17 September 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.

Today's preacher

We welcome Bill Beedie as he again leads our worship in Marketgait. Bill is a Church of Scotland Lay Reader who regularly takes appointments on our Circuit Plan and shares in the fellowship of our Circuit Preachers' Meeting. We ask him to take our greetings to his home church.

Circuit Meeting news

• voted to invite the Rev David Firth to extend his ministry as Superintendent of this Circuit for a further 3 years, from 1st September 2007 to 31st August 2010 - the invitation was accepted;
• received the Financial Report for the year 2005-6;
• received and agreed reports from / anent
  • the Circuit Leadership Team ('CLT')
  • the Circuit Preachers' Meeting
  • Circuit Manses
  • 'Mission in Britain' and 'Fund for World Mission' finances
  • 'Pray Without Ceasing', including Circuit Prayer Workshop
  • Safeguarding;
• accepted, with thanks for his work, the resignation of David N as Circuit Methodist Homes contact and noted the vacancy for a successor;
• formally homologated the CLT Minute relating to the Nursery Project in Montrose Methodist Church;
• expressed concern at delays in Methodist Publishing House (MPH) fulfilment of orders because of difficulties with paper supply;
• agreed to send a letter in support of issues relating to aspects of the publication and sale by MPH of Braille versions of Methodist books;
• agreed arrangements for the next Circuit Meeting - on Wednesday 14th March 2007 at 7.30 pm in Perth - to be preceded by a meeting at 7 pm of local Church Treasurers with the Circuit Treasurer and Stewards.

NB : There is an opportunity for someone to go to Synod in Aberdeen on Saturday - if this interests you, please contact David Firth as soon as possible. The vacancy exists because one of our appointed reps cannot go this time.

Faith and Politics - Methodists at the Party Conferences

The Methodist Church is joining with other Free Churches to hold a series of meetings at the forthcoming party conferences. Representatives will hold breakfast meetings at the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour Party Conferences. The delegation - made up of church leaders from the Baptist Union, Methodist Church, United Reformed Church, Salvation Army and Society of Friends - will be inviting politicians, church representatives and members of the public to discuss issues at the forefront of British politics. (see www.methodist.org.uk)

Crèche Rota

Elaine or the Church Stewards will be grateful to hear from / of people willing to join the (currently small) team willing to take care of “wee ones” downstairs during part of Sunday morning worship.

Flower distribution

Jean has requested assistance with the distribution of flowers on a Sunday for the period of her recuperation from eye surgery (2 operations). Please contact her in advance or have a word with her

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in September for work in Namibia. See library area noticeboard.

• Continued growth of churches in Cuba and increasing need for study material for pastors in training;
• Security issues in Jamaica; witness of the televised Bible Quiz in Belize; work in the Bahamas;
• SBS Board meeting on Wednesday - the first for the new Chief Executive, Elaine Duncan;
• New Board members and volunteers in the East Caribbean;
• Workers travelling in Nepal to introduce 'Faith Comes by Hearing' programme; completion of the New Testament project.

Preparations for Bible Sunday (29th October) include a National Sponsored Walk on Saturday 28th October, to raise funds to help provide “A Voice for Romania”. See letter on library noticeboard for more information.

NCH

The Annual UK National Service of Thanksgiving will be held in Central Hall, Tollcross, Edinburgh, on Tuesday 10th October at 7.15 pm. 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.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President & Vice-President of Conference at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference, Bournemouth;
• Connexional Strategy & Resources Committee, Thursday;
• NCH Scotland Committee meeting, Thursday;
• Arbroath Pastoral Committee, Thursday;
• Amani People's Theatre project in Kenya (Christian Aid);
• African Christian engagement with HIV/AIDS, poverty, and other issues facing local communities (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Indonesia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea;
• Bible Society work in Namibia;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the South Shields Circuit (Newcastle-upon-Tyne District), and in Wallacestone (Central Scotland Circuit).

• 10 September 2006
• 24 September 2006

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