20 February 2011

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.
We give a warm welcome to the Rev Dr Brian Talbot as he leads worship today in Marketgait and ask that he convey our greetings to our friends in the Broughty Ferry Baptist Church.
Our prayers are invited today (Education Sunday) for all involved with teaching and learning, formally and informally.

Preaching Plans

Plans for March-May are now available on the glass-top Vestibule table; please take / distribute, as appropriate.

We are asked to note that a change has been agreed for Sunday 27th March when the Rev Dr Gerald Bostock will conduct Communion in Marketgait so the Rev Mary Patterson can be in Arbroath.

Worship Group résumé

At Wednesday's meeting,

• it was agreed to host in Marketgait an ecumenical Act of Worship (possibly a Passover Meal) led by the Rev Mary Patterson, on Maundy Thursday (21st April);
• arrangements were agreed for a suitable Liturgy to be included in Sunday worship during Lent and at Easter (Sundays 13th March - April 24th);
• after considering the range of “Bibles to read in a Year” still available, it was agreed that a sample of the “Sole Survivor” edition be obtained (hopefully by Sunday) with a view to ordering a supply;
• a suggestion was made that the two regular Bible Groups be on set Thursdays each month with a supplementary session on Sunday mornings at 10 am for those unable to manage Thursday (Tom Penman is co-ordinating this);
• Café-Church on Sunday 29th May agreed to have a “World Church” theme, using the wider knowledge of those regularly worshipping in Marketgait;
• “early singing” to be further considered, given the smaller numbers of possible leaders and people present at 10.45 am on “first Sundays of the month”.

Church Council news

The Council met on Wednesday and

• appointed Margaret Goudie as Council Secretary and considered a nomination to the Circuit Meeting for a (Dundee) Circuit Steward;
• agreed to proceed with arrangements for a “Hearing the Word” event in July or August, as part of the “Year of the Bible”, to be offered to the Circuit and ecumenical partners also;
• heard and accepted reports from the Pastoral Committee, Children's Group, Link Club, Service & Mission Committee, Church Treasurer, and Property Convener, also noting the new requirements to be advised for Safeguarding to comply with recent legislation on contact with “vulnerable adults”;
• heard that the current team of Church Stewards would value new colleagues (ie 2 more would be great!);
• agreed the annual General Church Meeting will be on Saturday 25th June from 10 am (coffee);
• arranged its next meetings for Wednesday 22nd June (if necessary) and Wednesday 21st September.

Year of the Bible 2011

"Cupar Baptist Church are hosting a production of 'Eden To Eternity', effectively the Bible brought to life in an hour.

This production is highly rated and I am assured that Saltmine Theatre are excellent.

The production is at the Corn Exchange in Cupar on 12th March at 7.30 pm and I have some tickets and could get more - £7 or Concessions £6. (If you feel like going - we will throw in tea at our house beforehand for free!!)

More info on www.eden2eternity.org"

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited for work in February for work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. See noticeboard in library area for more information.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• opportunities for people to receive Bibles in Afghanistan, especially when under persecution;
• effects of terrorism and last year's flooding on distribution in Pakistan, also impact of the new Urdu Study Bible;
• distribution of more than 100,000 Persian Scriptures round the world, also use of the new Children's Bible.

Action for Children Scotland Challenge

Our attention is drawn by Hilary Canto (AfCS Northern Area Fundraiser) to the “First Ever 238-Mile Highland Walk for AfC”, to be undertaken by Ronnie Rae and friends. Their plan is to leave Buckie at 7 am on Saturday 11th June and they aim to arrive in Milngavie around 3 pm on Friday 17th June.

Sponsorship and donations are invited and can be made:

• via David Easson as Church Treasurer
• on-line at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NE2SW.

There is also to be an “Adrenalin Drop” at Inverness Castle on Saturday 5th March. For details of this and other events, contact Hilary at Action for Children Scotland, 1st Floor, Highland Rail House, Station Square, Inverness IV1 1LE; tel: 01463 717227; 07803 115475; email: hilary.canto@actionforchildren.org.uk

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President and Vice-President of Conference visiting Israel-Palestine;
• Connexional Strategy & Resources Cttee, Wednesday-Thursday;
• ecumenical partners in Dundee and our own home communities;
• Superintendent Ministers in the Scotland District;
• Montrose Pastoral Committee meeting, Monday;
• residents and staff in homes and projects in the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District (Methodist Homes);
• Swiss Evangelical School's work in Majdelandar, Lebanon (BibleLands);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Botswana, D R Congo, and Zambia;
• Ekta Parishad's 'March for Social Justice 2010 -2011', in India (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Democratic Republic of Congo;
• we pray with and for the peoples of France and Germany (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Vale of Glamorgan Circuit (Wales Synod) and in Armadale (Central Scotland Circuit).

• 13 February 2011
• 27 February 2011

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