16 December 2007

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.

Advent and Christmas Worship

Our observing of Advent / Christmas this year includes

• the customary lighting of Advent candles, with accompanying Litany, during morning worship;
• a Faith lunch after worship on the first 3 Sundays in December, during which there will be conversation together on “the trappings of Christmas”: the topic will be introduced by the hosts each week (today, 'tricia & Sandy) from material produced by “Alternativity” - everyone is welcome to stay and share;
• the Christmas Card Box is on the Vestibule table: cards will be sorted for collection next Sunday during coffee with mince pies after worship;
• worship celebration on Christmas Day at 11 am led by Mrs Jenny Easson; offering for NCH.

NCH

Envelopes in support of the work of Methodism's children's charity are now available; please return them in the offerings plate during the Christmas Season, which has been Dundee's time for giving to NCH over past decades.

Christmas Tags

Clare reminds us that gifts tags are on the Vestibule table: proceeds to Church funds.

Flower Rota

Elaine writes: I would like to thank everyone on the Flower Rotas for this past year. The Flower Rotas for 2008 are now available on the table upstairs. If your date is unsuitable, please contact me.

Weekly offering envelopes for 2008

New users - please let Cliff know if you would like envelopes. Old users - please let Cliff know if you do not wish to continue. If you can Gift Aid and have not signed a form, Cliff has forms.

Latest : UNICEF Jars of Grace

Mary F tells us that the amount we have gathered this year is currently standing at £160.25. Of this, £30 is gift-aided, and hence a little more money will be generated. Thanks are expressed to all who generously supported this year's appeal.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

• Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in December for work in Azerbaijan. See library area noticeboard for more details.
• Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to:
  • Scriptures specially developed & translated into several languages for hospital ministry in India;
  • work in hospitals, prisons, orphanages, old folks' homes, and the armed forces in Armenia;
  • translation work in Russia's minority languages, also education project aiming to reach 10,000 public schools with the Scriptures;
  • publication of 4 children's activity books in Kazakhstan, also fundraising for rebuilding Bible House in a better location in Almaty.
• Updates on 2007 'calendar-a-month' countries:
  • Bangladesh (May) : most Christians, especially in rural areas, cannot read - hence provision of a combination of audio and easy-read Scriptures; also spiritual support given, alongside aid, to those displaced from their low-lying land, jobs and homes;
  • Nigeria (October) : use of Scripture cassettes has been effective - the audio format is a catalyst for non-readers who pay attention during sessions and can answer questions after, thus “benefiting enormously”.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President and Vice-President of Conference at Charles Wesley Tercentenary, Marylebone Parish Church, Tuesday;
• Church Leaders in Scotland and their working together;
• Local Preachers and Worship Leaders in Scotland;
• Perth Action of Churches Together (PACT) Carol Service, Wednesday;
• projects in the North Lancashire District, volunteers and their work (Methodist Homes Prayer Diary);
• International Migrants' Day on Tuesday (also Niger Independence Day), projects in Niger (Christian Aid);
• Rema Ministries' public health work in 2 refugee camps in Tanzania ('Feed The Minds');
• Bible Society work in Azerbaijan;
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Mozambique, Southern Africa, and Zimbabwe;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Benin, Ivory Coast and Togo;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Gainsborough Circuit (Lincoln & Grimsby District), and in Inverness (Inverness Circuit).

• 09 December 2007
• 23 December 2007

© 2002—2007 Dundee Methodist Church.