16 December 2012

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.

Tuesday 25th December - Christmas Day

Please note the Church Council decision that this year there would NOT be a public Act of Worship in Marketgait, but encouragement given to worship in churches in local communities, and that Dundee Methodists mark Christmas by celebrating together at the Café Service on December 30th. There will therefore be no traditional Christmas Day offering for Action for Children, but please note the other opportunities this month to support AfC.

Action for Children

Traditionally, during December our support is invited for “Methodism's child and family care arm”. Envelopes are being available today for return during worship next Sunday or at the Café Service on 30th December.

Mission in Britain Fund

Support for this fund were invited on Advent Sunday, 2nd December. Donations have been received since and are still welcome, which may be gift-aided through the special envelopes (please hand to David Easson).

UNICEF Jars of Grace

The sum of £160.74 has so far been raised from Dundee Methodist Church. Any further contributions may be given to David Easson - the church cheque will be written in January. Thanks to all who supported this appeal this year.

Flower Rota

The Flower Rota for 2013 is now available from Elaine. There are currently FIVE vacancies for next year

Advent devotional material

• On-line devices give access to the following:
  • The Methodist, United Reformed and Baptist Union 'Joint Public Issues Team' recommended Advent Calendar “No Place Like Home”, to raise awareness of and reflect on homelessness issues
  • CAFOD (Roman Catholic church) Advent Calendar app for I-phones, I-pads, etc.
• ACTS' seasonal material includes
  • annual Advent Reflections, prepared by its former Assistant General Secretary, Rev Lindsay Sanderson, on the theme “ Together Towards Life”, based on the work of the WCC Commission on World Missions and Evangelism Conference, held in March in the Philippines;
  • 'Come all You Faithful - an Advent Journey with Palestinian People' published by the Church of Scotland with ALTERnativity and Christian Aid;
  • 'Keep Christ in Christmas' stickers for posted mail, contact Catholic Men's Society, tel 01698 842846, email georgemcaleenan@gmail.com

Methodist Prayer Handbook 2013-14

The editor, Primavera Quantrill, is inviting contributions for the next connexional Prayer Handbook and our Chair of Synod, Lily Twist, has expressed the hope that the District will again have a number of contributions included, ie of printed prayers and / or photographic illustrations.

The theme for 2013-14 is “Light and Hope”, based on lines from the hymn 'May the God of hope go with us everyday' (Singing the Faith 411).

Full details of requirements are available on the Vestibule table or from the Office or Synod members.

Contributions are to be sent by 16th January to the District Office, Scottish Churches House, Dunblane, FK15 0AJ; email: fiona@methodistchurch.plus.com.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in December for work in China and in January for work in Ukraine.

Our prayerful attention is drawn to

• work among Libyans and other refugees from sub-Saharan Africa crossing into Tunisia;
• translation of the New Testament into modern Gaelic;
• planning of future projects in Romania;
• youth programmes and youth-focussed Bible distribution in Hungary;
• indigenous language translation projects and sign language project in Brazil;
• building of Bible Centre and interactive Bible Museum in Lima, Peru;
• on-going translation projects into CaÑar Quichua and Imbabura Quichua in Ecuador;
• translation of the New Testament into the indigenous Wapishana language in Guyana;
• distribution of specially printed Bibles to c20,000 orphans in over 1000 orphanages in Ukraine.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President of Conference's MRDF visit to Nepal;
• those for whom this season 'brings back memories';
• work in Australia and Oceania (Mission Aviation Fellowship);
• The Leprosy Mission's work in Mozambique, southern Africa, & Zimbabwe, and in north central India;
• medical work in Al Ahli hospital, Gaza City; the 'My Dear Daughter' programme of Episcocare in Alexandria, Egypt (Embrace);
• projects in the Channel Islands (Methodist Homes);
• partners in Israel-Palestine, and in South Sudan (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in China and Ukraine;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Benin, CÔte d'Ivoire, Togo, and of Ghana & Nigeria* (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);

we remember fellow Methodists in Harpenden (Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District) and in Aberdeen (North of Scotland Mission Circuit).

• 9 December 2012
• 23 December 2012

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