19 January 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.

Offerings for Action for Children

Donations in December amounted to £164.60. Any further donations may be handed to Church Stewards in the next two weeks; the Church Treasurer, David Easson intends to send the final amount off in the last week of January.

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.

“Flesh and Blood” Church Challenge

Churches across the UK, including the Methodist Church, are being challenged to raise the profile of blood and organ donation, as part of their giving, with encouragement to become “Donor Churches”.

For further details, see www.methodist.org.uk; or www.fleshandblood.org.

London Marathon Sponsorship Request

The Rev Malcolm Rothwell, one of our former Ministers here, (and someone who has reached a certain “Biblical age”) has emailed his intention to take part in this year's London Marathon on Sunday 13th April, running in support of the Help the Hospices. If you wish to support his chosen charity - and of course “mad, stark raving bonkers” Malcolm himself, you may do so through www.justgiving - link through 'search for friends' and enter his name. Alternatively you can text ROTH 70 plus an amount donated to 70070 Malcolm commends to us 1 Corinthians ch 1 and the fact that 13th April is Palm Sunday (we celebrate a donkey ride into a capital city, he runs a long way in a capital city ….)

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

1. 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
   • project in Myanmar / Burma for Scripture engagement with young people, also the Bible needs of the Kachin people;
   • translation projects in Bangladesh, also the Faith Comes By Hearing programme, and work among children;
   • Action Group volunteers across Scotland planning activities, also speakers to churches and groups.
2. Updates from last year's Calendar months:
   • encouragement in Lebanon for the Bible to feature more prominently in culture and daily life. Several exhibitions have been held, showcasing the Bible in community. There is also work with underprivileged communities, distribution of Scriptures, and practical help given to migrant workers;
   • work in Ukraine with children and teenagers feeling isolated and abandoned, having been orphaned or become homeless. The Bible Society has sought to provide support, including through provision of Scripture, to assure them of being loved and valued.

“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.

Prayer Points for this week

• the President of Conference in the Bedfordshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire District next weekend;
• Connexional Ministries Committee, Tuesday;
• marking of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in our communities and throughout the world;
• microenterprises set up for disadvantaged Egyptians by BLESS (Bishopric of Ecumenical and Social Service) (Embrace);
• work in Kenya ( MAF);
• residents, staff and supporters in South East England (Methodist Homes);
• our 41 sponsoring churches (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Burundi;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia (WCC Ecumenical Calendar);
• we remember Methodists in Ilkley (West Yorkshire District) and our colleagues based in Scott Street, Perth (Dundee, Angus and Perthshire Circuit).

• 12 January 2014
• 26 January 2014

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