25 June 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.

Methodist Conference 2006 - Edinburgh

Conference is coming to Scotland for the first time in its modern form, hosted on behalf of the 5 Northern Districts in Heriot-Watt University.

The Ministerial session is on Thursday 22nd June, Ministerial and Diaconal Sessions on Friday 23rd, Representative Session from Saturday 24th (afternoon) to Thursday 29th (lunch).

Our District is represented by Jim Jones (as Chair), & Janet Murray, Margaret Brown, Jenny Easson, Rev Joan Pretorius, Mr Eric Lougheed (all elected by Synod).

Conference is residential in Heriot-Watt, but it is hoped that all Methodists in Scotland will feel involved:

• A Prayer Bookmark has been produced to enable us all to support those actively hosting (see front of news-sheet for text),
• 'Isles of Prayer' have been created as 'quiet places' by Local Preachers
• Those acting as stewards will be on duty in Conference rooms, information desks, at Ordination Services….

Although some events are limited to ticket-holders, please note and, if you can, support any or all of the following:

• Peake Lecture at New College - Friday 23rd 8.15 pm : Dr Stephen Plant - 'In the Bible it is God who speaks'
• 'The Big Sing' with John Bell (Iona Community) in Central Hall, Tollcross - Sunday 25th - 7.30 pm
• Wesley Historical Society Annual Lecture - Nicolson Square - Monday 26th - 7.30 pm : Dr Margaret Batty: 'Primitive Methodism in Scotland'
• Inter-Faith - Monday 26th - 8 pm for 8.15 pm : 'Freedom of Speech: Responsibility and Respect'
• Beckley Lecture - Tuesday 27th - 7.45 pm in the Scottish Parliament, by Elish Angiolini QC, Solicitor-General for Scotland.

See www.methodistconference.org.uk or downstairs noticeboard.

We prayerfully support Debbie Cornish (Edinburgh & Forth Circuit) and Angie Long (Glasgow Circuit) whose Ordination Services take place in Edinburgh at 3.30 pm this afternoon.

We also remember those taking part in “parallel” Conference Services this evening in Aberdeen, Berwick, Carlisle, Durham, Inverness, and Scalloway.

Church Council résumé

On Wednesday Council business included the following

• Reports from Senior Church Steward, Treasurer, Property Convener - no major points additional to reports to General Church Meeting.
• Pastoral : re-appointment of Jenny as Secretary for further year during which there will be wide reflection on the Pastoral Committee's size and remit.
• Worship
  • Pray Without Ceasing Day (17th August) arrangements:
    • (i) leaflet for wide distribution &
    • (ii) “Pray in Porch” 2 pm to 'teatime', ending with simple shared meal.
  • date for Harvest - Sunday 10th September.
  • proposals for Window displays.
  • summer arrangements for children & crèche.
• Service & Mission
  • “Coffee with NCH Visitor” - Saturday 20th January 2007.
  • World Church Sunday suggestions.
• Children - report by Lorna on the District “Support Day” in Stirling.
• 'Bishops Report' (& see below) - 'Harvest Coffee' and discussion - Saturday 9th September, 10 am to 11.30 am; donations for coffee to MRDF Funds.
• General Church Meeting discussions and “Fresh Expressions Evening”, resulting in :
  • invitation to Grahame Lockhart to introduce the “Growing From The Inside Out” programme, in the context of Sunday worship.
  • “Coffee with Fresh Expressions DVD” - Saturday 20th October.
• Marketgait Notelets : grateful acceptance of Avril Wilkinson's offer of notelets featuring her watercolour view of the outside of our premises.
• Communion : confirmation that present pattern of Communion practice be maintained.
• Date of next Council - Friday 29th September at 7.30 pm.

'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.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in June for work in Burkina Faso. See library area for details.

• Invitation to pray, with others, for Conference in Edinburgh, that God will inspire new vision;
• Elementz of Life programme in the USA, using magazines, internet, & music to contact urban youth;
• Marking of the Canadian Bible Society's centenary year;
• Volunteers in BibleWorld Experience, office assistants, and speakers for SBS.

Prayer Points for this week

• Pray Without Ceasing focus: West Yorkshire District;
• The President of Conference, Rev Graham Carter, and the Vice-President, Dudley Coates;
• Circuit Invitation process;
• AIDS programmes in the Caribbean - Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, One Respe in the Dominican Republic (Christian Aid);
• supply of English textbooks to Angolan refugees studying in 3 refugee camps in Zambia - (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission's promotional work in Europe;
• Bible Society work in Burkina Faso;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the South Ribble Circuit (North Lancashire District), and in Alexandria (Glasgow Circuit).

• 18 June 2006
• 02 July 2006

© 2002—2006 Dundee Methodist Church.