12 October 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.

IBRA

International Bible Reading Association devotional and study material can be ordered through Heather Dean. Please sign the paper on the vestibule table or contact Heather direct.

Safeguarding: 'Past Cases Review' Letter

A letter from the Secretary of Conference, the Rev Martyn Atkins, is being distributed to all Methodists, through Superintendents and Ministers in pastoral charge.

In conversation at the recent Church Council, it was agreed that the letters for Dundee be made generally available on and from this Sunday when the Rev Mary Patterson is in Marketgait. An explanatory insert was produced, by Mary and Sue Marshall-Jennings (Church and Circuit Safeguarding Officer) last week and is still available to supply some of the background to and aims of the Letter.

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.

Foster Carers required

Action for Children Scotland is drawing attention to the shortage of foster carers and also the separation of siblings from each other, viz

• a shortage of 850 foster carers across Scotland
• 1 in 4 siblings groups placed in foster care by local authorities across the UK are separated.

Action for Children seeks to raise awareness of this situation and encourage consideration of foster caring. Support (including finance) and training are offered for those who might to consider or wish to offer to become foster parents. See poster or leaflets on the vestibule table. Contact tel: 0141 331 0584.

EMU Faith in Action Calendar

The Faith in Action guide, commended by the Episcopal, Methodist and United Reformed Churches in Scotland, commends our prayerful focus in October on the importance of the environment. (See prayer on the news-sheet front cover.)

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in October for work in Bolivia.

Our prayerful attention this week is drawn to

• the Grow and Learning programme to strengthen Bible teaching in Sunday Schools in the Dominican Republic, also training opportunities for teachers there;
• distribution work in Trinidad and Tobago, also work in the East Caribbean - St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines;
• visit by SBS team to a Good Samaritan project in Rwanda, supporting people who are HIV positive;
• all who are living in fear and persecution, and those without shelter, clothing or food, in Iraq.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President and Vice-President of Conference in Bedfordshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire next weekend;
• Methodist Council, High Leigh, Wednesday - Thursday;
• making of the Circuit preaching Plan;
• communities vulnerable to climate change (Christian Aid);
• work in India ( The Leprosy Mission);
• Bible Society work in Bolivia;
• work in Birmingham (Methodist Homes);
• Syrian refugees in Cairo (Embrace ME);
• Democratic Republic of Congo (MAF);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Sheffield (East) (Sheffield District) and in Armadale (Central Scotland Circuit).

• 5 October 2014
• 19 October 2014

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