Dundee Methodist Church

23 FEBRUARY 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.

Circuit Plans

March — May 2003 now available from the Vestibule table — free. Please note, as an amendment, that worship in Dundee on Sunday 4th May will be led by Mr Britton Goudie.

Proposed Theatre Trip

The likely cost of a trip to Pitlochry, including tickets (£17 each), coach transport and a meal, would come to around £30 per head. If anyone is interested in such an outing, please contact Elizabeth— alternative ideas also welcome!

Meetings this Week

District Meeting

Saturday, 2nd March 10.15 am District Policy & Ecumenical Committees, Stirling

Support other organisations

The Leprosy Mission

A warm welcome is extended to everyone to this month’s meeting in the church on Friday 1st March at 7.30 pm when Dr Stella Anderson, Vice-chairman, TLM Scotland, will speak on “Reactions after experiencing my first ‘hands-on’ visit to see leprosy work in India in early 2002”.

Have you got the Bottle? — emergency information scheme

We have a supply of small plastic bottles made available through a 1010 Rotary District Club initiative to provide medical information to emergency services. The scheme is particularly aimed at anyone who feels vulnerable while living at home, but the bottles can be used by anyone who wishes to ensure information can be obtained in case of an accident to themselves at home. See the downstairs noticeboard for further details — some bottles are available from a box in the upstairs office.

NCH

February is designated “dining” month in our request for surplus items for use by the Cowan Grove and Families projects.

Traidcraft

Are you interested in buying Fairly Traded goods from Traidcraft on a regular basis? Would you like to buy them through church, or would you prefer to buy from Oxfam or your local supermarket? If there is sufficient demand, an order may sent from the church. If you are interested, please take a catalogue from the table at the top of the stairs. If you would like to order food, please note that most items are sold in quantities of 6 packs or more. If you do not personally want so many, we would need to determine whether we could expect to sell your surplus before the ‘best before’ date. So at this stage it would be helpful if those with an interest could give an idea of the extent, frequency and nature of their likely regular order.

PS There are also Fair Trade leaflets for you to take away.

Forthcoming events

“PalArt” — a celebration of Palestinian Culture

Under the auspices of ‘Women in Black Dundee’, March 1st — 15th, the programme of events includes films, discussion, exhibitions, food, crafts, and poetry. See leaflets on Vestibule table or contact Andree Ryan (550210) tayportturtle@lycos.com or Fionn Stevenson (552216) fionnstevenson@fsmail.net

Fairtrade Fortnight : March 3rd — 16th

A national campaign in which churches play a key part and which also involves campaigners, development agencies, local councils, women’s organisations, Trades Unions, Fairtrade companies, celebrities and retailers. This year’s aim is to ‘Make the Mark Famous’ & persuade more people to buy foods with the FAIRTRADE Mark. Worship material is available, as are other resources. Two Ghanaian cocoa farmers will be in Dundee on March 10th when it is hoped a good number of people will come and meet them and hear their stories. See letter in library area, or contact the One World Centre, 189 Princes Street (454603) or Norah.

World Day of Prayer Friday 7th March

This year’s material on the theme “Holy Spirit, Fill Us” has been prepared by Christian women of Lebanon. The Service for Dundee City Centre Churches will be at 3 pm in St Andrew’s (RC) Cathedral, Nethergate; the Broughty Ferry Service is to be at 7.30 pm in Barnhill St Margaret’s Church. See local posters & press for details of other Services.

Ecumenical Lent Study & Worship

March 5th — April 13th

  • Dundee City Centre - Tuesdays (11th March onwards) - study group using ACTS material, ‘Belonging’, at 7.30 pm in Meadowside St Paul’s.
  • Broughty Ferry - Wednesdays (5th March onwards) at 7.30 pm, worship in various venues, exploring the observance of Lent in different traditions. Also, Thursday evenings (13th March onwards), study group using ACTS material, at 7 pm in St Luke’s & Queen Street.

A warm welcome is given to each and all of the above gatherings.

Prayer Points for this week

  • the President of Conference in Shetland this weekend
  • Connexional Liaison Group meeting on Thursday
  • Mission in Britain office-holders and supporters in Scotland
  • partner workers in El Salvador as the country continues to recover from earthquakes and drought of 2001 (Christian Aid)
  • use of the book ‘Ehd-e-Muhabbat’ (Covenant of Love) reprinted by Scripture Union Pakistan — commended as one of the best books available in Urdu on family life (FTM Prayer List)
  • Bible Society work in Bolivia and in Malawi
  • The Leprosy Mission’s work in Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
  • we remember fellow Methodists in the Bishop’s Castle and Clun Circuit (Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District), and our own people and work based in Marketgait, Dundee (Angus, Dundee & Perthshire Circuit).