4 October 2015

We give the assurance of our thoughts and prayers to all who are unwell, awaiting or undergoing treatment, anxious, or grieving for the loss of loved ones.

All We Can (MRDF)

Dundee Methodists have regularly supported the work of All We Can, the former Methodist Relief and Development Fund, during September, through the Communion Offering allocation and individual donations. Envelopes are still available today for return in the offering plate or in the “beehive” on coming Sundays.

Keyholders and Safeguarding

All keyholders are asked to contact Sue Marshall-Jennings so she can check our lists are accurate and up-to-date, and thus comply with the church's safeguarding policy. Please also advise her of any possibly unreturned or unrecorded keys.

Worship Consultation - open to all

The next gathering for conversation about our worship life in general and in the coming months in particular will be on Thursday at 7pm. Topics will include “children and worship”, worship in Advent and at Christmas, possible purchase of “Singing the Faith”, 'retiring / emergency appeal offerings'. Please contact 'tricia Laurie for information, apologies, or to pass on comments or ideas.

Church Council résumé

At the meeting on Thursday, the Council

• received, discussed, & accepted reports from the Circuit and Church Stewards, Church Treasurer, Property and Pastoral Committees;
• agreed our Church Policy on Safeguarding;
• agreed, because of changes in UNICEF approach, that there be no Jars of Grace Appeal this year;
• agreed that there be public worship in Marketgait on Friday 25th December this year;
• appointed Fiona Thomas as Independent Examiner of our church accounts;
• remitted discussion on guidance for “retiring / emergency appeals offerings” and on purchase of “Singing the Faith” hymnbooks to Worship Consultation for further consideration;
• held a wide-ranging exchange on “the work of God in Dundee”, including thoughts on ways of “being a serving church” and “providing a safe space for others” in our premises, in cooperation with others as appropriate;
• remembered the late Hilda Pitak with affection;
• arranged the next Council meeting for 7pm on Tuesday 9th February 2016.

Open Meeting - The Church and Marriage

Methodist Conference in 2016 will be asked to decide whether we should revisit our Church's understanding of “Christian Marriage”, taking into consideration the social and legislative changes of recent years.

As part of the process of preparation for this decision, the Districts, Circuits and congregations have been asked to reflect on the issues involved. Scotland Synod did so at its last meeting. Our Circuit Meeting has arranged an extra meeting on Wednesday 11th November and, as preparation for this, an Open Meeting is to be led by the District's facilitators, the Rev Andrew Letby and Deacon Belinda Letby, in Marketgait on Wednesday 28th October at 7pm. This is a gathering to which all are invited. If you cannot be there and wish to pass on your views, please feel able to do so via the Minister or any Circuit Meeting member (Dundee's members are Jenny as Senior Church Steward, David as Treasurer, 'tricia and Lorna as elected representatives. Sue, Keith, & Sandy are also members of the Meeting as Circuit office-holders).

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in October for work in the Philippines. Our prayerful attention this week is drawn to

• translation of the Bible into contemporary language in the Republic of Macedonia;
• launch of Luirichi Bible in Kenya, literacy work with Turkana and Maasai communities;
• SBS speakers in Elgin, Milngavie, Pittenweem, Aberdeen, and Glasgow.

Dewhurst Cotton Reels wanted!!

Beryl Cowling is making a request on behalf of Barbara Glasson to Methodist Women in Britain (MwiB) and all of us.
Barbara Glasson is a Methodist minister, now in Bradford, a city with a mix of ethnicities and religions where the interfaith Touchstone Project is expanding into premises once occupied by the Dewhurst family, famous for making thread and cotton reels.
As part of the fund-raising, Barbara and colleagues wish to amass as many old Dewhurst reels as they can (with thread or not) for (aiming for a whole set of D numbers if possible!). Please rummage through sewing baskets and other (un)likely places to see if you have any Dewhurst reels to donate. Please put them in the box on the vestibule table. Beryl will ensure they reach the project. Fuller details on leaflets on vestibule table or contact Beryl.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the Vice-President of Conference at the Conservative Party Conference, Monday - Tuesday;
• Connexional Law & Polity Committee, Tuesday;
• Methodist Women in Britain District Day, Armadale, Saturday;
• work in the York and Hull District (Methodist Homes);
• provision of small library in Dbayeh refugee camp near Beirut (Embrace);
• promotional work in Asia (The Leprosy Mission);
• Bible Society work in the Philippines;
• Landless People's Movement (MST) and Anglican Service in Diaconate and Development (SADD) in Brazil (Christian Aid);
• work in Liberia (MAF);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in South Derbyshire (Nottingham and Derby District) and in Wallacestone (Central Scotland Circuit).

• 27 September 2015
• 11 October 2015

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