8 May 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.

An Ecumenical Partner's Use of our Premises

Our neighbours in the Dundee Salvation Army Central Corps have been advised that their premises must no longer be used, for reasons of health and safety. Following their urgent request to the Rev Mary Patterson last Wednesday, Church Council members electronically agreed to the use of our premises on a regular basis for their Sunday worship and possibly other meetings. At a meeting on Thursday afternoon between representative Methodists and the SA Lieut Chris Downie, arrangements were agreed for regular Worship on Sunday afternoons from 22nd May at least until the autumn, a “one off” 'Roadshow' this Wednesday, and a possible further mid-week use should that request be made.

Church Council members are confident that Dundee Methodists would wish to be welcoming and supportive in offering hospitality and help to “a neighbour in need”, especially when the request has come from one of our ecumenical partners.

Safeguarding Training

To raise awareness of new safeguarding requirements, the Methodist Church is running training sessions. The literature indicates that attendance is “required” by those who belong to various categories. These include Local Preachers, those working with 0-18 year olds in the name of the church, class leaders, a representative of the Church stewards, a representative of the circuit stewards and those working with vulnerable adults.

A session entitled “Creating Safer Space - Module A” is to be held in our circuit in late June led by Audrey Hensman, freelance trainer. The session takes 2.5 hours, and the current proposal is to hold it on Sunday 26th June in Dundee (presumably early afternoon would suit us best), on the evening of Monday 27th June in Blairgowrie, and in the afternoon or evening of Tuesday 28th June (in Arbroath or Montrose?), but an alternative date the previous weekend may be possible. Anyone unable to attend the session in their own church would be welcome to attend one of the other two sessions.

If you are one of those required to attend (most of us in fact!) and wish to express a view on the date or the timing, please let Ian G know today (Sunday 8th May).

Methodist Art Collection in Scotland (again)

The Methodist Art Collection is to feature as a central part of the “Shadows of the Divine” Exhibition in New College, Edinburgh from 14th May to 11th June. The exhibition sets the pictures alongside a rare first edition of the 1611 King James Bible. The aim is to explore how pictures set in a literary context can represent and even contribute to the search for peace.

The Methodist Art Collection, begun in the 1960s and a unique collection of Christian art, includes more than 40 works by Graham Sutherland, Elisabeth Frink and many other renowned artists. It is described as “one of the most significant collections of its kind ever assembled”.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

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

• Bible distribution and literacy projects in dangerous conditions in Democratic Republic of Congo;
• partnership with the Salvation Army in the Good Samaritan Programme (HIV / AIDS) in Congo Brazzaville.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President of Conference in Cornwall this weekend;
• Overnight Prayer Vigil in SCH Chapel Dunblane, Tuesday - Wednesday, and ACTS Meetings in Edinburgh on Wednesday anent the future of Scottish Churches House;
• The District's Property Consents Panel - its members and work;
• election of a new Bishop of Brechin next Saturday;
• our Salvation Army neighbours as they face upheaval;
• homes and projects in the Isle of Man and Channel Islands (Methodist Homes);
• The Leprosy Mission's promotional work;
• Refuge Egypt's increasing workload from recent events in Sudan and Libya (BibleLands);
• The Nairobi settlement of Matopeni, focus of CA Week last year (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Iraq;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Kenya and Tanzania (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Ceredigion Circuit (Wales Synod) and our Circuit colleagues based in Riverside, Blairgowrie (Angus, Dundee & Perthshire Circuit

• 1 May 2011
• 15 May 2011

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