6 September 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.

Marketgait Anniversary

Our worship next Sunday is to be led by the Rev Dr Malcolm Rothwell, who, as Superintendent of the Dundee, Perth & Blairgowrie Circuit & with care of Dundee, was a prime instigator of the move of Dundee Methodists from premises in Ward Road to our current ones in Marketgait on Sunday 16th September 1984.

Malcolm also oversaw planning for refurbishment of the premises which took place between March and September 1986. He played an important part in developing our outreach to 'our local community', not least in the founding of the Link Club following the famous “conversation in a broom cupboard” with Leslie Wake in 1985.

Malcolm and family left Dundee in July 1987, since when he has since been stationed in London (2 Circuits), Dorking, and Petersfield, prior to “sitting down” (= sailing his boat & writing for the Methodist Recorder!) near Southampton. He published a book exploring his sabbatical silent retreat and is Chair of the Methodist Retreat and Spirituality Network.

The photographs on the Marketgait back stairs recording the move from Ward Road, also show the late Rev Alan Horner, then Chair of the Synod, who, with his wife Margaret, was most supportive of the move and refurbishment. Alan and Margaret (with whom there is still personal contact) are remembered with great affection at this anniversary time.

There will be a Faith Lunch after worship (please bring food) to give time for conversation with Malcolm - and others - and to reminisce generally! If you have photos or other memorabilia, please bring them. It is hoped that as many people as possible will be able to share in this happy occasion - please take the opportunity to invite others who may remember Malcolm and wish to meet him again.

Scotland District Synod in Dundee Saturday 19th September

Keith Pearson, 'tricia Laurie & Sue Marshall-Jennings will still be pleased to hear from people who can assist at Synod through stewarding or serving refreshments.

Contact one of them to discuss how YOU can help!

Preaching Plan for September - November 2009

Now available from the glass-top Vestibule table; please uplift and / or distribute to others.

Fellowship Group Proposal

Those who recently attended some or all of the Thursday evening 'Preparation for Membership' groups found the informal setting with its opportunity for discussion valuable.

In order to continue to offer this opportunity for sharing and fellowship together, it is proposed to have an exploratory evening on Thursday 17th September, 7.30 pm here at the church to determine whether meeting as a more informal group would be something of interest / benefit to the congregation and what form that should take.

Everyone is welcome from both within the congregation or from elsewhere. If you are interested, but cannot manage to be at the exploratory gathering, please let Rev Mary Patterson know.

Accommodation Needed

The University of Abertay Dundee finds that it has a shortage of accommodation for students arriving this year. If you know of anyone who may be willing to rent a room to a student for the coming academic year, please contact Mrs Hilary Smith (01382 308059) hilary.smith@abertay.co.uk.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

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

• meeting of the 2011 Trust to plan events for the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible;
• fundraising by youth groups for SBS bi-centenary project in Brazil;
• BibleWorld Connect Programme, in support of visits to BibleWorld Experience.
• facilitation of work in rural areas of Liberia;
• launch of Good Samaritan programme in Sierra Leone in response to HIV/AIDS.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• Methodist Ministerial and Lay Pension Schemes Board meetings and AGMs, Wednesday;
• Arbroath Pastoral Committee, Wednesday;
• projects in Nottingham & Derby (Methodist Homes);
• new Poverty Over campaign (Christian Aid);
• Al Kafa'at Foundation, Beirut - 7 centres training over 4,500 people with disabilities and special needs (BibleLands);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in South East India;
• Bible Society work in Gabon;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia,

and Yugoslavia (WCC Prayer Calendar);

• we remember fellow Methodists in Jersey (Channel Islands District), and our witness based in Marketgait, Dundee (Angus, Dundee & Perthshire Circuit).

• 30 August 2009
• 13 September 2009

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