Dundee Methodist Church

11 May 2014

Next Sunday
18 May 2014

11 am
Worship led by Mrs Marcia Mackenzie

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.

Easter Offering Appeal

Envelopes are still available. Please return them as soon as possible via the offering plate. So far £84.60 has been received.

Local Preacher Training

As part of his training towards becoming a recognised Methodist Local Preacher, Jeff Smart today conducts a “Trial Service”, for report to the next Circuit Preachers' Meeting which will consider placing him “On Trial”. This next stage of training means preparing and conducting services 'in his own name'. Being “On Note”, Jeff is currently mentored by Mrs Sue Marshall-Jennings whose name appears on the Plan for today.

Link Club: Enable 60th Birthday Celebrations

On Tuesday afternoon, the Link Club will host a “Tartan Tea Party”, as it participates in the 60th anniversary celebrations of Enable Scotland, of which it became a 'Special Interest Branch' on the retiral as Chair of its founder, Les Wake, in 1995. The Club will also be represented at a Parliamentary Event ('Reception') for Enable Scotland in Holyrood on Wednesday May 21st. (See also below: “A Life More Ordinary”)

Sue's Abseil Adventure

The intrepid Sue Marshall-Jennings is to undertake an “SAS”-style Abseil off the Forth Rail Bridge next Sunday in aid of Alzheimers Scotland. She will be grateful for any sponsorship - donations via Just Giving, or handed to her in person. (Parachuting...cycling...fire-walking: what next, dare we ask???).

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.

“A Life More Ordinary”

ENABLE Scotland, of which the Link Club is a Special Interest Branch, has joined with Radio Scotland to produce a series of 4 programmes. Each will tell the story of an ENABLE member's life, focussing on the thread of progress for people who have a learning disability.

The broadcasts will be on Radio Scotland at 1.30pm on Thursdays, repeated the following Sunday at 6am, then available on BBC iPlayer for the next 7 days.Each broadcast lasts just under half-an-hour.

Christian Aid Envelopes

Christian Aid Week runs this year from 11th to 17th May, and its theme is 'Living free from Fear'. If you wish to contribute via an envelope, and have not received one through your door, please take one from the table at the top of the stairs. Filled envelopes, gift-aided if possible, obtained from any source, may be returned via the collection plate over the next month.

Agoraphobia Support Group

Dundee Voluntary Action has received a request to investigate whether there is need for a Support Group for people affected by Agoraphobia.

If this interests you or you know of someone for whom meeting others may be helpful, contact Siobhain McIntosh on (01382) 305743 or 07530 237 467.

Help with Chairs please!

Our regular “chair movers” have advised that they are unavailable to put away chairs after worship today and to put them out in advance for next Sunday.

The Church Stewards would be grateful for assistance today and for offers for next week. We express thanks to all who can assist.

Dundee University Research Request

A request and leaflets have been received from “Ageing and Health” at Dundee University, seeking participants for a study "looking at falls and balance…seeking people aged 65 years or over who have experienced a fall in the past 12 months and sought medical attention”.

Contact: Deepa Sumukadas, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Ageing and Health: (01382) 383086 / 383670. email: d.sumukadas@dundee.ac.uk.

Meetings this week

Date & timeVenueDetails
Wednesday 14th May 2014, 10am to 11.30am Blairgowrie Methodist Church Coffee Morning
Friday 16th May 2014, 12 noon to 1pm YMCA 151 Brook Street, Broughty Ferry (opposite “M&S Food”) (map) . A choice of soups is offered, with bread and cheese, followed by tea or coffee, for which a minimum donation of £2 is requested. A warm welcome is extended to all to partake of the Soup Lunch and join in the warm table fellowship throughout the autumn and spring. £1400 has already been sent off this year from the Lunches.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in May for work in South Sudan.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

  • successful completion of the One Million Bibles for Junior High Schools project in Ghana;
  • funding to complete translation of the new Gaelic New Testament (_ completed so far);
  • encouragement for Bible reading in Equatorial Guinea.

Prayer Points for this week

  • the President and Vice-President of Conference in the London District from next weekend;
  • District Chairs' Retreat, Monday - Thursday;
  • ecumenical partners preparing for Synods and Assemblies;
  • our Circuit's congregations facing major decisions and change;
  • library and activity centre for Palestinian refugees, in Dbayeh Camp near Beirut, provided by the Joint Christian Committee (Embrace);
  • outreach in southern Africa (MAF);
  • projects, residents & staff in the Liverpool District (Methodist Homes);
  • Christian Aid Week: focus on communities caught in conflict (Christian Aid);
  • promotional work in Europe (The Leprosy Mission);
  • Bible Society work in South Sudan;
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Kenya and of Tanzania (WCC);
  • we remember Methodists in Reading and Silchester (Southampton District) and in Partick (Glasgow Circuit).