Dundee Methodist Church

6 April 2014

Next Sunday
13 April 2014
Palm Sunday

11 am
Worship led by Mr David Cowling

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.

Observance of Lent

The season of Lent will be marked during worship in Marketgait by the inclusion in Sunday worship of a Lenten Liturgy.

This year, it has been agreed that, as a change from the last two years' absence of a floral arrangement during Lent (as is customary in some of our partner churches), there will be a small vase of flowers on or near the Communion Table each week.

The Broughty Ferry Churches Group extends an invitation to the following Lenten Group meetings this week

The study material will be “Parables and Possessions” prepared by the Church of Scotland for Churches Together in Britain and Ireland; this week's topic is 'sacrifice' based on the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin (St Luke)

Traidcraft

The new catalogue is out and available on the vestibule table. Margaret is happy to receive orders.

Dundee Methodists and Food Banks

We support the Dundee Foodbank by bringing in any of the suggested items from the Shopping List (on the table on the upstairs landing) and placing them in the large blue Bucket provided nearby. An explanatory slip is also available. There is also need for plastic carrier bags of suitable size; please place any spares by the Bucket. Monetary donations are also welcome. Contact Liz Kay for further information.

End Hunger Fast is encouraging people to fast on Friday 4th April, in support of those who cannot afford to eat.

Graham's Soup Kitchen

Thanks have been sent to us on behalf of Graham's Soup Kitchen who used our doorstep and the adjoining pavement space during the road closure for demolition of Salvation Army premises over the weekend of 22nd-23rd March.

The Group works on a rota between St Paul's Cathedral, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints in Liff Road, an Edzell Church of Scotland and two Roman Catholic congregations from Carnoustie and Alyth.

“We served approximately 21 hot meals of beef casserole, rolls, fresh fruit, biscuits and home made chocolate and banana cake. About another half dozen stopped for hot drinks. It was harder work than usual but it worked excellently and all seemed quite happy…. We were back to our old space last week and although the main area is full and cordoned off there is still room for us at the side.

Thank you again for letting us use your space and hopefully you found it just as you left it.”

Meetings this week

Date & timeVenueDetails
Monday 7th April 2014, 10.15am St Mary's Episcopal Church, Queen Street, Broughty Ferry Lenten Study Group using “Parables and Possessions”; this week's topic is 'sacrifice' based on the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin (St Luke)
Tuesday 8th April 2014, 7.30pm Our Lady of Good Counsel, Westfield Road, Broughty Ferry Lenten Study Group using “Parables and Possessions”; this week's topic is 'sacrifice' based on the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin (St Luke)
Tuesday 8th April 2014, 7.30pm Meadowside St Paul's Church Lenten Study Group - “The Beatitudes”. A warm invitation is extended to all.
Wednesday 9th April 2014, 10am to 11.30am Blairgowrie Methodist Church Coffee Morning
Friday 11th April 2014, 12 noon to 1pm YMCA 151 Brook Street, Broughty Ferry (opposite “M&S Food”) (map) Broughty Ferry Churches Group Christian Aid Soup Lunch. A choice of soups is offered, with bread and cheese, followed by tea or coffee, for which a minimum donation of £2 is requested. A warm welcome is extended to all to partake of the Soup Lunch and join in the warm table fellowship throughout the autumn and spring. (This week has Methodist involvement in preparing and serving so come along and support us!)
Saturday 12th April 2014,3pm St Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, High Street, Dundee Chamber Music Recital with The Savane Trio: works by Haydn, Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Piazzolla. Admission free - refreshments served in the interval.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in April for work in Vietnam.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

  • opportunities for Bible promotion in Slovakia;
  • Nordic Bible Societies fund-raising gathering in Finland on Wednesday;
  • translation of the New Testament into modern Slovene as 'Life With Jesus', Bible Marathon, and I Read the Word campaign in Slovenia;
  • fundraising appeals in Honduras and Guatemala where people are affected by violence and human trafficking;
  • Spanish Bible Society's new shop, offices and meeting rooms in central Madrid.

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Monday 14th April 2014, 10.15am St Mary's Episcopal Church, Queen Street, Broughty Ferry Lenten Study Group using “Parables and Possessions”.
Tuesday 15th April 2014, 7.30pm Our Lady of Good Counsel, Westfield Road, Broughty Ferry Lenten Study Group using “Parables and Possessions”.
Monday & Tuesday 16 - 17th June 2014 St John's College, Durham “Formation for the Future” Conference and Celebration run by the Methodist Study Centre in Durham. The keynote speakers at the conference are to be Prof James Dunn (Lightfoot Professor of Divinity Emeritus, Durham University), Rev Prof David Wilkinson (Principal, St John's College), and Prof Mike Higton (Chair of Common Awards in Theology, Ministry and Mission).
Booking forms and information is on the vestibule table, or contact www.dur.ac.uk/wsc.online.
Immediately following the conference there will be a Service of Thanksgiving for the life and work of the Wesley Study Centre, at 3pm in Elvet Methodist Church. The Preacher at the Thanksgiving Service will be the President of Conference, the Rev Ruth Gee.
The Centre was affected by the outcome of the “Fruitful Field” training review and Conference decisions. There will be a reception after the service to launch the new Wesley Study Centre - all welcome to join us in the Church Hall to hear more.

Prayer Points for this week

  • the President of Conference at the Northern Church Leaders' Retreat, Leeds, Thursday - Friday;
  • arrangements for Conference in Birmingham (June-July);
  • preparation for District Synods in Glasgow (25-26 April);
  • the future life, direction and work of our circuit's congregations;
  • health volunteers working in Cairo with the Zabaleen community who subsist by recycling rubbish (Embrace);
  • poor and deprived communities in Madagascar (MAF);
  • projects, residents & staff in Cornwall ( Methodist Homes);
  • World Health Day tomorrow - the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) (Christian Aid);
  • work in India (The Leprosy Mission);
  • Bible Society work in Vietnam;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of East Timor, Indonesia, and the Philippines (WCC);
  • we remember Methodists in Bridport and Dorchester (Southampton District) and in Kirkcaldy (Edinburgh and Forth Circuit).