24 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.

Service & Mission résumé

• made arrangements for the “Fresh Expressions DVD” Coffee Morning on Saturday 21st October from 10 am to 12 noon, when everyone is invited to view the DVD as part of our thinking together about the way ahead for Dundee Methodist Church - a follow-up is being considered for the Spring as a time to focus more on our relationship with the community;
• discussed the visit on Sunday 19th November of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Group who have worked together, under Habitat for Humanity, in Kyrgyzstan - details later;
• agreed JMA presentations be on Sunday 1st October, noting the year's total as £561.77;
• heard of the arrival of the new Gowan Park (Arbroath) Scheme Manager, Jean Murray, and agreed MH envelopes be given out on Sunday 22nd October for return via the offering on Sunday 5th November;
• agreed support for the UNICEF Jars of Grace Appeal be invited between Sundays 12th and 26th November;
• noted the total amount (incl JMA) given to the Fund for World Mission in 2005-6
• noted that an order for 12 Prayer Handbooks had been made;
• heard reports on and discussed
  • chaplaincy
  • publicity
  • ecumenical relationships in City Centre and in Broughty Ferry
  • NCH (see above re Thanksgiving Service)
  • Traidcraft;
• briefly considered the appropriateness of marking
  • One World Week
  • World AIDS Day;
• fixed its next meeting - 10th January 2007 at 7.30 pm.

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. Tickets are available free (not necessary for entry but to indicate possible numbers). Please sign the list on the table if you hope to go - Rev David Firth is to obtain tickets. Please also see David about “travelling together”.

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.

• Outreach to schools, churches and other organizations by Bible Society staff in the Dominican Republic;
• Use of the Book of Hope for religious education in Haiti;
• Distribution and impact of SBS magazine Word at Work;
• Path of Hope project in Puerto Rico, teaching Christian values to primary-age children.

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.

Traidcraft

Margaret has new Christmas catalogues - please see her if you are interested in having one. She is happy to accept orders at any time.

Christian Aid : Challenge Yourself - Change the World

In 2007, Christian Aid is inviting supporters to challenge themselves and raise funds through a variety of activities.

“Our supporters organise thousands of events throughout the year. Some are for all the family: with wellies, sandwiches and the dog. Others are a little bit different”:

• Hadrian's Wall Challenge
• London - Paris Cycle Ride
• Halifax Long March
• Marathons in Edinburgh, London, New York, …. also Great North / Great South Runs
• Walking the
  • Simien Mountains in Ethiopia
  • Inca Trail in Peru.

See the wee booklet on the Vestibule table or contact Christian Aid (tel 020 7523 2229), email events@christian-aid.org for more information about what is involved. Website

Prayer Points for this week

• The President & Vice-President of Conference at the Labour Party Conference, Monday - Tuesday;
• Methodist Publishing House Board meeting, Thursday;
• Chaplains at Force bases in Scotland;
• Church Council meetings in Arbroath (Monday), Perth (Wednesday), Montrose (Thursday), and Dundee (Friday);
• competition from European exports faced by onion farmers in Senegal (Christian Aid);
• Musahala ministry (incl “sports camps”) to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission's promotional work in India, the Far East, and Australasia;
• Bible Society work in Namibia;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Chester-le-Street Circuit (Newcastle-upon-Tyne District), and in Armadale (Central Scotland Circuit).

• 17 September 2006
• 01 October 2006

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