7 December 2008

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.

Christmas Extravaganza

Concert in Meadowside St Paul's Church this evening at 7.15 pm. See noticeboard for details of artists; tickets: £10 / £6. Our support is warmly invited

Broughty Ferry Churches Group

Our prayers are invited for clergy newly-appointed to churches in the Ferry:

• Mrs Susan Sutherland whose Ordination and Induction as Minster at Barnhill St Margaret's Church will be on Wednesday January 21st.
• Rev Jonathan Bower whose Institution as Rector of St Mary's will take place on Saturday February 7th.

Preaching Plans for December - February

These are now available; please take and distribute to those unable to be in Marketgait.

World Day of Prayer

A Methodist representative to the Dundee Committee is now sought to succeed Jean. Meetings are at 2.30 pm in Meadowside St Paul's Church Hall on Fridays 9th January, 13th February and 13th March 2009, to prepare for and report on the Day itself (Friday 6th March).

Contact Jean, Jenny or Mary Patterson if you can help : only females need apply!

Mission Partners' Request

Bill Reid (as Connexional Liaison Officer Scotland) has circulated information from Methodist Mission Partners in Tonga and Gambia, as follows:

• Marlene Wilkinson (Tonga) has sent Christmas greetings
• Mark & Sarah Jason (Gambia) will return to the UK on furlough in July - August, in Scotland from 2nd - 23rd August. They have a particular request for help in identifying accommodation for themselves and their two children. Their preference is for self-catering but B&B might suit. If you can help, please contact Bill through the District Office in Dunblane (01786 820295), or email wbillreid@aol.com.

Sound System

You will be pleased to hear that there is now a facility to play CDs or radio, as well as tapes, through our sound system and the T-loop system in the church.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in December for work in China. See library area noticeboard for more information. Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• new translation of the Icelandic Bible;
• success of the Youth Bible in the Netherlands;
• spiritual legacy of Hope 08 in which the Bible Societies in England and Wales were involved;
• provision of Bibles for migrants in Northern Ireland.

Scottish Churches House Prayer Network

Our prayerful support is invited this week, particularly at 9 am or anytime on Wednesday. This week we are asked to remember

• House refurbishment work and staff in the House;
• planning in Dunblane for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January;
• preparation for the Welcome Service for Carol Stobie, Director, on Wednesday 21st January;
• guests & events in the House this week -
  • Girls' Brigade, this weekend,
  • Scottish Education Group, tomorrow,
  • Cathedral Advent Reflections, Tuesday,
  • ACTS Faith Studies, Friday.

Copies of 'Inscape', the House Programme Booklet for 2009, are now available: contact SCH, 01786 823588.

The Leprosy Mission News

TLM Scotland is currently inviting support for work in Bangladesh where the Baptist Missionary Society, a TLM partner, has supported leprosy work since 1907.

Alison McDonald, Chair of TLM Scotland, recently visited the Christian Hospital and the Christian Leprosy Centre at Chandraghona. The name of this place means “Valley of the Moon” and it is situated on the banks of the Karnaphuli River on the borders of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, one of the most beautiful parts of this predominantly flat country. The Centre continues to be the main referral centre for Greater Chittagong Division and the only specialised hospital for approximately 26 million people in the area.

More details from TLM Scotland, Suite 2, Earlsgate Lodge, Livilands Lane, Stirling FK8 2BG; tel: 01786 449266 or see www.tlmscotland.org.uk.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President & Vice-President of Conference visiting the Leeds District next weekend;
• 'NCH Scotland' Committee meeting, Tuesday;
• Perth Church Council meeting, Tuesday;
• work in the Chester and Stoke District (Methodist Homes);
• Bible Society work in China;
• The Leprosy Mission's work with partner organisations;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Cape Verde, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal (WCC Prayer Calendar);
• 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights, Wednesday (Christian Aid);
• Benevolent Lebanese Evangelical School for Special Education and Development (BLESSED) working for visually -impaired people in the Middle East (BibleLands);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Bishop Auckland and Shildon (Darlington District) and the City of Edinburgh Methodist Church at Nicolson Square (Edinburgh & Forth Circuit).

• 30 November 2008
• 14 December 2008

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