02 March 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 St Mary's Episcopal Church, Queen Street, on the theme “Jesus and older people and the disabled”. All welcome.
• Dundee City Centre Churches : Wednesday at 7.30 pm in Meadowside St Paul's. Material from the CTBI “Pathways of Prayer”. All welcome.

Plans of appointed preachers

Plans for March to May are now available from the Vestibule table. Please take a copy and distribute to those unable to uplift one for themselves.

World Day of Prayer : Friday

This year's material on the theme “God's Wisdom Provides New Understanding” has been prepared by Christian women of Guyana.

They invite us to share in acknowledging the wisdom of God as revealed in the marvels of creation: they particularly ask us to join in their rejoicing at the natural beauty of their own country, “the Land of Many Waters”. Looking at the Book of Job, we are invited to develop our understanding of wisdom; we are then challenged to move forward, empowered in love and service, in fulfilling God's will for our lives.

ALL are invited to join in the circle of prayer encompassing our own communities and reaching round the world. Services to be held in Dundee include

• St Mary's, Dundee Parish Church, 2.30 pm
• St Luke's & Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, 7.30 pm

See local press for details of other Services.

Fair Trade Fortnight : 25th February to 9th March

Our attention is drawn to this period of particular focus on the campaign for Trade Justice, through “the power of the purse” and other means of campaigning. To find out more, contact The Fairtrade Foundation (020 7405 5952), Christian Aid, MRDF, and other agencies.

Scottish Churches House Jubilee Appeal

The Rev Lily Twist, Chair of the Synod, has written to commend the Appeal to all Methodists in the District.

The District Policy Committee has already agreed an initial donation of £2,000 and encourages us all to respond by

• fund-raising - donations may be sent through our District Office
• making use of SCH facilities and Programme events
• praying for the plans and those responsible for the work.

See Vestibule table for copies of Lily's letter & other papers, and below for Dundee Church Council decision.

Church Council résumé (Part 1)

At the meeting on Wednesday the Council

• heard about the progress for the Church Photo Album(s) - watch this space for “next steps”;
• recorded the success of the three Advent lunches;
• agreed to offer any help for midweek meetings to Central Baptist Church while they are decanted;
• made various re-appointments, but in line with both Methodist and OSCR regulations regarding the size of our financial business changed the appointment of Arthur & David S from “Auditors” to “Independent Examiners”;
• agreed to send £500 and give the March Communion Offering to the Scottish Churches House Appeal (other Benevolence Fund allocations will appear next week)

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in March for work in India, with especial reference to Tamil Nadu where many live in financial poverty but are spiritually rich. See library area noticeboard.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• revision, publication & distribution of the Macedonian Bible;
• production of the 34-volume Braille Bible - expensive but meeting an important need;
• World Book Day on Thursday when schools in Scotland will take part in a biblical art competition;
• World Day of Prayer's support over many years, remembering especially this year work in Guyana;
• recently completed inter-confessional translation of the New Testament in Albania.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President & Vice-President of Conference's meetings this week with 'Pioneer' Ministers and Church leaders;
• Connexional Law and Polity Committee, Tuesday;
• District Superintendents' Forum meeting, Wednesday - Thursday;
• Blairgowrie Church Council, tomorrow;
• projects in the South East District (Methodist Homes);
• the particular effects of poverty on women (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in India;
• The Leprosy Mission's work in South East India - Andhra Pradesh;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino;
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Pateley Bridge Circuit (Leeds District), and all in Livingston Ecumenical Parish (Edinburgh & Forth Circuit).

• 24 February 2008
• 09 March 2008

© 2002—2008 Dundee Methodist Church Scottish Charity number: SC037954.