31 July 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.

Retiring Offering

Opportunity is given to support the current Methodist Relief & Development Fund East Africa Drought Appeal today through the Retiring Offering plate. Please note that Gift Aid envelopes are available today. David will forward any subsequent donations.

Prayer Handbook 2011

Orders will be placed this week with Methodist Publishing as below. Please sign the sheet on the Vestibule table or let Jenny know if you wish an item:

• Prayer Handbook 2011-12, “Run the Race” (likely price £3.20 to include p&p)
• new Hymnbook “Singing the Faith”
  • full music - £25 pre-publication offer
  • words - £7.50 pre-publication offer
  • words large print - £12.50 (pre-publication)
  These will be available from September and the full prices charged after December.
• other items requested (see www.mph.org.uk)

“Hearing the Word”

A warm invitation is extended to all to this opportunity for learning and sharing ways of gaining deeper understanding of and insights into the Bible, in our Marketgait premises on Saturday 13th August.

The Day will begin with coffee at 10am and close at 4pm, with lunch at c.12.45pm (bring / go out for food, drinks provided) and will comprise 4 sessions from 10.30am.

“Hearing the Word” will be led by Rev Dr Alan Reid (Rutherford House, Edinburgh) and is open to all, whether experienced Bible students or those newly engaged in reading and exploring its meaning.

Please come yourself and ask others who may wish to join us; there is no charge - donations will be welcome. It would be helpful to have an idea of numbers so please indicate your wish to attend via

• methodistdundee@gmail.com or
• 01382 221319, leaving a message if necessary.

“Singing the Reformation” Exhibition

The Rev Maudeen MacDougall (Meadowside St Paul's) has drawn our attention to this exhibition in the Main Library, Edinburgh University, George Square, Edinburgh, from next Saturday to 28th October.

Opening times are as follows

• Aug 6th - 31st (“during the Fringe”): Monday - Saturday 10am to 5pm, closed Sundays
• September - October : Monday - Friday 10am to 5pm, closed Saturday and Sunday.

The Exhibition will include displays of the famous 8 extant Partbooks, illustrations of the life and work of Thomas Wode (the preserver of this music), the role of psalm-singing before & after the Reformation, and its continuing influence. See http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/divinity/research/projects/wode-psalter/wode-exhibition

2011 Rural Conference

Bill Reid (Connexional Liaison Officer / Scotland Ecumenical Officer) draws our attention to this event organized by The Scottish Churches Rural Group on the theme “Being Effective Disciples in Today's Countryside”, in the Stables Estate Room, Falkland, Fife, on Tuesday 30th August.

The programme has an interesting mix of topics covering elements of community development, health & well being, and 'fair food'. For an outline of the programme (9.45am coffee & registration, to 4pm closure) and booking form, see Vestibule table or contact ACTS, 7 Forrester Lodge, Inglewood House, Alloa FK10 2HU; 01259 215964; www.acts-scotland.org

British Methodist support for Norway

“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families of the victims who were killed in the atrocity that happened in Norway over (last) weekend. Roy Crowder, Partnership Coordinator for Europe, has been in touch with the United Methodist Church in Norway, expressing our profound shock and deep sadness at what has happened.” Vidar Sten Bjerkseth, the District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church in Norway, expressed his thanks for support from the Methodist Church in Britain, as has Christian Alsted, Bishop of the United Methodist Church Northern Europe, Nordic and Baltic Area: “In a time like this it is good to experience that we are indeed a connectional (sic) church”.

There are about 12,000 United Methodists in Norway, organized as an Annual Conference within the Nordic and Baltic Area of the Central Conference of Northern Europe, with Pastoral Leadership given by the two District Superintendents, Vidar S. Bjerkseth and Øyvind Helliessen and overall leadership vested in the Bishop of the Nordic and Baltic Area, Christian Alsted, based in Copenhagen. He is responsible for Annual Conferences also in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

On Day 26 the Methodist Prayer Handbook particularly invites our prayers with and for the people of Norway.

See www.methodist.org.uk; www.umc-ne.org/

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in August for its own work in Scotland.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• distribution of material in prisons in Switzerland;
• ministry among refugees and prisoners in Austria;
• 15-day tour of the People's Bible in the Highlands and Islands (of Scotland!), including City Square, Dundee, Monday & Tuesday;
• distribution standstill in Uzbekistan as impounded supplies have not yet been released;
• SBS presence at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (starts on Friday);
• impediments to work in Soviet Central Asia through severe restrictions on Christian activity, legal and financial obstacles;
• growth of fundraising, staffing, and advocacy in Namibia, also progress in translation work.

Prayer Points for this week

• The President and Vice-of Conference at the World Methodist Council and Conference, Durban, tomorrow to a week on Monday;
• Circuits welcoming Methodist ministers and families, especially in Scotland (Edinburgh & Forth, North of Scotland Mission, & Central Scotland);
• Church Stewards in our Circuit's congregations;
• residents and staff in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District (Methodist Homes);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda;
• Fairhaven School Alexandria's staff and pupils grieving after the explosion at Al-Qiddissin Coptic Church (BibleLands);
• the people of Zimbabwe, remembering the work of the Zimbabwe Peace Project and those dependenton 'food aid' (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Russia and in Scotland;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Canada and the USA (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in the North East Kent Circuit (South-East District) and all in the Granton Ecumenical Partnership (Edinburgh & Forth Circuit).

• 24 July 2011
• 7 August 2011

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