20 August 2006

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.

“Pray Without Ceasing”

Please pass on any comments or reaction to the District Week, Circuit Day or whole initiative to 'tricia so the Worship Group can assess this at its meeting on Thursday. The District PWC Group has asked for “feedback” to reflect on, and to assist the deepening of our prayer life.

'What Sort of Bishops?'

10 copies of the full Report are in a box on the Vestibule table - borrow, read, & return before 'Discussion with Coffee' on 9th September.

“Remembering the contribution of our Veteran Heroes”

A letter has been sent to our Ministers from Jim McGovern, MP (Dundee West) in connection with the Government's promotion of a new Veterans' Badge launched by the Ministry of Defence and “intended to be worn on civilian attire to help people recognise veterans and their contribution to the defence of our communities and our way of life in Britain.”
Mr McGovern is seeking to encourage applications by those eligible for this badge and has sent a supply of forms for this purpose. See letter and forms on the Vestibule table.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

• distribution and other work in Reunion, Rodrigues, and the Seychelles;
• wide use of Faith Comes by Hearing in Mozambique;
• eight new Scripture productions and increased fund-raising in Madagascar, also work in the Comoros Islands and Mayotte;
• visit to BibleWorld of Ministers from Norway, considering innovative strategies of outreach to young people.

Trade Justice

• Coffee Exchange
  Ralph commends to us the newly-opened Coffee Exchange at 20A Exchange Street, which seeks to sell only FairTrade and Rainforest Alliance coffee, teas, fruit, etc, and to source its other supplies locally wherever possible. Profits go to local and international charities. See http://www.capstoneprojects.org.uk.
• G8 promises
  Lobbying is invited ahead of the “March to the Treasury” on Thursday 14th September with “a message to take to the IMF and World Bank: reform or face cuts”. This is part of the continuing campaign to call on the UK Government (and others) “to face up to the promises made last year” at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles. More details from http://www.pressureworks.org/tradejustice.
• Scottish Campaigners Day
  This will held in Colinton Church Parish Rooms, Dell Road, Edinburgh, on Saturday 9th September from 11 am to 3 pm - for details, contact Christian Aid (Perth Office - 01738 643982).

Feed The Minds

FTM, of which the Methodist Church is a founder member, is “an ecumenical Christian organisation supporting education and communications projects that save lives, reduce poverty and build community”.

It works with a worldwide network of partners to encourage and finance local talent to develop creative indigenous solutions. As an organisation focussing on literacy & numeracy work, FTM believes that “everyone has the right to life in all its fullness and that improving access to knowledge and learning is fundamental to this”.

In the 2005-6 Annual Review, the Chairman, David Adeney, writes “Our work has grown historically in response to the calling to solidarity with the poor that is at the heart of the Christian faith. We believe that education is one of the best ways to tackle poverty”.

For many years the World Day of Prayer Scottish Committee has given the bulk of its grant allocation in equal amounts to FTM and the Scottish Bible Society.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• Pray Without Ceasing focus: Shetland District;
• Methodist Ministers and families 'on the move';
• Greenbelt Festival next weekend (Christian Aid);
• Beteli Centre, Tbilisi, Georgia, working with vulnerable members of the community (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Bangladesh;
• Bible Society work in Scotland;
• we pray with and for the peoples of the Pacific Islands, especially the Beikolo family in the Solomon Islands;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Blackburn Circuit (North Lancashire District), and in Castlehill (Lanarkshire Circuit).

• 13 August 2006
• 27 August 2006

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