16 October 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.

Harvest - Methodist Relief & Development Fund

Envelopes are still available for return via the offering plate.

UNICEF “Jars of Grace”

In our annual support of the work of United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 'Jars of Grace' are being distributed today for return during worship on or after Sunday 30th October. The money placed in the Jars ('before eating a meal' is suggested) supports the focus of this year's Appeal:

For more information see Jar leaflets / labels, www.unicef.org.uk, or contact Mary F.

October Café Service

It has been suggested by the Service & Mission Committee that the work of the Link Club provide the focus for the Café Service on Sunday 30th October, to help the congregation as a whole to know more of the Club's work and as a way of observing “Mission in Britain” Sunday. The Club's 'Church Helpers' have worked together to prepare material for this Service, with the support of others in the Club.

“Discipleship” booklets and the “Church Consultation”

As recently intimated, the Church Council is convening a special Open Meeting for ALL Dundee Methodists and friends, over and after a faith lunch following worship on Sunday 6th November. This is to support our participation in the wider discussions and decisions of the Circuit, District and Connexion in the light of the demands and challenges facing the Church as a whole and in its various parts.

There will be a Special Circuit Meeting (open to anyone) on November 23rd to take forward the views of the five congregations in the Angus Dundee & Perthshire Circuit.

The “Discipleship” booklets (available from last week) have been obtained to help prior individual reflection on some of the wider themes and issues: please make sure you have access to and read these booklets before the Open Meeting, as 'background material'.

Church Council members hope that there will be as full support of the Open meeting as possible; if you cannot be there, please convey your thoughts to the Rev Mary Patterson or a Dundee member of the Circuit Meeting (Tom P, Alan, David E, Heather, 'tricia or Lorna).

“The Dundee Nativity”

“Two years ago, Dundee City Council renamed the switching-on of the city's Christmas Lights as “Winter Light” in City Square. After protests by the churches, the name was changed to Christmas Light Night, and the Christmas Message was put back in the programme.

It was also suggested that the churches could present an open-air Nativity Play, to tell the story of the birth of Jesus, and this offer was accepted by the City Council. The play took place for the first time last year, and the vision is to make this an annual event.

Rehearsals have now begun for the Dundee Nativity 2011, which will be on Friday 25th November at 7.15 pm, in the area between the Overgate Shopping Centre and the Steeple Church.

Suzanne Lofthus, director, will shortly be casting people for the various roles. Some parts involve learning a few lines, and there is still room for new recruits to the choir.

Anyone wanting more information should contact Allan Webster allan.webster@wpcscotland.co.uk ; (01382) 458764”

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in October for Sri Lanka. Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• development of Bible Society in Angola, especially a new Bible House with provision for guests;
• teamwork among staff in Chad, also a new distribution vehicle;
• completion of two translation projects in Sudan;
• Ethiopian Bible Society and its General Secretary, Ato Yilma Getahun.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President of Conference visiting the East Anglia District, next weekend;
• Connexional Stationing Committee, Wednesday;
• Episcopal, Methodist, & United Reformed Church (EMU) meeting, Edinburgh, Thursday;
• discussion and preparations for the special open Circuit Meeting;
• projects, staff and residents in London (Methodist Homes);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in India;
• Millennium Development Goal to eradicate extreme hunger by 2015 - today is World Food Day (Christian Aid);
• Mission Aviation work in Kenya with partner missions and agencies;
• Swedish International Relief Association School, Bethlehem, working with children with special needs (BibleLands);
• Bible Society work in Sri Lanka;
• we pray with and for the peoples of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Hastings, Bexhill and Rye Circuit (South-East District) and in Milton (Glasgow Circuit).

• 9 October 2011
• 23 October 2011

© 2002—2021 Dundee Methodist Church Scottish Charity number: SC037954.