18 November 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.

UNICEF Jars of Grace

This year's theme is “Water for Children”; jars are to be returned today or, later, to Mary F..

Rotary Shoe Box Scheme - collection time

Alan requests that filled boxes are left under the Vestibule table for collection today or as soon as possible.

Cleaning of Marketgait Premises

We now have a new cleaner who plans to be on the premises on Friday mornings between 9 am & 1 pm; please note this for any bookings or other use of our rooms.

Christmas Tags

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

Pastoral Committee résumé

At the recent meeting members of the Committee:

• undertook the annual Reading of the Lists;
• agreed the figures for the annual Schedule at 1.11.07: the current Membership total is 83 (cf 88 in 2006);
• formally agreed that Fiona A be admitted as a Member of the Methodist Church at a Service of Confirmation in Dundee on Sunday 25th November 2007 - for homologation by the Church Council: necessary arrangements for the Service were also made;
• considered pastoral care for the Baptismal Roll and crèche, for our children and young people, students, the Link Club, pastoral issues relating to User Groups;
• noted the Worship Group's discussion of Advent & Christmas, and agreed procedure for purchase of this year's Christmas Tree (see below);
• date of next meeting - Wednesday 13th February 2008 at 7.30 pm.

Christmas Tree

Arrangements are in hand for the purchase and collection of an 8ft-tree from Bethany Housing Trust's Centre in Cupar, Fife, on Saturday 15th December. This means it can be in place & decorated for the Link Club party on the following Tuesday.

Nablus Day

The Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association has this year especially invited the Churches in Dundee to join in the community-wide observing of 18th November, as “Nablus Day”, as the date falls on a Sunday. It commemorates the Twinning Agreement of 18th November 1980 whose origin lies in the treatment and care of the then Mayor of Nablus at the Limb-Fitting Centre in Broughty Ferry. For more on twinning arrangements, contact the Twinning Association (Mary Henderson - 775944) / see www.dundee-nablus.org.uk

“Modern Nablus is a large city in the northern part of the Palestine West Bank. It is one of the oldest cities in the world with many historic and important sites ... A prominent church protects Jacob's Well where Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink … The Israeli army has blockaded Nablus, which makes it difficult to move goods in and out of the city. 86 checkpoints and roadblocks curtail or stop travel; the Israeli wall cuts off farmers from their fields and grandmothers from their families. The Palestinians need our prayers.”

(DNTA leaflet - see copy in Church, esp. for Churches in Nablus.)

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in November for work in the Dominican Republic. See library area noticeboard for more details.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to:

• the work of the various Area Centres: Europe-Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Africa, Americas;
• visit of BibleWorld studio to Perth, this week;
• Elaine Duncan, Director of SBS, in Dundee University on Friday.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President of Conference at the 150th Anniversary, St Andrews Church, Malta (united Methodist / Church of Scotland), Wednesday 21st - Thursday 29th;
• Resourcing Mission Grants Committee meeting, Thur-Fri;
• visit of Ecumenical Review Panel to Scotland, tomorrow;
• work with young people by the Circuit's churches;
• projects in the Lincoln and Grimsby District, all involved in advocacy & fund-raising (Methodist Homes Prayer Diary);
• empowerment of members of the scheduled caste and tribal people by HOPE, in India ('Feed The Minds');
• Bible Society work in the Dominican Republic;
• The Leprosy Mission's promotional work in Bangladesh, Scandinavia, and central Europe;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Cameroun, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Market Rasen and Caistor Circuit (Lincoln & Grimsby District), and our friends in Scott Street, Perth (Angus, Dundee & Perthshire Circuit).

• 11 November 2007
• 25 November 2007

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