27 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.

Pastoral Committee

Members are asked to collect papers today from Jenny for Wednesday's meeting when business will include formal agreement to next Sunday's Acts of Baptism and Confirmation (for subsequent homologation by the Church Council). There will also be discussion of pastoral arrangements during the Rev Mary Patterson's sabbatical (October to December inclusive).

Worship Group

• Harvest arrangements for Sunday 10th September, using MRDF material on theme “Small Miracles”
• Procedures when “coming forward” at Holy Communions
• Pray Without Ceasing: feedback and 'where next?'
• Dates for worship at Christmas
• Children's Group material and crèche care

'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.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

• Visit by young people to orphanages, markets, and HIV/AIDS clinics in Malawi;
• Work, despite restrictions, in the Maldives;
• Sharing Day for Church Representatives next Saturday in Carnoustie;
• Booklets, cassettes, and videos supporting HIV/AIDS work with young people in Namibia.

NCH

• Cowan Grove Project, Dundee
  Glenna and Derek will be pleased to hear from people who have surplus household items, which may be of use to young people living independently for the first time.
• The Annual UK National Service of Thanksgiving will be held in Central Hall, Tollcross, Edinburgh, on Tuesday 10th October at 7.15pm. The President and Vice-President of Conference will take part, and also young people from NCH projects & the Tollcross Primary School Gaelic Choir. Worship will be followed by refreshments and presentations, hosted by Gordon Eglinton, Chair of NCH. It is hoped that there will be good support from Methodists in Scotland - would travelling together as a party from Dundee be an idea ??
  Tickets (free) / more information from Melanie Dawson - tel 020 7704 7066; email Melanie.dawson@nch.org.uk. See poster on noticeboard.

Trade Justice

• 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 : 2005-6 Annual Review : Snippets

• Income has increased by 38% to £1.28 million ……….. increased total grants sent overseas by 21 %.
• “The UN estimates that in 2015, if the current trend continues, there will still be some 800 million illiterate adults in the world.
• Women account for two-thirds of these.”
• “There are an estimated 40 armed conflicts in the world today, according to the United Nations, and almost 37 million people are currently displaced by conflict or persecution”.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• Pray Without Ceasing focus: North Wales District;
• The Methodist Church at the start of the Connexional Year;
• new Methodist Districts in London and the South East (of England but including Malta & Gibraltar!);
• partners and projects in Rwanda (Christian Aid);
• FEBA radio broadcasts in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission's Regional Field Offices;
• Bible Society work in Scotland and Namibia;
• we pray with and for the peoples of the Islands of the Indian Ocean;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Burnley Circuit (North Lancashire District), and in Wishaw (Lanarkshire Circuit).

• 20 August 2006
• 03 September 2006

© 2002—2006 Dundee Methodist Church.