18 January 2015

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.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Unity Octave

The Octave (eight days) from 18th - 25th January is observed worldwide each year as The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, using a theme and materials from a particular part of the world.

This year's chosen theme from the churches of Brazil is “The Well is Deep”

Brazilians, traditionally peoples tolerant of their various social classes and ethnic groups, are now living through a time of growing intolerance, as seen in high levels of violence especially against minorities and the vulnerable. This can be seen as undergirded by “competition for the religious market” as increasingly certain Christian groups vie for a place on the mass media, for new members, and for public funds.

There is a developing recognition that intolerance should be dealt with in positive ways - respect for diversity and promotion of dialogue as permanent paths to reconciliation and peace.

This challenges us all to acknowledge diversity as part of God's design, to trust others, and to see God in the face of all people.

Download Reflections for each day

Dundee Methodists and Food Banks - updates

• Our continued support for the Dundee Foodbank has again received thank from its organisers.
• Please place items in the large bucket on the upstairs landing - clean plastic bags are also welcome.
• Our thanks to Liz Kay - contact her for more information.

Broughty Ferry Churches Group events

• The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service will be held on Wednesday 21st January at 12noon.
• Lent 2015:
  • The ecumenical Service of Ashes will be held in Our Lady of Good Counsel, Westfield Road on Wednesday February 18th at 7.30pm
  • Group meetings on Monday mornings and/or Tuesday evenings in St Mary's Church, during the 5 subsequent weeks, using material from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland on the theme Walking and Praying with Christians the Middle East.
  • Soup Lunches on Wednesdays during Lent in the YMCA, in support of Christian Aid.
• Christian Aid Week: a Flower Festival will be held in the New Kirk during the week of 18th - 23rd May with participation by BFCG member churches.

“the connexion”

Copies of this new magazine have now been sent out and one is available on the vestibule table on a “borrow-read-return” basis. Download the pdf. This issue contains an article on the life and work of the City of Edinburgh Methodist Church based in Nicolson Square.

Comments, inclusion on the mailing list, suggestions for articles, etc are welcome by the editors.

If you would like additional copies of the magazine, there are some in stock at Norwich Books and Music; please order in the usual way by emailing: orders@norwichbooksandmusic.co.uk, or telephoning 0845 017 8220 or visiting Methodist Publishing; there will be a charge of £2.50 to cover postage and packing.

Scottish Churches Housing Action

The last Sunday of January is observed as Homeless Sunday.

SCHA was among the bodies responding to the post-referendum Smith Commission, stating is position that Scotland should

• have control over the full range of welfare benefits
• be able to borrow to invest in affordable homes
• have its own tax-raising powers.

SCHA remains committed to

• the case for greater commitment to social justice
• the need for an increase in the supply of affordable housing to meet the needs of those whom the market excludes;
• the provision of support to individuals seeking to find routes out of homelessness;
• the case for a more equitable sharing of Scotland's growing prosperity.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in January for work in Armenia.

Our prayerful attention this week is drawn to

• programmes with pastors and church leaders in the Bahamas, aiming to prevent domestic violence;
• distribution of audio New Testaments, programmes for illiterate people in Bangladesh;
• use of 2,500 copies of the Scripture- based 'Paroles de Liberté' ('Words of Freedom') booklet to prison inmates in Belgium.

Prayer Points for this week

• the President and Vice-President of Conference in the Channel Islands next weekend;
• Connexional Leaders' Forum, Monday-Tuesday;
• the EMU (Scottish Episcopal, Methodist, and United Reformed Churches) Partnership meeting on Thursday;
• the District Ecumenical Forum meeting on Wednesday;
• pastoral care of our Circuit's congregations and contacts;
• peace in Gaza, Prayer Vigil Saturday 24th (Christian Aid);
• work in China, Korea and Laos (The Leprosy Mission);
• Bible Society work in Armenia;
• work in the Lincoln and Grimsby district (Methodist Homes);
• 20 girls in the Cedar Home, Beirut (Embrace);
• new arrivals in Uganda (MAF);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Sidmouth (Plymouth & Exeter District) and in Inverness (Inverness Circuit).

• 11 January 2015
• 25 January 2015

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