1 February 2015

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.

Dundee Methodists and Food Banks - updates

• Our continued support for the Dundee Foodbank has again received thank from its organisers.
• Please place items in the large bucket on the upstairs landing - clean plastic bags are also welcome.
• Our thanks to Liz Kay - contact her for more information.

Visit of the Rev Nick Baker

Arrangements are now in place to give opportunities for Nick and Tayside Methodists to meet, chat and begin to get to know each other. Dundee (and any other !) Methodists are invited to Marketgait on Thursday 19th February from 2 pm to c4 pm - this is an open invitation to everyone. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be provided. Please put this in your diary - and come!

Broughty Ferry Churches Group events

• Lent 2015:
  • The ecumenical Service of Ashes will be held in Our Lady of Good Counsel, Westfield Road on Wednesday February 18th at 7.30pm
  • Group meetings on Monday mornings (10:15 am to 11.45 am) and/or Tuesday evenings (7.30 pm to 9 pm) in St Mary's Church, during the 5 subsequent weeks, using material from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland on the theme Walking and Praying with Christians the Middle East.
  • Soup Lunches on Wednesdays (12.15 pm to 1.30 pm) during Lent in the YMCA, in support of Christian Aid. Soup and rolls will be provided by groups from agreed congregations, but individual volunteers to assist with setting and clearing are welcome.
• Christian Aid Week: a Flower Festival will be held in the New Kirk during the week of 18th - 23rd May with participation by BFCG member churches.

Unpacking Fresh Expressions

All Methodists interested in learning about and exploring new ways of are invited to an open event on Saturday 21st February in St George's Tron Church, 163 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, G1 2JX from 10.30 am to 4 pm.

The event will be led by John and Olive Fleming Drane, well known and experienced over many years in this area of church outreach; it aims to provide an opportunity to learn about the approach behind 'Fresh Expressions', to look at a range of examples (eg Messy Church), and to stimulate a series of further discussions in circuits and local congregations.

The event is free but booking is requested, as soon as possible, via the District Office: email: ( fiona@methodistchurch.plus.com, or 01738 820295.

It is hoped that there will be a good number of people from the various circuits and churches throughout the District, gathering for a challenging, stimulating and interesting day together.

Open Doors breakfast meeting

Open Doors is a UK organisation 'serving persecuted Christians worldwide', working in Scotland from a base in Prestwick. It is hosting a series of breakfast meetings, and the Dundee breakfast will be at 8 am on Friday 20th March, in the Central Baptist Road, Ward Road. A member of Open Doors field staff will provide an up-to-date account of the situation in the Middle East.

The Rev Mary Patterson has received an invitation to this breakfast, but is unlikely to be able to go. If you would like to go in her stead, please contact her or Jenny Easson.

District Youth Weekend

This gathering for young people in Scotland Methodism is being planned for the weekend of 4th - 6th September at Dalguise, Perthshire. 2 subsidised places are available for each Circuit (offer open until Easter) and the District Advance Fund is also contributing towards the overall cost; a contribution of £25 is requested from or on behalf of each participant.

For more details contact

• Gary Williams (01413 323196)
• Hayley Gillies (01315 537877)

Please also let the Rev Mary Patterson know if you are interested so Circuit participation can be coordinated.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in February for work in the South Pacific.

Our prayerful attention this week is drawn to

• distribution work in the south Pacific, involving inter-island travel;
• funding and resources for work in distant areas of Brazil; translation projects, especially revision of the Almeida Bible;
• SBS Finance Team preparing statements of the annual accounts for 2014;
• funding for the Bible Resource Centre in Miri, Brunei, to support the needs of the local Christian community.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President and Vice-President of Conference in the Sheffield district this week;
• the Iona Community, ecumenical and inter-church agencies;
• Montrose Pastoral Committee, tomorrow (Monday);
• partner CASA's work with communities affected by floods in India (Christian Aid);
• the challenges of change (The Leprosy Mission);
• Bible Society work in the South Pacific;
• work in Manchester and Stockport (Methodist Homes);
• Aviv Ministry working with addicts, Tel Aviv (Embrace);
• work in Democratic Republic of Congo ( MAF);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Tiverton and Wellington (Plymouth & Exeter District) and in Dunbar (Edinburgh & Forth Circuit).

• 25 January 2015
• 8 February 2015

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