Dundee Methodist Church

21 March 2010

Next Sunday: 28 March 2010 - Palm Sunday

11 am
Worship led by Mr Charles Richmond

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.

Lent Observance

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

Circuit Stationing Update

Keith Pearson (Senior Circuit Steward) intimates that the Circuit Meeting on Wednesday agreed to extend an invitation to the Rev Benson Chongo (United Church of Zambia) to serve in our Circuit from 1st September, with pastoral charge at Perth and Blairgowrie. A “task force” was appointed to purchase a Manse in or near Perth.

Property Matters

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. If you can assist in maintaining stocks, even if in just one aspect, please sign the list where there are still blanks. Thanks!

Ladders available - free - for uplift (consult David E or Dennis for whereabouts, etc)

  • one domestic standard step-ladder;
  • one domestic standard two-part extension ladder

This is because Marketgait now has “commercial standard” ladders as instructed by the Health and Safety officer.

“Saving Lives Changing Lives”

The British Red Cross is looking for volunteers in Dundee and Perth for a project to teach life-saving skills to vulnerable groups in the local community (eg a short awareness-raising workshop for young mothers, informal programme on risk of hypothermia, adapted first aid for those with disabilities). The search is for “motivated volunteers interested in helping their community to learn vital lifesaving skills” - no previous knowledge necessary, training given, commitment ideally to an afternoon or morning once a week. Contact: Wilson Macduff (07748515916; 01382 200084).

Date & timeVenueDetails
Monday 22nd March 2010, 7.30 pm Dundee Methodist Church, “L” Pastoral Committee
Monday 23rd March 2010, 7.30 pm the Phillips' Church Stewards' Meeting
Tuesday 23rd March 2010, 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 March 2010, 10 am to 4 pm Al-Maktoum Institute, 124 Blackness Road, DD1 5PE “Race and Religion in Dundee”. A Conference, under the auspices of Citizens Advice Bureau, designed to<
  • promote active citizenship
  • support victims of racial and religious crime
  • overcome discrimination and barriers to employment, education and training.

It would help catering provision if those planning to attend registered by Friday 26th February with John White or Zoe Watson - tel (01382) 431581; email : johnw@dundeecab.casonline.org.uk or zoewatson@dundeecab.casonline.org.uk.
Wednesday 24th March, 7.30 pm St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church, Queen Street, Broughty Ferry (map) Broughty Ferry Lent meeting using CTBI material “On the Edge of His Pain”, “Peter”. The theme is being linked to BBC broadcasts.
Wednesday 24th March, 7.30 pm St Paul's Cathedral, 1 High Street, Dundee Dundee University Music Society : Concert including Mozart's “Requiem” by the University orchestra and choir. Tickets : £6 adults, £4 concessions, £3 students.
Friday 26th March 2010, 10.30 am to 3 pm Meadowside St Paul’s Free Event for Family Members affected by Substance Misuse in the Dundee area. The organisers are Dundee City Alcohol & Drug Partnership (Dundee ADP) and the Scottish Network for Families Affected by Drugs (SNFAD). Other Services in attendance will include Citizens Advice Scotland / Kinship Care, Addiction, CrossReach, Tayside Council on Alcohol, Dundee Association for Mental Health, Relationship Scotland, and others to be confirmed.
The Programme features a Workshop on Kinship Care (10.30 am - 11.30 am), and from 12 noon to 3 pm there will be opportunity to visit stalls and talk with representatives from local services. Light refreshments and crèche are to be provided.
For further information and booking, please contact Lisa Finlayson (0141 221 0544) or lisa@snfad.org.uk.
Friday 26th 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.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Churches House Prayer Network

Prayers are invited this week for events in the House, especially the “Interfaith Sacred Stories” event on Wednesday evening.

See the Vestibule table and noticeboards for leaflets of other forthcoming events and a copy of the House Programme.

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

  • progress in relationships between churches in the Dominican Republic;
  • regional project for secondary schools in the East Caribbean to work with students and staff;
  • expected completion of Haitian Creole Study Bible, also economic and moral recovery in Haiti;
  • elections in Suriname, also translation projects.

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Friday 1st April 2010 - meet at 12 noon St Andrew’s RC Cathedral (map) to City Square Procession of Witness, meeting at St. Andrew's RC Cathedral and proceeding to City Square for an open air service.
Thursday 22nd April, 7 - 9 pm St Leonard's Church, Hepburn Gardens, St Andrews Christian Aid Roadshow with Kathy Galloway (writer, broadcaster, former Leader Iona Community). To book a free place, contact 0131 220 1254 or edinburgh@christian-aid.org .
Saturday 12 June, from 2 pm Tay Road Bridge Christian Aid Tay Road Bridge Crossing; see www.christianaid.org.uk/fundraising/walks to register.

Prayer Points for this week

  • The President of Conference in the York and Hull District;
  • Diaconal and Ministers Candidates Selection Committees;
  • Education, Prison and Workplace Chaplaincy in Scotland;
  • Rev Benson Chongo, his wife & 3 daughters, and our preparations to welcome them to this Circuit;
  • continuing campaigns on tax issues (Christian Aid);
  • Refuge Egypt in Cairo, serving as first port of call for displaced people fleeing conflicts in other parts of Africa (BibleLands);
  • projects in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District (Methodist Homes);
  • The Leprosy Mission's welfare and rehabilitation work;
  • Bible Society work in Jamaica;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of China (WCC Prayer Calendar);
  • we remember fellow Methodists in Newport, Gwent (S Wales) and in Girvan (Ayrshire & Renfrewshire Circuit).