22 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.

Worship Group Résumé

Matters considered on Thursday evening included

• Christmas feedback -could better use be made at appropriate times of our front window display area?
• “early singing” - 5th February - led by Derek Sutcliffe
• Lent & Easter (5th March - 16th April)
  • Symbols and litany as in 2004
  • Music and litany at start of worship
  • Appropriate choral music from 10.45 am on first Sundays in March and April
  • Palm Crosses to be obtained for distribution on April 9th, with suggestion they be taken away and placed prominently in homes, etc
  • Easter Communion to be “coming forward” and include decorating of Cross with daffodils.

Date of next Meeting - Wednesday 31st May at 7.30 pm.

Please provide 'tricia, the Ministers, Local Preachers, Children's Group leaders, or Church Stewards with any comments or suggestions if you cannot attend these open Worship Group meetings in person.

Church Council

Please note that papers for distribution in advance of the meeting on Wednesday 1st February should be with Moriamo as soon as possible.

Circuit Forum - “open consultation”

This Consultation about the life of our Circuit will take place in Marketgait, Dundee on Saturday 25th February from 10 am (coffee) to finish no later than 2.30 pm, with lunch provided at 1 pm.

The main aim of the Forum is to look at the present way of “Team Ministry” working; the programme will include particular opportunities to talk together about “worship” and “pastoral care”, followed by conversation about the way ahead for the Circuit and its five congregations. It is important that as many people as possible from each church meet together, to share thinking and provide guidance for the March Circuit Meeting.

If this date is not in your diary / year planner / mind … please make sure it is NOW!

Dundee folk are asked to note that, as our premises are being used and we are therefore to some extent “hosts” (and mostly not travelling far), we have been asked to provide “a simple lunch” (at Circuit expense). Keith & Jenny, as members of the Circuit Leadership Team that is planning the Forum, will be coordinating this. Please also advise them of any particular requirements (diet, child care, ..).

“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 (see library noticeboard).
• Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to
  • opportunities for outreach during the forthcoming Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy;
  • publication of the revised Zurich Bible by the Swiss Bible Society;
  • the start of National Bible Week in the Philippines, under the theme 'God's Word: Power for Renewal'.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• Pray Without Ceasing focus: Isle of Man;
• President of Conference visiting Cuba and the Caribbean; the Vice-President in South Wales and Newcastle this week;
• work of the District Evangelism Officer and support group;
• preparations for the Circuit Forum at the end of February;
• partners and projects in Mali and the Sahel (Christian Aid);
• training events run by the Centre de Publications Evangeliques for Francophone Africa (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in China, Korea, and Laos;
• Bible Society work in India;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Grantham & Vale of Belvoir Circuit (Nottingham & Derby District), and in Inverness (Inverness Circuit).

• 15 January 2006
• 29 January 2006

© 2002—2006 Dundee Methodist Church.