08 January 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.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Please note that Circuit matters should be referred to the Rev Mary Patterson or David Cowling (Senior Circuit Steward) during David Firth's absence.

Awards

• We are all delighted to learn that Alan and Janet's caring work has been recognised by a “Best Wishes Award” from Kingdom FM & Diageo in Fife, following nomination by Lorraine's parents. Their well-deserved award takes the form of an overnight stay in a luxury hotel.
• “Congratulations” are expressed to Mrs Gill Strachan whose work in establishing the NCH Dundee Families Project was marked by the award of an MBE in the New Years Honours List.

Broughty Ferry Pulpit Exchange

As part of the Broughty Ferry Churches Group marking of the 2006 Unity Octave, the annual Pulpit Exchange will take place next Sunday. We will welcome to Marketgait the Rev Alberto de Paula, Minister at St James' Parish Church, Broughty Ferry, and Mrs Jenny Easson will be the preacher in St Mary's Episcopal Church.

Plan-making

It is hoped that the draft Plan for March - May will be prepared shortly. Church Stewards and others are requested to notify any requests (including Easter celebrations) and information to Mary Patterson or Jenny before Wednesday if possible.

Service & Mission Committee

After consultation between Committee members, it has been agreed to postpone the planned meeting on Wednesday to enable the Rev David Firth to be present.

“Breathing Space”

“Breathing Space” is a free, confidential phone line that anyone in Scotland can call when they are feeling low or depressed and is available to the public every day from 6 pm - 2 am on 0800 83 85 87 (Minicom: 0800 37 71 60).

The Scottish Executive has sent introductory material, including its first Newsletter “Staying Connected”.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

• Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in January for work in India, where 3% of the population are Christians (ie some 30 million people). Although a minority among the mainly Hindu population, their commitment is very strong. See library noticeboard for more details.
• Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to
  • The use of the Bible in Religious Education classes in Belgium
  • Major United Bible Societies fund-raising meeting in Hong Kong from Wednesday
  • United Bible Societies' 141 members' work in translation, production, distribution world-wide
  • Continuing work on the Revised Chinese Union Version New Testament, involving staff in the Asia Pacific Region.

Arusha, Tanzania

“3 years ago I visited a number of projects in Arusha, Tanzania. These included a home for families of leprosy patients, a centre for street children, as well as a primary school at Longido close to the Kenyan Border, where a group of blind children are being integrated.

I was able to deliver some teaching resources and advise on how the school might be supported. Spare parts are sourced to the repair of Braille typewriters and cupboards built to keep them clear of dust and insects. Last year we sent out a large tactile globe for the school. Working with a training college for teachers of the blind, we have also supported a project to develop the recording of teaching resources on tape in Swahili.

Janet and I will be visiting Arusha in February next year and will be spending time at 2 schools, but particularly at the college providing training for local staff. Used magnifiers and test charts from our service in Fife are already being shipped out ready for our visit, and some teaching at the college is planned.

What I am seeking now are second hand tape recorders, particularly the small Walkman type. These will be used by blind children as the main means of accessing textbooks, as Braille is difficult and expensive to produce. For those of you who are upgrading to CD, MP3 and other fancy gadgets at Christmas, can you please consider letting us have any machines to take out.

Alan

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• Pray Without Ceasing focus: East Anglia;
• Stationing Matching Group meeting tomorrow, Connexional Leadership Team on Tuesday;
• UK & Ireland regions' staff Conference (Christian Aid);
• future work of the Association Chrétienne des Eglises de Bassar in Togo (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission's promotional work in Europe;
• Bible Society work in India;
• we pray with and for the peoples of the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Iraq;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Castle Donington Circuit (Nottingham & Derby District), and our friends based in St John's, Arbroath (Angus, Dundee & Perthshire Circuit).

• 01 January 2006
• 15 January 2006

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