9 MARCH 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.

Today’s worship

David Logan of the Church of Scotland is with us as part of a training course and thus sharing in our worship.

Upkeep of our premises

During this week there will be painting of parts of our premises, plus the replacement of the outside (vestry) window. Sandy Laurie is our “Link” with the contractors.

Preaching Plans

March — May 2003 plans are now available from the Vestibule table — free. Please note that on 4th May, Mr Britton Goudie will lead our worship.

Open Day

St Mary’s Scottish Episcopal Church, Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, is holding a display of its life and work in the community today, Sunday 9th March from 3 pm. There will be opportunity to see the “restored beauty” of the Church, plus stalls and refreshments in the halls.

A Praise Service will follow at 6.30 pm.

All welcome.

Meetings this Week

Support other organisations

NCH

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

Scottish Bible Society

The SBS Bible-a-Month Club invites our support in March for Malawi’s continuing education work. Reading material is particularly hard to come by at primary level, so Bible Clubs linked to Scripture Union are especially used to help youngsters find answers to pressing moral and spiritual questions. See poster on library noticeboard.

Fair-trade and us

Are you interested in buying fairly traded items through the church? Responses received so far suggest there is interest in the following:

Tissues

£1.45

Kitchen rolls

£1.50 for 2

Muesli

£1.90 for 500 g

Chocolate bars

£0.35 for 100g

Organic decaffeinated coffee

£3.00 for 100g

Teabags

£2.05 for 80

Cocoa

£2.00 for 250g

Drinking chocolate

£2.00 for 250g

Please let Margaret know if you are interested in these or other items. Catalogues to take away still available.

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.

Forthcoming events

Children’s Vigil for Peace

A multi-faith Children’s Vigil for Peace will take place in the City Square next Sunday afternoon (16 March) from 3 pm to 3.30 pm. There will be readings and balloons will be set off. It is understood that children will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Prayer Points for this week

Refugee Sunday - today, 9th March

The Methodist Church has traditionally marked Refugee Week in the week following Ash Wednesday (ie this coming week) — there is now also a national Refugee Week in June. Asylum seekers continue to arrive in the UK and discussions continue about their reception, dispersion, treatment and status — please consider the following statistics:

• There are approx 50 million uprooted people in the world, about half of whom are internally displaced, about half refugees
• In 2000 Britain received 0.04% of the world’s refugees
• Nearly 4000 people are deported from Britain each month
• Asylum-seekers make up 0.3% of the UK population
• The majority of refugees live in less-developed countries; of these more than 1 in 4 live in Africa.

Scottish Bible Society

Our prayers are also invited this week for

• Christian Booksellers’ Convention in Doncaster this week
• BIBLEWORLD II visit to East Kilbride
• Translation work into Creole in Mauritius & Seychelles
• Peace and reconciliation in Madagascar
• Use of audio version of the Scriptures in South Africa
• Bible Society work in Transkei in schools, prisons, hospitals

General Prayer Points for this week

• the President of Conference at the Lay Workers’ Conference on Tuesday - Wednesday, and in North Wales on Thursday;
• Y Gamanfa (Methodism in Wales) meeting in Llandudno next weekend;
• members of the Circuit Meeting & their deliberations;
• Christian Aid supporters in the island of Ireland (Christian Aid);
• use of books gifted through The Book Service to Southern Asia Bible College in Bangalore, India (FTM Prayer List);
• Bible Society work in Malawi;
• The Leprosy Mission’s International Office work and staff;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Llanymynech Circuit (Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District), and our colleagues in Riverside, Blairgowrie (Angus, Dundee & Perthshire Circuit).

• 2nd March 2003
• 16th March 2003

© 2002—2003 Dundee Methodist Church.