeting - Thursday 15th March, 2012 at 7pm.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in October for Sri Lanka, and in November for Egypt. Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• observance of Bible Sunday in Scotland today;
• Lectio Divina programme success in Albania, plans to increase ministry to children and develop more Bible engagement programmes;
• final work on a Pocket Edition New Testament in Macedonia, also preparation of Luke's Gospel in Braille;
• work in Greece amidst the current economic hardship.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President and Vice-President of Conference at the Youth Assembly in Kidderminster next weekend;
• Connexional Allowances Committee, Friday;
• the work of the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office and meetings between Church Leaders and members of the Scottish Government;
• chaplaincy and pastoral work within the Circuit;
• staff & residents in the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District (Methodist Homes);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Nigeria;
• partners and projects in Sierra Leone (Christian Aid);
• Mission Aviation Fellowship work in New Guinea;
• The Annahda Centre, Ramallah, working with young people with learning disabilities (BibleLands);
• Bible Society work in Sri Lanka;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Maldives (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Gibraltar (included in the South-East District!) and in Shettleston (Glasgow Circuit).

• 23 October 2011
• 6 November 2011

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