Dundee Methodist Church

21 December 2003

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.

Christmas Mail

  • The Christmas Box is emptied for distribution / collection after worship today & at the Christmas Day Service.
  • Christmas Gift Tags – in box on table – proceeds to church funds.

NCH

Advent / Christmas-tide has traditionally been a season for our support of NCH, through offerings at Communion and on Christmas Day. This year Appeal Envelopes are being distributed for return during today or thereafter. The offering at worship on Christmas Day will also be for NCH, by long-standing custom.

Stair-chair

Success at last!! The mechanic came back, installed a new clutch and the “rail-extension” can now be lowered & raised smoothly. Norah is drawing up guidelines for the safe & secure use of the whole system – please still consult her as to its use.

Support other Organisations

NCH

December is designated as “leisure” month in our request for surplus items for use by the Cowan Grove and Families projects. See Margaret for more details

Christmas Appeal

During my visit to Tanzania in February I visited a primary school struggling to integrate a group of blind children in to their class. Little teaching material existed in Swahili and I have been working with a teachers college in Arusha to encourage the recording of books on tape. I am hoping to send out with a friend in February small Walkman tape recorders for use by the pupils. If you are upgrading to CD or MP3 or any other ‘new technology’, please consider putting your old cassette player to a good use. Alan Suttie.

Link Club

The Doll’s Birthday Competition was won by the grand-daughter of our “tea lady” Chris whose name was entered on November 22nd. The Club is grateful to all who supported this venture.

Words of appreciation have been received from recipients of Christmas Cards sent in the name of the Church.

The Incarnation of Christ for the Entire World Aspects from Palestine

“Christmas comes to tell us the story of God’s indwelling among us. In the history of Jesus of Nazareth, the Church, slowly but powerfully, discovered the faith of the incarnation. The man Jesus, with all his deeds, words and consequent destiny, was an utterance of God. God’s Word did something and does something today and always. Christmas tells the story of God’s faithfulness to us. God’s love is the means by which the seemingly impossible is done. God’s faithfulness and glory at Christmas are not simply the result of God’s power. They are bought at a price – the price of the violence unleashed in the cross of Jesus. We continue to believe that the biblical drama is still going on. Truly faith is that which applies to all in every land of every language. However, in some countries, Christians have the luxury of finding their faith easy to bear, some even find it easy to ignore. But in other countries, and they are many, not least here in Palestine, Christians face intense challenges for who they are. The Christian presence which has been in this land since the first Pentecost has been put under grave jeopardy. The Christians of Bethlehem and of the land of the Holy One have been very grateful for the solidarity of many around the world; but also plead that their story is heard and shared by all who call themselves Christian.”

Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem from ‘Shine on Star of Bethlehem’ ed Geoffrey Duncan, pub Christian Aid.

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Sunday, 4th January, 6 pm Perth Methodist Church “Love is Born” : Graham Wright’s latest musical story. A choir drawn from Blairgowrie and Perth Churches will present this musical celebration of Christmas past and present as part of the evening service. David Cowling will lead worship and act as Narrator for the performance which comprises ten songs and readings for Christmas. A warm invitation is given to all to participate in the act of worship and to enjoy a new musical interpretation of the Christmas story from one of our Circuit’s members.

Prayer Points for this week

  • The President of Conference in Westminster Abbey today, in Leeds over Christmas, and at Bishop’s Stortford on 4th January;
  • Christmas celebrations throughout the world, including those of the Orthodox tradition who commemorate Christmas on 6th-7th January;
  • The Chair of the Scotland Synod, Jim Jones, & his family;
  • Adult literacy programme run by Mothers’ Union in Gulu, Diocese of Northern Uganda (Feed The Minds);
  • JAMAA’s work for reconciliation between Hutus and Tutsis in Burundi – through sport (including football!) (Christian Aid);
  • The Leprosy Mission’s contact with people affected by leprosy;
  • Bible Society work in Palestine & in Ethiopia;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland; and of Egypt, Israel-Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria;
  • we remember fellow Methodists in the Halifax (West Yorkshire District) & Basingstoke (Southampton District) Circuits, and in Findochty & Cullen (North of Scotland Mission Circuit).