2 March 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.

Preaching Plan

The Plan for March-May has been distributed electronically to those on the list and some printed copies are on the Vestibule table. Please contact Jenny or David Easson for inclusion on the electronic system or for further printed copies.

Observance of Lent

The season of Lent begins this week, on Ash Wednesday, and will be marked during worship in Marketgait by the inclusion in Sunday worship of a Lenten Liturgy.

This year, it has been agreed that, as a change from the last two years' absence of a floral arrangement during Lent (as is customary in some of our partner churches), there will be a small vase of flowers on or near the Communion Table each week.

The Broughty Ferry Churches Group extends an invitation to all to the annual Service of Ashes at 7.30pm on Wednesday in Our Lady of Good Counsel, Westfield Road, Broughty Ferry, and in subsequent weeks to Lenten Group meetings in St Mary's Episcopal Church, Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, at 10.15am on Mondays, and in Our Lady of Good Counsel, Westfield Road, Broughty Ferry at 7.30pm on Tuesdays. The study material will be “Parables and Possessions” prepared by the Church of Scotland for Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

World Day of Prayer - Friday

This year's material for use world-wide has been prepared by our Christian sisters in Egypt on the theme “Streams in the desert”.

Egyptian women invite us to reflect with them on our Christian role of being 'a stream in the desert' for those who experience 'spiritual drought'. From the home of one of the oldest civilisations in the world and of Coptic Christians, we are invited to pray for peace; since the uprising in 2011, there has been conflict between religious groups in Egypt with political changes affecting many individual lives.

All are welcome to World Day of Prayer Services. The Dundee service will be held at Coldside Parish Church at 7pm. The Broughty Ferry Service will be held in Broughty Baptist Church, at 7.30pm. The St Andrews service will be held in Hope Park and Martyrs Church at 1pm, Followed by refreshments in the Church Hall.

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.

February Church Council résumé

At the meeting on 6th February, the Council

• reappointed the Independent Examiner (Paddy), Pastoral Visitors (as recommissioned in September), and representatives to the Circuit Meeting (Lorna and);
• warmly thanked Janet for her work as Baptismal Roll Secretary and appointed Chris to serve as her successor;
• discussed Pastoral, Worship, Safeguarding, Finance and Stewards' reports, including
• purchase of a good quality artificial Christmas Tree;
• introduction of training for safeguarding to protect Vulnerable Groups:
• process for a 'Gift Day' or 'Gift Appeal' to assist our finances;
• invitation to the URC to join us in a Communion Service;
• agreed to meet with the owner of adjacent property anent his development proposals;
• considered the future of the library and space in the vestry.

Council's next meeting - Tuesday 10th June - Kirkcaldy.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in March for work in Galilee, northern Israel: Nazareth is the ministry base of the Arab Israeli Bible Society.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• the developing of Arab ministries in Galilee which is not possible elsewhere;
• publication of the new Hebrew-Russian Bible and funding for distribution of hundreds of free copies to the 1 million Russian speakers in Israel;
• World Day of Prayer focus on Egypt;
• religious tolerance in Uzbekistan, and completion of the translation of the Bible into Uzbek;
• Gaelic translation team's work on the final books of the New Testament.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President and Vice-President of Conference at 'Connecting Disciples' Conference, Monday - Thursday;
• Connexional Strategy and Resources Committee, Wed-Thurs;
• Methodist ministers' widows resident in Scotland;
• safeguarding awareness in our circuit and congregations;
• Palestinians living in Lebanon's refugee camps (Embrace);
• serving in South Sudan (MAF);
• residents, staff and supporters in Wales (Methodist Homes);
• partners working with women, world-wide (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Galilee, northern Israel;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino;
• we remember Methodists in Basingstoke (Southampton District) and in the City of Edinburgh (Edinburgh and Forth Circuit).

• 24 February 2014
• 9 March 2014

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