29 March 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.

Ecumenical Act of Worship

There will be an ecumenical Act of Worship this evening at 6.30 pm in Marketgait, with friends from Meadowside St Paul's, Dundee United Reformed Church, and Dundee Congregational Church. A welcome is given to all.

Thought for Today

“Somebody born today in the UK could expect to live to the age of 79, while someone born today in Angola could only expect to live to 41.” (Christian Aid, Lenten 'Count Your Blessings')

Lent 2009

• Dundee City Centre Churches study group meetings will be on Tuesdays at 7.30 pm in Meadowside St Paul's Halls (downstairs) using the CTBI material “Sense Making Faith”, linked to current broadcasts:
  • Sundays at 9.30 am on BBC Radio4.
  • Daily Service at 8.45 am on Radio4 (LW)
  • BBC local radio stations, variously.
• Broughty Ferry Churches Group continue their Lenten journey, also using the CTBI material.
• Resources to help us observe Lent individually:
  • Christian Aid www.christianaid.org.uk
  • Methodist on-line reflection “Still Time” http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.bibleStudy
  • Books in Wesley Owen and other shops (or borrow previous years' purchases from friends!)

Requests for Participation in Holy Week - Easter worship

• The Rev Mary Patterson is to lead ecumenical worship in Marketgait, 7.30 pm on Good Friday (10th April) and would be pleased to hear from anyone able to help, especially in a short reading & accompanying action. Please contact her about this or practical aspects, eg stewarding.
• Jenny Easson would be pleased to hear from anyone willing to take a (small) spoken part in All-age worship at 11 am on Easter Sunday, 12th April. She has 2 offers already but more are needed for what she has in mind!

New Venture for Young People

As an outcome of previous conversations in the Children's Work Group and Pastoral Committee, this opportunity for our young people to meet together is being offered on a Sunday evening once a month, starting on Sunday 17th May at 6.30 pm. Rev Mary Patterson would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in supporting her in this.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in March for work in Mali and in April for work in Haiti. See library area noticeboard for more information. Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• outreach ministries to refugees and migrant workers in Israel, also new projects including an audio New Testament and children's Scriptures in Hebrew;
• work and workers in the difficult political situations in the West Bank and Gaza;
• work among slum-dwellers and in violent situations in Haiti;
• work of the SBS BibleWorld studios travelling through Scotland;
• SBS youth work, especially through Scripture Union and other camps;
• distribution of SBS 'exist' leaflets and 'Thank God It's Friday' selections, prepared to lead to Easter.

Christian Aid

The annual “Tay Bridge Crossing” will take place on Saturday 25th April; Margaret can obtain sponsorship forms for anyone interested in this (before or after the Circuit Day in Marketgait of course!).

Great Daffodil Appeal

Marie Curie Cancer Care Nurses have asked us to highlight their current Great Daffodil Appeal to raise £5 million this March. For details, see leaflets on table, phone 085 601 3107 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President of Conference in North Lancashire and the Vice-President on the Isle of Man, this weekend;
• Methodist Council, Friday - Saturday;
• outcomes of March Scotland Synod sessions;
• Perth Stewards' Meeting, Wednesday;
• work in the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District (Methodist Homes);
• launch of new tax campaign (Christian Aid);
• The Leprosy Mission's promotional work;
• Bible Society work in Mali and in Haiti;
• The St Andrew's Refugee Service in Cairo (BibleLands);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore (WCC Prayer Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Newquay, Perranporth and St Agnes (Cornwall District), and in East Kilbride (Glasgow Circuit).

• 22 March 2009
• 5 April 2009

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