26 July 2009

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.

Vacancy - Circuit Meeting Secretary

The Circuit Meeting is seeking a new Secretary for the year from 1 September 2009. Is this a post which you could consider filling?

As Secretary you would be a voting member of the Circuit Meeting. You would need to maintain a record of the membership of the Meeting and distribute the calling papers and other relevant documents before each meeting. Most of this can now be done electronically. You would keep minutes of each meeting. The Circuit Meeting normally meets twice yearly in March and September.

You would also be Secretary to and a member of the Circuit Leadership Team. The duties would be similar to those outlined above. The CLT meets roughly three weeks in advance of Circuit Meetings to prepare the business, but extra meetings are sometimes necessary to deal with matters which arise between Circuit Meetings.

When the Circuit has to consider whether or not to extend the invitation of a minister or a new minister is required, the CLT, augmented by a Steward from each church, acts as the Circuit Invitation Committee, so you would also be involved in that process.

Please would you consider this carefully and, if you feel that you may be able to help, contact the Superintendent Minister on 01382 223059.

Experience Exchange Partnerships (EEP)

Heather Dean has offered to serve through EEP in support of grandparents caring for HIV/AIDS children in South Africa. “The Scheme is jointly run by USPG, Anglicans in World Mission and the Methodist Church to give volunteers a chance to spend six to twelve months in a different culture and environment, and experience the church in another part of the world. Previous volunteers have taught in schools, helped on agricultural, health and building projects, in vocation and rehabilitation institutions, and with children and youth work.”

Synod hosted by Circuit in Dundee: Saturday 19th September

The Scotland District Synod will meet in Central Baptist Church, Ward Road, and all offers of help will be gratefully received by Keith Pearson, as Senior Circuit Steward, or by 'tricia Laurie / Sue Marshall-Jennings for catering.

Stewards / Helpers are needed for

• assisting in Central Baptist Church thro' the day
• transport - parking / meeting/ “minibus shuttle”
• catering - lunch, 'coffee' before & after Synod
• possibly also at Marketgait, as a “Doors Open Day”.

Although hosting Synod is a Circuit responsibility, local Dundee folk are being particularly looked to on this occasion. As a good number of our Circuit people will be occupied in being members of Synod, this makes it all the more important to have a good response from others!

Please note the date NOW and contact Keith 'tricia or Sue to discuss how YOU can help!

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 - if you have suggestions for ways to celebrate, please contact Rev Mary Patterson, a Church Steward, or other members of the Church Council - soon!

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in July for work in Bulgaria and in August for work in Brazil, especially in the north-east where millions not only suffer from periodic famines but lack health-care facilities. See noticeboard for more information.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• training for adults in use of materials to counter trends of violence in schools and the media in Venezuela;
• youth team at 'Imagine' conference this week in Inverurie;
• continuation of interest aroused by the 2008 'Year of the Bible' in Brazil;
• funding of a modern translation of the Old Testament in Estonia;
• work, especially among children, in Lithuania;
• completion of Study Bible and a new interconfessional translation in Latvia;
• provision of basic medical and dental facilities, as well as Scripture materials, in north-east Brazil.

Prayer Points for this week

• Synod Secretaries and District Administrators in Methodism;
• projects and supporters in Leeds (Methodist Homes);
• projects and partners in Peru (Christian Aid);
• outreach by the El Saray Evangelical Church in Alexandria, Egypt (BibleLands);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda;
• Bible Society work in Bulgaria and in Brazil;
• we pray with and for the peoples of The Caribbean - Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago (WCC Prayer Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Sandbach & Alsager (Chester and Stoke-on-Trent District), and in Portessie (North of Scotland Mission Circuit).

• 19 July 2009
• 26 August 2009

© 2002—2009 Dundee Methodist Church Scottish Charity number: SC037954.