3 August 2014

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.

Gift Aid

In the tax year finishing earlier this year, with Mary Foster's hard work, particularly with the new additional Small Donations Scheme, the Church has been sent £5869.41. Of this £5066.81 is “traditional” Gift Aid, £676.41 the new Small Donations money (based only on _ of the year ie since we started our new recording scheme) and then three sums which the Treasurer must pass on to Mission Treasurers viz World Mission Fund (£70.83), Mission in Britain (£47.61) and Easter Offering (£7.75).

Many thanks to all, but especially Mary Foster!

Chairs

No need to stack them away today - Church Stewards

Dundee Methodists and Food Banks

We support the Dundee Foodbank by bringing in any of the suggested items from the Shopping List (on the table on the upstairs landing) and placing them in the large blue Bucket provided nearby. An explanatory slip is also available. There is also need for plastic carrier bags of suitable size; please place any spares by the Bucket. Monetary donations are also welcome. Contact Liz Kay for further information.

Montrose Service of Thanksgiving

A service to commemorate the work and witness of Montrose Methodists through their New Wynd premises will be held on Sunday 24th August at 6pm, followed by refreshments served in the hall. The invited Preacher will be the Rev Tony Wells, former Minister in the (then) Arbroath and Montrose Circuit.

Rotas

The Church Stewards are grateful to all who assist on Sundays and will welcome additions to the various teams. If you can assist with counting the collection after worship, offering welcome to those arriving for worship, or serving refreshments after worship, please let Fiona Thomas or another Church Steward know.

District Youth Event

Information is available about this gathering at Dalguise Perthshire from September 5th - 7th; two places were reserved until June 6th for young people (P7 to S4) for each Circuit but some are still available.

If you are interested please advise the Rev Mary Patterson and also contact Hayley Dunn Hayley@ymcaedinburgh.com or Terry Wright wesleyhorse@googlemail.com .

“Mission Matters” - the work of the main Methodist funds

The four main Methodist Funds are

• The World Mission Fund, supporting programmes administered through the World Church Relationship;
• The Mission in Britain Fund, supporting a wide spectrum of mission;
• The Methodist Church Fund for Property, working in aid of or on behalf of the Trustees of Methodist Properties;
• The Methodist Church Fund, at the core of Methodism facilitating all areas of being a Church.

World Mission Fund supports

• Mission Partners from the UK funded to work with Partner Churches abroad (see Prayer Handbook for people & places);
• Scholarship and Leadership Training Grants funding the post of a national from a Partner Church to study in the UK or in another southern hemisphere country;
• National Mission Partner Appointments funding the post of a national from a Partner Church to do strategic mission work for the Church for 5 years;
• Annual Grants to support the general functioning of the Church or partner organisation;
• General Grants sent to Churches or partner organisations to meet unexpected needs, eg disaster relief, medical equipment.

The Fund works through partners, by ascertaining and responding to their assessment of their needs.

Mission in Britain Fund supports a wide spectrum of mission:

• mission alongside the poor (in Scotland this is channelled via FiSCAF);
• chaplaincy;
• sharing the gospel with all ages;
• ministering opportunities at Methodist Heritage sites;
• using church properties to serve local communities.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in August for work in Bangladesh.

Our prayerful attention this week is drawn to

• Commemoration Service in Glasgow Cathedral tomorrow to mark the centenary of Britain's entry into the Great War and to remember all who suffered and lost their lives;
• completion of the Hebrew Old Testament in audio format and distribution of the audio Book of Psalms to the elderly, sick, and visually impaired in Israel;
• work of the Jordan Bible Society to meet the basic living and spiritual needs of Syrian refugees;
• need for lasting peace and stability in Kuwait.

Prayer Points for this week

• The President-designate, the Rev Steve Wild, and the Vice-President-designate of Conference, Mrs Jill Barber;
• local congregations of our EMU partners - the Scottish Episcopal and United Reformed Churches;
• Bible Society work in Bangladesh;
• residents, staff and supporters in the Sheffield District (Methodist Homes);
• outreach in Arnhem Land, (MAF);
• work in Bhutan and Nepal (The Leprosy Mission);
• Shams el Birr's disability rights campaign in Egypt (Embrace);
• we pray with and for the peoples Canada and the USA (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Eastleigh (Southampton District) and in Alexandria (Glasgow Circuit).

• 27 July 2014
• 10 August 2014

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