21 June 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.

“Travelling and Exploring Together” - Combining Membership and Small Groups!

The proposed conversation to explore Membership in the Methodist Church has developed, through discussion at Church Council, into a suggestion that the series of meetings on Thursdays 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th July be offered more widely to people through the Circuit who may be interested. As this could mean a change of venue from Dundee, the offer of car transport (to wherever!) has been made for those evenings. If you would like a trip into Angus combined with conversation, please contact David Easson for further details on possible transport.

This series of conversations, hopefully between several people, was seen as a way of initiating the “small groups” recently requested. Anyone with suggestions for topics to be considered later - perhaps with issues raised in the Membership conversations - is asked to pass these on to Mary Patterson, Jenny Easson, or Tom Penman.

Church Council - Points to Note

At the meeting on Wednesday, the Council

• noted, through several matters, the increasing number of “vacancies”, and considered where “team working” may be more effective than appointing a single “post-holder” (people still needed though!);
• agreed the need for a “thorough but fair” clear-out of surplus material in our storage spaces;
• considered linking to “broadband” in Marketgait;
• paid tributes to deceased Members, and agreed arrangements in principle for a Confirmation Service;
• discussed “small groups” suggestion (see above - “Travelling and Exploring”);
• agreed to mark the 250th anniversary of Methodism in Dundee and the 25th anniversary of the move to 20 West Marketgait with a Special Service some time in September - also as “Back to Church Sunday”;
• considered arrangements for contacting students & other new arrivals in Dundee, including a Faith Lunch on Sunday 25th October;
• heard report on & discussed property matters:
• new cleaner;
• recent property matters (incl roof leak);
• management of repairs and maintenance;
• received request for assistance at Synod on Saturday 19th September, hosted by our Circuit and held in Central Baptist Church Dundee. As this is 'Doors Open Day', suggested that 20 West Marketgait be open for part of that day for visit by members of Synod and the general public - this will require stewarding and possibly a display;
• confirmed next Council - Thursday 1st October.

Request for help from those with long links with Dundee Methodism

David Cowling asks if the name of JAMES P OAKDEN strikes a chord with any of us? The gentleman in question seems to have been an academic at St Andrews University (English Dept?) in the later 1930s and also a Methodist Local Preacher. If this rings any bells (however faint!), please contact David.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

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

• arrangements for SBS Bicentenary events during the summer (see below);
• ten years of 'Bread of Life' Project in Peru, providing daily meal, Scriptures, and teaching for children in urban slum areas;
• launch of New Testament in Romani in Peru;
• translators working on indigenous languages in Colombia; the upholding of those held in guerrilla captivity;
• 'Supper and Song Evening' to be held on Friday by Kirkcaldy Action Group.

Scottish Bible Society 200th Birthday

SBS draws our attention to “4 appealing ways to celebrate”

1. Treat yourself or someone else …… items on sale
2. Go to the theatre …… Festival Fringe productions
3. Come home …… outreach postcard of Sieger Koder's painting “Home”
4. Listen Live …… Fringe performance of Broadway actor Bruce Kuhn in “The Gospel according to St Luke” and “Tales of Tolstoy”.

See leaflets on the downstairs noticeboard; information from SBS, 7 Hampton Terrace Edinburgh EH12 5XU; tel : 0131 347 9701; or http://www.scottishbiblesociety.org

Prayer Points for this week

• the Rev Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church & Secretary of Conference;
• Methodist Refugee Week (from today, Refugee Sunday);
• experiences shared and challenges presented at the recent “District Event” - bread-baking in Perth;
• reflection throughout the Circuit on its life and that of its 5 congregations;
• “In Christ Alone” 7.30 pm, Caird Hall, Dundee next Sunday;
• projects and supporters on the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (Methodist Homes);
• 'Student Gap year' scheme (Christian Aid);
• The Schneller School in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, with 200 out of 500 pupils as boarders (BibleLands);
• Bible Society work in Tanzania;
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Mozambique, Southern Africa, and Zimbabwe;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay (WCC Prayer Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Market Drayton (Chester and Stoke-on-Trent District), and all in Grahamston United Church, Falkirk (Central Scotland Circuit).

• 14 June 2009
• 28 June 2009

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