Dundee Methodist Church

28 June 2009

Next Sunday: 5 July 2009

10.45 am
“early singing” led by Arthur Gordon
11 am
Worship led by Sue Marshall-Jennings

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.

General Church Meeting points

Last Sunday, the following formal business was undertaken:

  • nomination of Maxine as a Church Steward (subject to clarification of Membership status);
  • notification of vacancies for 3 congregation's representatives to Church Council (wef 1.9.09) - nominations to Rev Mary Patterson;
  • notification of vacancy for rep to World Day of Prayer Dundee Committee - contact Rev Mary Patterson with names of (female) nominees;
  • reports by Rev Mary Patterson on the past year and by David Easson as Church Treasurer.

The General Church Meeting also included time for conversation on the “Taking Forward Circuit Thinking Day” Paper. Any further comments may be forwarded to the Dundee members of Circuit Learning Group ('tricia, Andy & Denise) or the Superintendent Minister, Rev David Firth, before 4th August.

Methodist Relief and Development Fund News

Credit Crunch Effects
“The recent decrease in the value of sterling has hit MRDF's work. We agree grants to our partners in advance and in local currency, so present commitments will cost up to 30% more to fulfil. We are therefore grateful to all those individuals, churches and circuits who have responded generously to our recent appeal. Your support is enormously appreciated.”
Campaigning
“MRDF joined over 35,000 people in a peaceful protest in March calling on leaders of the world's richest countries to prioritise the needs of the poor. The Put People First March - backed by 150 organisations - took place in London ahead of April's G20 meeting to discuss solutions to the global financial crisis. Protesters demanded decent jobs for all, an end to global poverty and inequality, and reductions in carbon emissions.”
Gaza Update
“Through its emergency Partner, Action by Churches Together, MRDF has supported the provision of food, water and medical care to tens of thousands of people. Donations are helping to fund more emergency aid, pre-natal and post-natal care, and milk and protein biscuits to malnourished and anaemic children. Our partner organisation is also offering counselling support to people traumatised by the war. In a region where 90% of the population is now dependent on food aid, this work is crucial.”

Meetings this week

Date & timeVenueDetails
Sunday 28th June, 7.30 pm Caird Hall (map) “In Christ Alone”, a musical celebration of the life of Christ, featuring Keith & Kristyn Getty, special guest Stuart Townend, and the Dundee Gospel Choir and Orchestra. The performance aims to “create an inspirational evening” by “weaving together the strands of the gospel story through performance music, spoken word and congregational singing” and to “carry the message of hope to believers and those yet to believe”. See leaflets on Vestibule table for information.  
Thursday 2nd 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.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

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

  • work in Bulgaria with abandoned and orphaned children in 250 schools which are overcrowded and have meagre food and heating;
  • translation of the complete Bible into Toba Sur in Argentina.

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

  • Methodist Conference in Wolverhampton from Thursday
  • Scotland representatives to Conference, including 'tricia & Sandy;
  • welcome by the Circuit's churches to visitors during summer;
  • projects and supporters in the Chester & Stoke District (Methodist Homes);
  • the example of saints and those who inspire (Christian Aid);
  • Zvartnotz Centre in Beirut, providing day care for small children with disabilities (BibleLands);
  • Bible Society work in Tanzania and in Bulgaria;
  • The Leprosy Mission's promotional work;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Bolivia, Chile, and Peru (WCC Prayer Calendar);
  • we remember fellow Methodists in Whitchurch and Nantwich (Chester and Stoke-on-Trent District), and in Wallacestone (Central Scotland Circuit).