Dundee Methodist Church

16 July 2006

Next Sunday

11 am
Worship conducted by the Rev Mary Patterson
Holy Communion
Communion Offering for Maggie's Centre, Dundee

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 Care

Please note that Ministerial care within the Circuit will be undertaken by the Rev Mary Patterson until 29th July. The Rev Jean Murrie is also available if necessary.

Pray Without Ceasing

  • The new theme for the window display will be “Prayer”, leading to the Scotland District Week (Friday August 11th to Friday August 18th) as Connexional focus on Pray Without Ceasing.
  • Preparations are under way for marking our Circuit's Day on Thursday 17th August when Marketgait will be open for “prayer in the porch” from 2 pm to teatime, ending with a meal together. Volunteers to lead prayer / meditation at a “timed slot” are sought - themes can be suggested & resource material made available. If you are interested, please contact 'tricia or Jenny before 23rd July or Jenny after 5th August.
  • A leaflet is also being prepared for distribution to households in support of prayer throughout our Church community throughout the Day.

'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.

Crèche

As the Worship Group has asked that there be a crèche during July - August, will anyone on the rotas who will be available please contact Elaine.

Door Stewards Rota

Forms to assist Paddy in making the next rota are on the Vestibule table. Please collect, complete, and return as indicated. Thanks!

News-sheet

Please note that next week's issue will be for 2 weeks - items until 13th August to editors this week, please.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in July for work in Mexico. See library area noticeboard for details.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to
  • Clan Gathering in St Andrews - Christians from all over Scotland will share in seminars, worship, etc;
  • Gathering of denominations' theologians in Czech Republic to assist Bible translation work;
  • Broadcast of Bible contemplation cassettes by radio station in Indonesia during this month;
  • Support for publication of Bible history by the Bible Society in Slovakia.

NCH Dates

Please note that, in Scotland, NCH Sunday will be observed this year on Sunday 8th October, following consultation and decision by Synod. This has been chosen as the Sunday nearest to the UK National NCH Service of Thanksgiving which will be held in Tollcross Methodist Mission, Edinburgh on Tuesday 10th October at 7.30 pm. The Preacher will be the President of Conference, the Rev Graham Carter, and worship will include contribution from Tollcross Primary School Gaelic Choir. Details later - please note this date now.

MRDF is 21!!

This year marks the twenty-first birthday of the Methodist Relief and Development Fund - there was a (brief!) party with cake during Conference! We are all invited to “celebrate 21 years of small miracles” which can make a huge difference to someone's life or the lives of a whole community.

With MRDF a small amount can make a huge difference through
  • grants to small organisations
  • projects by locally-based communities
  • projects working with people in greatest need
  • projects giving living-skills and to benefit others.

Donations help support 60 partner organisations in around 20 of the poorest countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. “We couldn't do it without you. No gift is too small to be miraculous”.

(Dundee's regular support of MRDF is through the Communion Offering in September and Harvest Offerings.)

What does our “coffee money” do?

The money given for coffee after worship goes (usually) to 2 Methodist Funds - those for “Overseas Missions” and “Home Missions” '(Mission in Britain').

The Methodist Church Fund for Home Mission supports
  • evangelism training and resources
  • planting new congregations
  • prison and industrial chaplaincy
  • chaplaincy in Further and Higher Education institutions
  • media relations
  • mission in rural areas
  • Cliff College
  • Mission Alongside the Poor
  • grants to local churches and circuits
  • public issues
  • support for children and youth work
  • political and parliamentary affairs.

Prayer Points for this week

  • Pray Without Ceasing focus: Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District;
  • The President of Conference at the World Methodist Council in Korea, to Tuesday 25th July;
  • Scotland District Ministers and families moving elsewhere;
  • Rev David Firth and family's holiday time;
  • partners and projects in India (Christian Aid);
  • publications of Episcopal Publishing House in Egypt to assist Christian - Muslim relations (Feed The Minds);
  • The Leprosy Mission's work in China, Korea, and Laos;
  • Bible Society work in Mexico;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Myanmar and Thailand;
  • we remember fellow Methodists in the Accrington and Haslingden Circuit (North Lancashire District), and in Greenock (Ayrshire and Renfrewshire Circuit).