21 August 2005

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.

Stewarding Duties

Rotas for September 05 - Feb 06 will be available next week - please collect from the Vestibule table.

Thanks are expressed on behalf of the whole Church to Clare who demits office as a Church Steward at the end of August, and also to retiring door stewards Arthur, Brenda and May.

Use of Premises

A letter of thanks for the use of our premises has been received from Alanon, stating that the Church hall was “exactly what we needed, most adequate”. Norah has also had a word of appreciation form the Capoeira Dance Group, which has recently started using the premises on a Monday evening.

Preaching Plans

Plans for September - November are now available on the Vestibule table. If more are needed please let Jenny know.

Roadworks

This work is scheduled to be completed within 13 weeks of 18th July. The current effects of this on traffic are

• closure of Nethergate between South Tay Street & West Marketgait
• closure of northbound lanes in West Marketgait (ie those nearest our premises) from Nethergate to Westport Roundabout, with a contraflow on southbound lane.
• Possible future closures in streets off Perth Road (Roseangle area).

A Possible Church Social Outing?

Information comes to us, from time to time, of shows in Dundee for which advance group booking is possible, with reduced prices.

• Dundee Operatic Society wrote some time ago with a “Special Offer to Church Groups and other local Clubs and Societies” anent their production of “Guys and Dolls” in the Whitehall Theatre from Tuesday 7th - Saturday 11th March 2006. The offer was for a block booking at 2005 prices if made by 30th September 2005. Paddy has offered to look into bookings if there is sufficient interest - please indicate this by signing the form on the Vestibule table or contacting Paddy direct as soon as possible.
• We have also heard from Downfield Musical Society of possible reduction for block booking (20+) at “Summer Holiday” in the Whitehall Theatre on Tuesday 20th September. Tickets are now also available for their pantomime “Cinderella” in the Whitehall Theatre from Tuesday 13th - Friday 23rd December (no show Monday 19th). Paddy also has the letter about this - or see copy on library noticeboard.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our prayerful attention is drawn in particular this week to

• advances in facilities to typeset locally in the Pacific
• translation & revision of the Bible in the Philippines and placement of 75,000 'Light to the Home' Bibles
• National Children's and Teenager Bible Jamboree to be held by the Indonesian Bible Society
• production of material for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia

Make Poverty History

David Firth has had a letter from The Prime Minster in response to a postcard sent to 10 Downing Street (see Vestibule table). Among other points, the letter specifies “highlights” of the G8's “comprehensive plan” agreed with African leaders at Gleneagles to implement over 50 detailed recommendations of the Commission for Africa:

• support Africa's Stand-By Peacekeeping Force
• measures to improve governance and tackle corruption, in Africa and by our own companies and citizens
• as close as possible to universal access to AIDS treatment by 2010
• action to reduce deaths from malaria and TB
• funding to eliminate polio this year
• support for developing countries to provide free primary education and basic healthcare
• a set of measures to encourage business, invest in the necessary infrastructure and to improve the investment climate, to help Africa create wealth and better jobs.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The Taizé Community and all who grieve at the tragic death of Brother Roger, its founder;
• staff in Methodist Church House preparing for the start of the Connexional Year on September 1st;
• The District Resource Unit Coordinators - Lorna Murray, Helen Wareing, Bill Reid, Grahame Lockhart;
• members and work of the Circuit Leadership Team;
• continuation of the Make Poverty History campaign through the UK Presidency of the European Union and forthcoming UK political party conferences (Christian Aid);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Bangladesh;
• we pray with and for the peoples of The Indian Ocean Islands - The Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Loughborough Circuit (Oxford & Leicester District), and in Barrhead (Ayrshire & Renfrewshire Circuit).

• 14 August 2005
• 28 August 2005

© 2002—2003 Dundee Methodist Church.