23 January 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.

Crêche

I would like to express my thanks to those who have volunteered to do the crèche. It is appreciated and the rotas will be available from 30th January. (Elaine)

Worship Group

Everyone is invited to tomorrow’s meeting when discussion will include thinking about worship during Lent and Easter. Comments / suggestions to ’tricia, please.

Door Stewards Rota

Will any new volunteers willing to have their names added to this rota, please see the Senior Church Steward, Paddy, as soon as possible – thank you!

Property Items

Please note the following

• Photocopier repair expected soon

Redecoration of the premises will commence on Monday 31st January - consult Norah for details.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Make Poverty History (“MPH”)

A “Church Launch” on Saturday in London. See above. Our prayerful support is invited.

Postcards are on the Vestibule table for signing and sending on:

From Christian Aid, to be sent to the Prime Minister, relating to the forthcoming G8 Summit and Trade Justice issues

From Traidcraft, anent EU EPAs (Economic Partnership Agreements) relating to trade protectionism / tariff issues

It is important not to underrate the effectiveness of sending postcards to Members of Parliaments (Scottish, UK, and European) as a sizeable incoming mail on specific issues can make an impact - in more ways than one!

Homelessness

Next Sunday is ‘Homelessness Sunday’ - theme “Build Homes, Build Lives” - under the auspices of the Homelessness Sunday Partnership which includes Housing Justice, Scottish Churches Housing Action, and Churches’ Housing Coalition of Wales – Cynghair Tai Eglwsi Cymru.

“In the Beatitudes, Jesus holds out a vision of inclusion and fulfilment. In Corinthians, Paul tells us that the values of the world are based on folly. Our homes should allow our children to reach their potential but many are denied this. Our homes should express our true values, but instead we concentrate on property values.”

Homelessness affects people in many ways – we are invited to reflect on its impact and to take action as appropriate.

The Methodist Church in Scotland and Dundee Methodist Church are both “Big Issue” subscribers (copy in library)

Scotland Synod, with other Church Assemblies & Synods, has passed a resolution in support of the Scottish Executive’s campaign for affordable rented housing, with a target of “a right to a home for all by 2012”

Scotland Methodist contacts on homelessness are

Mrs Viv Davies (Edinburgh) – District rep to SCHA (see below)

Bill Reid, Connexion Liaison Officer (Scotland) / District Church & Community Resource Unit coordinator

Scottish Churches Housing Action have published

“No Room”, a book of images of homelessness in Scotland, with pictures by students at Edinburgh College of Art – see slip / newsletter on Vestibule table.

“Our homeless neighbour” (Newsletter for Friends of SCHA) has further news of action around Scotland

28 Albany Street, Edinburgh EH1 3QH; tel: 0131 477 4500; www.churches-housing.org

Scottish Bible Society

In January the Bible-a-Month Club invites our support for work in Ghana (see library noticeboard for further details).

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• Receipt of common-language Bibles from Brazil for Portuguese-speakers
• ‘Year of the Bible’ in Madagascar and work in the nearby Comoros Islands
• Creole Scripture portion ‘Miracles and parables of Jesus’ in Mauritius
• Old Testament translation in Seychelles, also Church cooperation on Bible work in Rodrigues, and formation of a Bible Society branch in Réunion
• Speakers and meetings in Callander, Holyrood Abbey & St George’s West (Edinburgh), and Strathaven.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President and Vice-President of Conference in the Newcastle, Darlington, and Cumbria Districts next weekend;
• preparations for the visits to Scotland and Shetland of the Rev David Deeks, General Secretary of the Methodist Church;
• relationships between the Scotland and Shetland Districts;
• treasurers and Finance committees in our Circuit and its churches;
• partners and projects in Bangladesh (Christian Aid);
• production of 13-episode religious TV series, “This is my church” by Tele-Lumière in Lebanon (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission’s work in Central India – Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa;
• Bible Society work in Ghana;
• we pray with and for the peoples of The People’s Republic of China including Hong Kong & Macao, and in Taiwan;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Sidmouth and Bridport Circuit (Plymouth & Exeter District) and our Circuit colleagues in Arbroath (Angus, Dundee & Perthshire Circuit).

• 16 January 2005
• 30 January 2005

© 2002—2003 Dundee Methodist Church.