3 February 2013

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.

For Methodist Genealogy Enthusiasts!

Methodist Heritage has now launched the second of three Methodist Family History websites. The first one focussed on Primitive Methodism and the new site, My Methodist History, invites sharing of past Methodist stories of places and people. This is free to use after registration.

A Methodist stand, featuring all three website strands, will be part of the 'Who Do You Think You Are' Exhibition at London Olympia from February 22nd - 24th.

“Enough Food for Everyone IF”

Christian Aid Scotland has now circulated report of the Scotland launch coinciding with that in London on Wednesday 23rd January.

The Campaign - the largest since the “Make Poverty History” movement of 2005 - calls on the Prime Minister, to take action, during the UK's Presidency of the G8, on the root causes of the hunger crisis in the poorest countries.

The IF movement challenges David Cameron to tackle Four Big IFs to make sure there is enough food for everyone

• IF we stop poor farmers being forced off their land and use the available agricultural land to grow food for people, not biofuels for cars;
• IF governments keep their promises on aid, and invest to stop children dying from malnutrition and help the poorest people feed themselves, through investment in small farmers;
• IF governments close loopholes to stop big companies evading tax in poor countries, so that millions of people can free themselves from hunger;
• IF we force governments and investors to be honest and open about the deals they make in the poorest countries that stop people getting enough food.

“In a world where there is enough food for everyone, the fact that not everyone has enough to eat is nothing short of a scandal. We want Scotland to play its part in building a world where no child has to go hungry.”

(Kathy Galloway, Head of Christian Aid, Scotland)

“Remembering the Contribution of our Veteran Heroes”

Jim McGovern MP has written as in past years to draw attention to his campaign to encourage those who are eligible to apply for a Veteran Lapel Badge and / or the UK Merchants Seafarers Badge, as well as the unique Bevin Boys Badge for those who worked in coalfields in wartime conditions.

There are newer Schemes to recognise the contributions of the Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps with the award of appropriate badges.

Forms are available on the vestibule table for completion and return; Mr McGovern asks that appropriate encouragement be to any who may be eligible to make application under these Schemes.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support through the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in February for work in Fiji.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• Dayspring Yacht Mission in Fiji travelling on a distribution project;
• United Bible Societies project 'the Bible changes lives' engaging with communities in Ecuador;
• media focus on the modern ecumenical translation of the Bible into Latvian launched in October and celebrations of the centenary of Bible work in Latvia this year;
• development of ParaText software for translation and checking work.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President of Conference in Cornwall next weekend;
• the work of the Connexional Liaison Officer, Scotland, Bill Reid;
• preparations for ecumenical Lent Studies in and outwith our own communities;
• work in Chad, a country of internal conflicts and widespread poverty (Mission Aviation Fellowship);
• The Leprosy Mission facing the challenges of change;
• Zvartnotz Centre in Beirut's new sheltered employment scheme for young adults (Embrace);
• projects in the Leeds District (Methodist Homes);
• focus on Kenya, Zimbabwe and Bolivia for Christian Aid Week (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Fiji;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Chelmsford (Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District) and in Buckie (North of Scotland Mission Circuit).

• 27 January 2013
• 10 February 2013

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