Dundee Methodist Church

28 February 2010

Next Sunday: 7 March 2010 - Lent 3

11 am
Worship led by the Rev Mary Patterson

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.

Pulpit Exchange

During various conversations last year anent arrangements for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, it was suggested that the Revs Maudeen MacDougall and David Firth 'exchange pulpits' on some suitable Sunday, as part of our relationship as City Centre Churches. We warmly welcome Maudeen to lead and share our Methodist worship today when David will be in Meadowside St Paul's.

FairTrade Fortnight: 22nd February to 7th March

To mark this year's FTF, FairTrade focus is to be on tea, with encouragement to hold “Big Brew Events”, serving FairTrade refreshments and supporting tea producers. There are a reported 178 Big Brew Events registered (to date) and an estimated 17130 “cuppas” to be served.

Margaret has proposed that Dundee Methodists show their support for FTF during the regular serving of (FairTrade!) coffee and tea after worship today through a few extra activities to heighten our awareness of the issues behind Fair Trade.

Preaching Plans

Plans for preaching appointments in the Circuit's churches for March to May are now available on the vestibule table. Please take for yourself and also distribute to those not able to be in Marketgait, as appropriate.

Circuit Day

Please note that the proposed Circuit Day on Saturday March 13th has been cancelled .

Lent Observance

Our prayerful and active support is invited as we share a Lenten journey of faith with fellow Christians in and beyond Dundee:

“Lent: 2010: Count your blessings”

  • Action for Children (former NCH) encourages our prayerful reflection and action through Lent - a small amount is suggested to “put aside” each day for those so wishing.
    See noticeboard / sheets on Vestibule table / download from www.actionforchildren.org.uk
  • Christian Aid has produced material under this heading: this week's theme is “Living Water”. See www.christianaid.org.uk

World Day of Prayer

The material for this year's Services on Friday has been prepared by Christian women of Cameroon on the theme “Let Everything That Has Breath Praise God”. The city centre Service will be held at 2.30pm in the United Reformed Church, Salem Lane; the Broughty Ferry Service is to take place in St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church, Queen Street Broughty Ferry ; for details of other Services during the Day, see local press and church noticeboards/ websites.

NB: there is currently no Methodist on the local Dundee Committee. Rev Mary Patterson has contact information and Jean McN, who served as representative for many years, can give further background as to what is required.

“Replacement of Property Maintenance Items”

A list has been pinned up on the noticeboard indicating various items used on our premises (some are “basic but essential”- eg toilet rolls!). It would be helpful if responsibility for keeping stocks at a sensible level were shared: if you can assist - albeit in a small way - please sign the list accordingly. Thanks!

Date & timeVenueDetails
Tuesday 2nd March, 7.30 pm Dundee Methodist Church, “B” Children's Work Group
Tuesday 2nd March, 7.30 pm Meadowside St Paul’s Lent Group using The Leprosy Mission's “The Cost of Discipleship” material (downloadable from www.leprosymission.org.uk/resources/lent.aspx / contact David Firth).
Wednesday 24th February, 7.30 pm Barnhill St Margaret’s Church, Invermark Terrace, Broughty Ferry Broughty Ferry Lent meeting using CTBI material “On the Edge of His Pain”, “Mary Magdalene”. The theme is being linked to BBC broadcasts.
Friday 5th March, 12 noon - 1.30 pm YMCA 151 Brook Street, Broughty Ferry (opposite “M&S Food”) (map) Broughty Ferry Churches Group Christian Aid lunch. Soup - a good selection each week - is served with bread & cheese, followed by coffee for £2, in support of this ecumenical aid, relief and development charity. There is also opportunity for meeting old friends and making new ones. A warm welcome is extended to Ferry Folk, people popping out from Dundee, and other visitors.
Friday 5th March, 2.30 pm United Reformed Church, Salem Lane World Day of Prayer Service.
Friday 5th March, 7.30 pm St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church, Queen Street Broughty Ferry World Day of Prayer Service.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Churches House Prayer Network

Daily prayers are led at 9.00 - 9.15 am, with Network members particularly asked to join, if possible, on Wednesday mornings.

Prayers are particularly invited for the ACTS Trustees, Interim Management Group, and Scottish Friends of Ecumenism for continuing work on the House governance process.

Prayers are invited this week for those using the House. We are asked also to remember Carol Stobie and her family following her recent resignation as House Director, and Genevieve Curran, Assistant Director.

Scottish Bible Society

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

  • national Bible Quiz for young people in Jamaica;
  • positive responses by young people in Norway to Northern and Southern Sami translations of the Bible;
  • Good Samaritan Programme in Finland, also sign language translation of the 'Jesus' film, and Finno-Ugric translation work.

Prayer Points for this week

  • The President and Vice-President of Conference in the Liverpool District;
  • Methodist Pension Schemes board meetings, Thursday;
  • Faith and Order Committee, Friday - Saturday;
  • District Policy Committee meeting, next Saturday;
  • Perth & Montrose Church Councils, Arbroath Pastoral Committee meeting this week (see Plan insert for dates);
  • Partners and projects in Mali (Christian Aid);
  • Harpur Community Health Centre, Sadat City (BibleLands);
  • projects in the Lincoln & Grimsby District (Methodist Homes);
  • Bible Society work in Thailand and in Jamaica;
  • The Leprosy Mission's work in south-east India;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino (WCC Prayer Calendar);
  • we remember fellow Methodists in Pontypool (S Wales) and in Paisley (Ayrshire & Renfrewshire Circuit).