17 February 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.

Ecumenical Observance of Lent

• Broughty Ferry Churches Group: Wednesday at 7 pm in the New Kirk on the theme “Jesus and the family and youth”. This will take the form of a “Labyrinth Walk” in the East Church Halls. All welcome.
• Please also note that Dundee Methodists have been asked to lead worship / thinking on Wednesday 12th March on the theme “Jesus and the community of Broughty Ferry”. Jenny, David & Kate request “Ferry Methodists” especially to contact them about this.
• Dundee City Centre Churches : Wednesday at 7.30 pm in Meadowside St Paul's. Material from the CTBI “Pathways of Prayer” (download from CTBI website / copies from the Rev David Firth). All welcome.

NCH - Dundee

Derek & Glenna hope to make a trip in the near future to the Project to take our donated items. Please consult the list of suggested items on the downstairs noticeboard: donations may be left (tidily and clearly labelled “NCH”, please) in the 'coat corridor' or given to Derek or Glenna.

STOP PRESS : letter of thanks just received from NCH for our Christmas donation, which will “help us to continue our work with the children in Dundee who need it most”.

Methodist Church - 'Daily Devotions'

The Methodist Church website includes “A Word in Time” following the daily readings in the Methodist Prayer Handbook - to be found at www.methodist.org.uk/bible

(Thank to Derek for bringing this to our notice - the website also has a page for Daily Prayer from the Handbook)

Children's Work Group résumé

• Conversation on Wednesday focussed on ways to meet the needs of the “wee ones”, who are growing and developing rapidly.
• Thought was given to appropriate means of expanding activities for individuals & age-groupings and to material suitable for them and the adults with them.
• Thanks were expressed to the adults whose response to “crèche duty” is now being developed further.
• Positive feedback was heard from the recent 'Simpson's Event' for our young people and support given to suggestions for future social activity for those in their teens.
• Next meeting agreed for Wednesday 28th May at 7.30 pm.

Pastoral Committee points

The Committee on Wednesday

• shared news of pastoral needs and concerns;
• agreed arrangements for the Baptism of Kofi Hosie on Sunday 2nd March (Mothering Sunday);
• heard of the conversations in the Children's Work Group and noted the value of now having this forum;
• held a brief discussion on 'training', noting the value of opportunities for sharing experiences provided in the past by gatherings of similar office-holders in the Circuit's 5 churches, and the possibility of support from District Officers when current changes have been made;
• agreed the next meeting for Wednesday 29th October at 7.30 pm.

Charity Number Use - Important advice

Secretaries and Treasurers (and others producing documentation / papers under the name of Dundee Methodist Church) are advised that OSCR will require our Charity Number to be recorded on (virtually) all paperwork wef 31st March 2008. Our number is (NB 0 is figure zero, not alphabet letter)

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

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

Literature has been sent anent the current Appeal for work in Nepal. The country was declared to be a Secular State in May 2006, thus enabling the registration (after 3 attempts in 11 years) of the Nepal Bible Society. See library area noticeboard for details.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to:

• impact of the HIV-AIDS programme in Botswana;
• Bible distribution, publishing and translation work in Zimbabwe;
• visit of Elaine Duncan (SBS Director) to Guild at St James. Broughty Ferry, Thursday;
• opportunities and increased support for work in Zambia;
• new partnerships supporting Bible Society work in Swaziland through economic and social challenges.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President of Conference's visit to RAF Cranwell on Tuesday - Wednesday;
• Scottish Churches House Interim Management Group;
• Children's and Youth Workers' Conference, Thursday - Saturday;
• District Ministers, Deacons, and Spouses retreat, Tuesday - Thursday;
• music-makers in the Circuit's churches;
• projects in Scotland, relationships between residents, tenants, managers and carers (Methodist Homes);
• diversity of languages & cultures (International Mother Languages Day is on Thursday) (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Ghana;
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Nepal and in Uzbekistan;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Malta ;

• 10 February 2008
• 24 February 2008

© 2002—2007 Dundee Methodist Church.