Dundee Methodist Church

5 January 2014

Next Sunday
12 January 2014

11 am
Worship led by Mr Keith Pearson

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.

Envelopes for weekly offerings

Envelopes for 2014 are now available. Contact Mary Foster for details of this scheme and information about Gift Aid.

AfC / Action for Children

Donations, which are traditionally given to AfC (as to its predecessors) at this season of the year, will be sent with the specific request that they be used locally in Dundee. These comprise the collections at Communion and the Service of Lessons and Carols. Other donations may be handed to the Church Treasurer, David Easson.

Philippines Typhoon Relief

The sum so far raised through the retiring offering for donations via MRDF amounts to £95. The plate for offerings is out for a further week today.

MRDF have already sent an initial donation of £90,000, channelled through its ACT Alliance partner, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UNMCOR).

Details of relief work on site.

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.

Thanks are expressed for all contributions, from church folk or others using our premises and facilities.

Methodist Prayer Handbook 2014-15

The request has been made for prayers and images for inclusion in the next Handbook, on the theme “Partners in Sacrifice” (a phrase from Fred Pratt Green's hymn: H&P 804 / StF 415). Prayers should be no more than 120 words in length and submitted by 12th January. More detailed information.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in January for work in Burundi. See library area noticeboard.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

  • work with young people in Burundi which has a long history of ethnic civil war;
  • the Costa Rica Bible Society reaching to the Bribri indigenous group and also the migrant population, in the project: 'A Bible for every home in Costa Rica';
  • Bible distribution especially among the Miskitu people, and to children;
  • safety of Bible Society staff in El Salvador where there is much violence.

“Penny Gospel” and The Commonwealth Games

The Scottish Bible Society is preparing to launch a major Scripture project in connection with the Games in Glasgow next year. This will involve production and distribution of a special edition of Luke's Gospel, with inspiring stories of sporting men and women who believe their faith is worth More Than Gold. The aim is for thousands of copies to be given away in local communities, with a basic price of a penny per copy. Whilst the retail cost per copy will be set at 1p, the actual cost is nearer 20p, so this SBS initiative requires support. This can include signing up to a dedicated Penny Gospel prayer email at www.pennygospel.org.uk. See also the SBS letter on the library noticeboard.

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Saturday 18th January 2014, 2pm to 5pm rehearsal, 6.30pm performance. Broughty New Kirk “Come and Sing 'Messiah' ”. We are all encouraged to join this performance - no previous experience is necessary - but if you feel singing is not your gift, support as a member of the audience will also be welcomed!
The sum of £5 per person participating is requested, along with booking - vocal scores can be provided if required. There will be refreshments available after the performance.
For booking forms to indicate part sung, need for score and Gift Aid, see Vestibule table, contact New Kirk on (01382) 738624, or email office@broughtynewkirk.com.

Prayer Points for this week

  • The Orthodox Churches who celebrate Christmas in January;
  • Christians worshipping and witnessing world-wide, in a variety of circumstances and cultures;
  • The President of Conference at the Strategic Oversight Group, 9th January;
  • rehabilitation programme at the Princess Basma Centre for Children with Disabilities, Jerusalem (Embrace);
  • residents, staff and supporters in Scotland ( Methodist Homes);
  • flying in Papua New Guinea (MAF);
  • work of partner, Water Action, in Ethiopia (Christian Aid);
  • Bible Society work in Lesotho and Burundi;
  • we pray with and for the countries of the Middle East and Arabia (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);
  • we remember Methodists in Birstall and Spen (West Yorkshire District) and in Banff (North of Scotland Mission Circuit).