7 March 2010

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.

World Church Sunday

To help us focus on our belonging to the worldwide Church Barry Parkin (Perth Methodist Church) has accepted our invitation to share some of the experiences he and his wife Chris had whilst serving recently with VSO in Namibia. This will form part of our worship and continue over a Faith Lunch. Apologies are extended for the lack of notice in last week's news-sheet. It is hoped that a good number of people will be able to stay for this - there is usually sufficient food to go round!.

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.

Lent Observance

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

• Dundee City Centre:
  • Tuesday Lent Study Groups, in Meadowside St Paul’s , at 7.30 pm, using The Leprosy Mission's “The Cost of Discipleship” material (downloadable from www.leprosymission.org.uk/resources/lent.aspx / contact David Firth).
• Broughty Ferry Churches Group:
  • Wednesday Lent meeting in Our Lady of Good Counsel, Westfield Road, Broughty Ferry at 7.30 pm led by Roman Catholics and Methodists, using CTBI material “On the Edge of His Pain”, this week's topic: “Judas”. The theme is being linked to BBC broadcasts.

Church Council points

At the meeting on Friday 19th February the Council considered

• possible future Welcome Lunch after worship -remitted to Worship Group for consideration, if appropriate thereafter to Church Stewards;
• neighbourhood development - decision taken that, in current circumstances, we proceed on an assumption that there is little prospect of development in foreseeable future;
• Circuit Stationing (2 CLT members were present to listen)
• reflections from Church Council members on implications of only 1 Minister stationed for next year
• identification of possible effects on Dundee people, work, and premises (site for a Circuit Office?)
• re-appointments of office-holders; thanks to Louisa who has intimated resignation as crèche-coordinator; note of vacant Property Stewards posts;
• reports heard from Committees and office-holders
• dates agreed
  • General Church Meeting - Saturday 19th June, coffee at 10 am for meeting at 10.30 am
  • Council - Wednesdays 16th June and 22nd September

“Replacement of Property Maintenance Items”

A four-page list has been pinned up on both the Vestry and the Office noticeboards (ie not publicly) indicating various items used on our premises (some are “basic but essential”- eg First Aid box, light bulbs, toilet rolls). It is helpful if responsibility for keeping stocks at a sensible level is shared. If you can assist, even if in just one aspect, please sign the list where there are still blanks. Thanks!

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 increased effort needed during this year to increase use of the House, both through its Programme and in its use by other Groups and Organizations”.

Prayers are invited this week for those using the House, including the “All the Way from Plough to Plate” evening with Rev Richard Frazer on Wednesday.

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

• Bible Society in Sweden's aim to increase interest in the Bible in schools and churches;
• safety of Bible Society staff through times of violence and earthquake in Honduras;
• meeting of SBS Board on Friday;
• increase of Scripture distribution in Guatemala and expansion of translation work with 9 ethnic languages now available;
• outreach to poor children and marginalised communities in Costa Rica.

Prayer Points for this week

• The President and Vice-President of Conference in the Darlington District from Wednesday;
• Lay Employees, Children's & Youth Workers Conference;
• Scotland Methodist Relief and Extension Fund officers;
• District Superintendents' Forum, Tuesday - Wednesday;
• UN Day for Women's Rights and International Peace, Monday; partners in Afghanistan (Christian Aid);
• The Salaam Centre providing health care in Cairo, including to the Zabaleen rubbish-sorters (BibleLands);
• projects in the Liverpool District (Methodist Homes);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Bangladesh;
• Bible Society work in Jamaica;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Burma and Thailand (WCC Prayer Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Blackwood, Chepstow and Caldicot (S Wales) and in Barrhead (Ayrshire & Renfrewshire Circuit).

• 28 February 2010
• 14 March 2010

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