Dundee Methodist Church

6 July 2008

Next Sunday: 13 July 2008

11 am
Worship conducted by the Rev Gerald Bostock
Sacrament of Holy Communion - “coming forward”
Communion Offering for Scottish Churches Housing Action

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.

Messages of thanks

  • Josie Pasane Petition
    Rev Catherine Collins of Broughty Ferry New Kirk has sent the following email message of thanks.
    Many thanks for your support for Josie. The total number of signatures was over 3600 and 400 on the online one. We got coverage on STV, GMTV, Courier, Tele and now BBC website. The Moderator of the General Assembly has also written to the Home Office. All we need now is the result. I'll keep you up to date.
  • Gift to refugee Methodist Minister from DRCongo
    Following the decision of Synod in May to send a gift of money to support the Rev Charles Ilunga Mpungi and his family (previously Lanarkshire, now in Birmingham prior to his acceptance as a Minister in Full Connexion), the following message has been circulated by our District Office.
    Dear Revd. Lily,
    It is with great joy that I am writing this message to thank you for the amount of money through a check we received by the postal service on Tuesday 10th. We miss words to express what is in the depth of our hearts for such a deed of love. Your spiritual care and attention for us through such deed of love will remain, believe me, always significant and unforgettable. My wife and children and myself ask you to spread our many thanks and greetings to the whole Methodist family of Scotland. God bless you all,
    I am yours in Jesus Christ, Charles Ilunga.

General Church Meeting résumé

At the GCM, held during worship on Sunday 29th June,

  • reports were received from
    • Rev Mary Patterson
    • Senior Church Steward
    • Church Treasurer
  • the Team of Church Stewards was re-elected en bloc
  • representatives to Church Council were re-elected
    • Lorna, Heather, and Prechita
    • Avril's resignation was received with thanks for her service on the Council, leaving a vacancy to be filled.
  • thanks were especially expressed to
    • Margaret and Ian for Traidcraft Stall
    • 'tricia and others for window display
    • David E as Treasurer
    • Mary F, esp. for rota coordination
    • helpers with crèche & Children's Group
    • Door Stewards and 'Offering counters'
    • “music-makers” in worship
    • 'those who make things happen' eg in facilitating café style worship, lunches, …
  • It was agreed that “early singing” was wished but pointed out that more (new) volunteers would be welcomed - see 'tricia!

For more details, contact Matthew who took the notes!

Methodist Conference in Scarborough

Among the business this week, Conference is being asked to consider reports on

  • Pastoral Confidentiality - “With integrity and skill”
  • Early Human Life - “Created in God's Image”
  • Youth Participation Strategy
  • Stationing (a major Review)
  • “Covenant relationship” -for those Ordained and In Full Connexion (ie Ministers and Deacons)
  • Methodist Heritage and Contemporary Mission

These are important & relevant, so should be obtained, looked at and taken seriously by us - assuming Conference passes them!

Jenny Easson (Methodist Council member).

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in July for work in Papua New Guinea. See library area noticeboard for more information.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

  • project in Egypt to provide poor children with suitable Scriptures;
  • distribution of material at Book Fairs in Turkey;
  • first publication in Kenya of Bibles in Lubukusu and Pokot, also new versions in Gikuyu and Kimiiru;
  • launch of special Bible for the Ethiopian Millennium and opening of a Bible Society branch office in Dire Dawa;
  • preparation for Church of Scotland Youth Assembly in August;
  • newly-published Gulei New Testament in Chad;
  • team in Cameroon guiding the Society towards financial independence, also development of work in adjacent SÃo Tomé & Principe and Equatorial Guinea.

Prayer Points for this week

  • The President of Conference, Rev Stephen Poxon, and the Vice-President, Mr David Walton;
  • members of Conference, their deliberations and decisions;
  • young people in our Circuit awaiting exam results;
  • projects in the Manchester and Stockport District (Methodist Homes);
  • The Leprosy Mission's promotional work;
  • Parivartan Social Welfare Society's work in India with street and slum children (Feed The Minds);
  • Bible Society work in Papua New Guinea;
  • support from Methodism world-wide especially from the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone (Christian Aid);
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela;
  • we remember fellow Methodists in the Fenland Circuit (East Anglia District) and in New Stevenston (Lanarkshire Circuit).