5 October 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.

Pastoral

The Rev David Firth will provide ministerial pastoral care until 13th October.

Visit of President & Vice-President of Conference

The Rev Stephen Poxon and Mr David Walton are to visit the Scotland District next weekend as part of their year in office. Our prayerful support is invited for the following programme

• Thursday: President meets national ecumenical partners and is Observer at National Church Leaders Meeting with the First Minister in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood;
• Friday: President at Day Conference with ministers in Scottish Churches House, Dunblane
• Saturday: 11 am - 3.30 pm “Day of Worship, Circuit Concerns and Celebration” with President in Aberdeen, (see below) and Vice-President in Glasgow;
• Sunday: President at worship in Central Hall, Edinburgh and Vice-President in Netherton, Lanarkshire; afternoon-evening Gathering at Paisley Central Hall.

NB : Aberdeen 11 am - 3.30 pm in Crown Terrace Church; bring food, drinks provided. Our participation is invited.

Circuit Meeting résumé

At the meeting in Arbroath a week past Thursday evening, seven reports were received. The Finance Report was followed by a long discussion on the Circuit Advance Fund, and how we deal with the two aspects of its use that are now permitted, viz (i) general support for the mission of the Circuit and (ii) in specific named projects.

The other main debate followed on from the Synod discussion on Circuit Learning Groups (see last week); David Firth and 'tricia will assemble a preliminary group. Their thoughts will feature as one of four items on an earlier than usual meeting on Thursday 5th February; other items will be (i) an application for ministerial candidature, (ii) a report on “manse location”, & (iii) appointments.

Church Council

On Thursday night last week, the Finance and Property Committee intimated three vacancies (i) Secretary for Finance & Property Committee; (ii) Church Property Secretary; (iii) a second Independent Examiner (formerly Auditor) (to assist Arthur Gordon in his work). The former holders (Andy, Norah & David) were all thanked for their sterling work over many years. It is vital to get replacements soon - for further details please contact Sandy, Convener. (Church Council summary to be continued.)

Church Council request

For reasons of safety, would parents / carers please ensure that small children do not wander onto the dais, especially during worship.

Scottish Churches House Prayer Network

Our prayerful support is invited this week, particularly at 9 am or anytime on Wednesday for

• appointment of a new Director (interviews Tuesday)
• Guests past, present, & future
• ACTS Church and Society Network
• Church Fellowship for Psychical and Spiritual Research
• Order of the Cross
• Methodist President & Ministers meeting
• preparation for Phase 1 of the Refurbishment, starting this month
• continuation of the Appeal - the half-million pounds barrier has been broken!

Holy Communion - next Sunday

We welcome the Rev Graham Taylor of St Luke's & Queen Street Parish Church Broughty Ferry, to lead worship, including the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. It has been agreed that, in a departure from the now usual rota, distribution on this occasion will follow the “seated” rather than “coming forward” pattern. The Rev Mary Patterson will be leading worship in St Luke's & Queen Street, thus enabling the Pulpit Exchange originally planned for May.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

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

• translation work on 4 projects in Norway, also 'Budding Faith' educational programmes for work among young people;
• visit to Scotland by Clapperton Mayuni, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Malawi;
• speakers at events and to groups in Scotland, including West Church Guild, Dundee, on Tuesday;
• Field Ministers' Conference in Gartmore on Saturday.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President & Vice-President in our own District;
• Connexional Stationing Committee, Tuesday-Wednesday;
• The Chair of the Synod, Rev Lily Twist;
• meeting at Perth Congregational Church, Tuesday;
• process to appoint new Director, Scottish Churches House;
• work in the London District (Methodist Homes);
• The Leprosy Mission's international staff;
• victims of racial prejudice, world-wide (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Nicaragua;
• Deaf Unit in Cairo, providing education for 50 hearing-impaired children, also the Vocational Training Centre (BibleLands);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (WCC Prayer Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Martham, Bungay, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston (East Anglia District) and in Portgordon (North of Scotland Mission Circuit).

• 28 October 2008
• 12 October 2008

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