19 December 2004

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 arrangements

• Gift tags are available for purchase from the box on the Vestibule table - proceeds to church funds.
• Christmas cards in the Post-box (at the top of the front stairs) will be distributed during the Buffet Lunch today.
• Members of the Pastoral Committee are hosting today’s Christmas Cold Buffet after worship - everyone is welcome.
• Jenny Easson would be pleased to hear from anyone willing to take part in worship at 11 am on Christmas Day.
• The Offering on Christmas Day will go to NCH; envelopes are also available for donations – please return these via the offertory plate.

“Come as You Are”

Creche arrangements

It would now be helpful to have a ‘creche’ rota for use on a more regualr basis as neceessary. Anyone willing to take the “wee ones” out for a time during worship is asked to contact Elaine (Baptismal Secretary / Creche Coordinator) or Paddy, Senior Church Steward, as soon as possible. Thanks.

Property Items

Please note the following

• the photocopier in the upstairs office will be out of use until an ordered replacement part arrives – contact Jenny or David for updates
• the premises will not receive their regular cleaning over the holiday period, beginning from Wednesday this week
• redecoration of the premises will take place in January, probably towards the middle or end of the month.

Financial support of the Church

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Amnesty International – Global Letter-writing Campaign 2004

This year’s event will be the biggest yet, with organisers hoping for more than 50,000 appeals. The marathon is held annually to mark the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed on 10th December 1948.

Between 1st November and 31st January, Amnesty International UK asks supporters to send cards with messages of hope and solidarity to victims of human rights violations and those who defend them.

These cards can offer hope & encouragement, and can act as an effective way to bring about change.

Details of person or bodies to whom cards may be sent, plus guidelines for doing so, are available on the papers by the Crib, or see www.amnesty.org.uk - or contact Margaret for further information.

“Annapurna Base Camp”

“Hot on the heels of Michael Palin, Alan Suttie (together with son Philip) is planning to trek to Annapurna Base Camp, trekking over 10 days and at a height of up to 12,500 feet. Alan and Philip depart for Nepal on 22nd January 2005. Alan and Philip hope to raise £5,000 to support new projects targeting social isolation amongst blind and partially-sighted people in Fife, with the ultimate goal of making life with sight loss easier.

For more information please speak to Alan and sponsor forms are available on the Vestibule table.”

NCH: ‘Growing up is tough’

Growing up is particularly tough if you are disabled, if you have suffered abuse, if you are in care, or have left the care system, if you are a young carer or if your parents are splitting up.

• 1 in 3 children in the UK lives in poverty
• there are over _ million disabled children and young people in the UK and more than 100,000 are severely disabled
• between 300,000 and 400,000 children in England, Wales and Scotland have at least one parent with a serious drug problem
• over 70% of young carers have been bullied at school
• only 1 child in 20 believes their parents’ separation was properly explained to them

NCH works with children, young people and their families in more than 500 projects in the UK to help them grow up with the support and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• our Circuit staff, the Revs David Firth and Mary Patterson, and their families;
• Palestine - “the land of Jesus’ birth” (Christian Aid);
• Credo, a publishing house founded in 2002 in Poland (Feed The Minds);
• people affected by leprosy (The Leprosy Mission);
• Bible Society work in Kenya;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the West Devon Circuit (Plymouth & Exeter District) and in Portgordon (North of Scotland Mission Circuit).

• 12 December 2004
• 26 December 2004

© 2002—2003 Dundee Methodist Church.