Dundee Methodist Church

5 July 2009

Next Sunday: 12 July 2009

11 am
All-age Worship led by the Rev Dr Gerald Bostock

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.

Methodist Conference in Wolverhampton

  • Conference Ministerial Session was held last Thursday and Friday, with a Diaconal Session on Saturday morning.
  • Ministerial representatives to Conference from Scotland, along with the Chairs of District for Scotland and Shetland, Revs Lily Twist and Jeremy Dare, are the Revs Alan Anderson (Glasgow) and John Butterfield (Stirling, Central Scotland).
  • On Saturday afternoon, the Opening of Conference in Representative Session included the Inductions of the Rev David Gamble as President of Conference , and of Dr Richard Vautrey as Vice-President. Scotland's lay representatives include 'tricia & Sandy Laurie (Dundee).
  • Today - Conference Sunday - is marked by Conference Worship in the morning, followed by afternoon and evening Ordination Services for Ordinands to the Presbyteral and Diaconal Ministries at churches in the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District.
  • Conference will close on Wednesday - reports, debates (including audio broadcasts & twitter-stream) can be accessed on www.methodistconference.org.uk.
  • Conference worship material, i.e. the Service and the Prayer Handbook, can be downloaded from this website also.

It is understood that the President will be in Dundee on Wednesday 19th August and it is planned that he and his wife visit the Link Club's session that day.

Our Anniversary Celebrations

  • To mark the 25th anniversary of “the march of Methodists from Ward Road to Marketgait” on 16th September 1984, the Rev Dr Malcolm Rothwell has been invited to lead worship on Sunday 13th September.
  • This opportunity will also be taken to commemorate the 250th anniversary of John Wesley's first visit to Dundee in 1759.
  • This may also be an appropriate occasion for Dundee Methodist to take as “Back to Church Sunday” which is commended to all churches by ACTS.

Please note the above date and anniversaries - if you have suggestions for appropriate ways to celebrate, please let Rev Mary Patterson, a Church Steward, or other members of the Church Council know in good time.

Meetings this week

Date & timeVenueDetails
Thursday 9th July, 2 - 3 pm St Luke's & Queen Street Halls, West Queen Street, Broughty Ferry (map) Afternoon Tea. An opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones. A warm welcome is extended to Ferry Folk, people popping out from Dundee, and other visitors.
Thursday 9th July, 7.30 pm Dundee Methodist Church, “L” “Exploration Group” : as previously intimated, a warm invitation is given to all interested in exploring together the concept of Membership in the Methodist Church and any related issues. Future sessions (on subsequent Thursdays in July) may be held elsewhere in the Circuit, with offer of transport. Further details from Rev Mary Patterson.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

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

  • revision of the Aymara Bible and New Testament audio recordings for ethnic minorities in Bolivia where over 60% of the population speak indigenous languages;
  • on-going reconstruction in Burma after Cyclone Nargis (May 08);
  • extension of spiritual and medical care in north-east Brazil, funded with Scottish help;
  • literacy programme in Kampot province, Cambodia;
  • start of translation of the modern Taiwanese OT;
  • visit to UK of the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Bible Society;
  • development of Digital Audio Bible in India, containing the New Testament, Psalms, and proverbs in Tamil and Malayalam.

Seven Arches Trust

This charitable venture, named after a local landmark on the Monifieth / Broughty Ferry boundary, works in partnership with Scripture Union in schools, youth groups and churches in Broughty Ferry and Monifieth, employing Lisa Hornal as Youth Worker.

The Broughty Ferry Churches Group, of which Dundee Methodist Church is a member, is supportive of the Trust's work, about which more details can be found from Lisa, based in the office at 217 Brook Street, Broughty Ferry DD5 2AG; tel 07934 455141; www.7arches.co.uk. You can also pick up leaflets on the Vestibule table, and ask for regular updates.

BibleLands

A non-governmental organisation and ecumenical charity, working in partnership with Christian-led local projects in the Lands of the Bible, caring for people regardless of their faith and nationality;

  • supports health, education and community development in the Lands of the Bible;
  • works with over 40 Overseas Partners in
  • Israel-Palestine (16 Partners)
  • Lebanon (15 Partners)
  • Egypt (11 Partners);
  • has operated in the area for over 150 years and is the largest aid provider to the Middle East.

See www.biblelands.org.uk; or contact PO Box 50, High Wycombe, HP15 7QU; tel : 01494 897950 (Reg Charity No: 1076329).

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Monday 13th July, 7.30 pm Dundee Methodist Church Circuit Invitation Committee  

Prayer Points for this week

  • Methodist Conference in Wolverhampton;
  • Scottish Churches House, Dunblane - its staff and supporters;
  • Church Stewards in the Circuit's 5 churches;
  • projects and supporters in Cornwall (Methodist Homes);
  • national elections due in Sudan this month (Christian Aid);
  • The Leprosy Mission's supporters;
  • the Harpur Memorial Hospital in Menouf, serving poor people in the Nile Delta area (BibleLands);
  • Bible Society work in Bulgaria;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela (WCC Prayer Calendar);
  • we remember fellow Methodists in Crewe (Chester and Stoke-on-Trent District), and in Armadale (Central Scotland Circuit).