30 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.

Preparing to worship

To help produce a suitably calm & reflective atmosphere before the beginning of formal Sunday worship, it is suggested that the organ cease playing when the Steward enters with the Bible. It is hoped that this will be a signal for a time of general quiet before and as the choir, Steward and Preacher enter.

Lent and Easter Ecumenical Study and Worship

1. Lent (9th February – 16th March)
   • Dundee City Centre Churches will hold a series of study groups on Thursdays at Meadowside St Paul’s, at 7.15 pm from 10th February to 10th March inclusive, using ACTS material “Voices from the South” (available from Wesley Owen). On March 17th there will be “Passover”.
   • will hold a series of acts of worship, based on “Voices from the South”, on Wednesday evenings at 7.30 pm in different Ferry churches, with one congregation as “host” and the other joining in preparing and leading worship. Methodists are paired with Broughty Ferry Congregational friends for the worship in the Congregational Church on Wednesday 16th February. Anyone willing to help in preparing or taking part in this act of worship is asked to contact David & Jenny or Kate as soon as possible.
2. Holy Week / Easter worship (21st - 27th March)
   • Dundee City Centre Churches will share worship:
     • Maundy Thursday at 7 pm in Dundee Congregational Church
     • Good Friday Procession from St Andrew’s Cathedral to City Square at 12 noon, with “Songs of Praise” in City Square at 12.30 pm; evening worship in St Joseph’s (Catholic) Church, Wilkie's Lane, Hawkhill at 7 pm
     • Easter Sunday “Songs of Praise” in Dundee Methodist Church Marketgait at 6.30 pm
   • BFCG Services will take place each evening (21st – 27th March) at 7.30 pm in St Mary’s Episcopal Church, with participation by member congregations. The worship on Maundy Thursday will be a celebration of The Eucharist and include the washing of feet and stripping of furnishings. There will be a Paschal Service on Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday evening will be a Praise Celebration.

Worship Group résumé

Those who met last Monday evening

• noted feedback / comments from Advent / Christmas worship
• considered “early singing” for forthcoming months – ’tricia would be pleased to hear from / of facilitators
• again considered how to enable a suitable atmosphere prior to worship
• continued reflections on Holy Communion
• considered elements of Sunday worship during Lent and Easter (February 13th to March 27th).

Crèche rotas

Available today from Elaine.

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

• new photocopier expected this week
• redecoration of the premises will commence tomorrow - consult Norah for details.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Homelessness Sunday

Today 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.

Homelessness affects people in many ways – we are invited to reflect on its impact and to take action as appropriate. See last week’s news-sheet for more information.

World Leprosy Day

Today is “World Leprosy Day”, when we are invited to reflect upon and pray for all work among Leprosy Sufferers, especially remembering the work of The Leprosy Mission and other agencies.

Make Poverty History (“MPH”)

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

Scottish Bible Society

In February the Bible-a-Month Club invites our support for work in Cambodia.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President and Vice-President of Conference in the Newcastle, Darlington, and Cumbria Districts this week;
• Regional Probationers’ Retreat, Tuesday – Wednesday;
• visits this week to Scotland and Shetland of the Rev David Deeks, General Secretary of the Methodist Church;
• The Circuit Ministry Team – Revs David Firth & Mary Patterson;
• contacts with UK supporters, especially young people and those working with them (Christian Aid);
• Theological library in Port Said, developed by the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission’s work in changing circumstances;
• Bible Society work in Ghana and in Cambodia;
• we pray with and for the peoples of The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, and Japan;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the South Petherton and Crewkerne Circuit (Plymouth & Exeter District) and our Circuit colleagues in Montrose (Angus, Dundee & Perthshire Circuit).

• 23 January 2005
• 06 February 2005

© 2002—2003 Dundee Methodist Church.