10 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.

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.

Prayer Handbooks

The ordered supply has now arrived and copies can be collected from Jenny Easson today. If you wish a copy and did not manage to place an order, please see her as there may be some spares available.

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.

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.

“All We Can” - Methodist Relief and Development Fund

During this year in which MRDF celebrates 70 years of helping people in the world's poorest communities, a change of name has been introduced: All We Can

This reflects the words of John Wesley:

The change of name does not mean any departure from Methodism's roots and deep commitment to practical social justice. It seeks to emphasise “the dedication to serving those often overlooked by others: the communities that need us most.”

Our Harvest Worship, on Sunday September 28th, will as usual feature material produced by All We Can / Methodist Relief and Development, with envelopes available for donations. An invited speaker is also to address the September Synod as part of its business.

The Methodist Modern Art Collection

This collection originated in the 1960s when John Morel Gibbs, a Methodist layman and art collector, decided to create a collection to help develop the appreciation of the insights that contemporary artists could bring to the Christian story. There was also the intention that prime examples of such work could be toured around the country. Assisted by the Rev Douglas Wollen, a collection was formed and developed; it is now described as “the best denominational collection of modern art outside the Vatican” and includes leading names from the British world of art over the past 100 years. It now comprises 50 paintings, prints, drawings, relief and mosaic works.

It is stored, when not on tour, under the care of a custodian at the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History, Oxford Brookes University. Formal ownership of the Collection lies with the Methodist Council, and direct responsibility is devolved to a team of curatorial trustees.

The Catalogue and postcards of some works are available for purchase and the Collection can be viewed online

“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 Property Fund, 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.

The Property Fund supports the work in aid of or on behalf of the Trustees for Methodist Properties:

• encouraging mission through enhancement and increased flexibility of facilities, through re-ordering, rebuilding, altering and extending as appropriate for the needs of the church and the community it serves;
• encouraging sustainable use of resources and carbon footprint;
• enabling the Church to be a place of welcome, a place of peace, and a place where people can meet God;
• enhancing the overall experience;
• growing churches in being able to provide or to facilitate a range of activities for all;
• enabling the building to be accessible to all.

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

• Christians in Libya where few churches are able to remain open;
• development of the Peace and Justice Bible and of the Western Armenian Study Bible in Lebanon, also provision of relief to thousands of Syrian refugees;
• an end to the conflict and the bringing of lasting peace in Syria;
• the Bible Society in Lesotho in the face of need for political peace.

Prayer Points for this week

• the Vice-President of Conference in the Newcastle upon Tyne district next weekend;
• The ACTS Secretariat - Matthew Ross, Ian Boa, Shona Paterson, and Miriam Weibye (who has succeeded Tom Moyes on his retiral);
• Bible Society work in Bangladesh;
• residents and staff in the Southampton District ( Methodist Homes);
• pioneering in Liberia, (MAF);
• Christian Aid Collective mobilising young people;
• work in central India ( The Leprosy Mission);
• mobile health clinics for isolated communities around Nablus (Embrace);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand and of Australia (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Southampton ( Southampton District) and in Paisley (Ayrshire & Renfrewshire Circuit).

• 3 August 2014
• 17 August 2014

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