Dundee Methodist Church

11 October 2015

Next Sunday
18 October 2015

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, anxious, or grieving for the loss of loved ones.

We send our greetings to Pastor Margarita Todorova - (see the bottom of the page) and the congregation of the United Methodist Church in Sevlievo, Bulgaria. Pastor Margarita joined us for worship led by Julya Walsh from Bulgaria via Skype last Sunday.

Communion Offering today

It is the practice at Dundee on Communion Sundays for there to be an additional Offering in support of the work of Methodist or other charities (the origins lie in the traditional Poor Fund Offering, now called the Benevolence Fund). This month's Offering for the (Methodist) World Mission Fund will not be uplifted during worship; instead, donations are invited, on entry, via the plate by the main door to the worship area. The Communion Offering will be dedicated during worship, together with the Offering for the main General Fund.

Changes to meetings on 'The Church and Marriage'

The planned Open Meeting on Wednesday 28th October and the extra Circuit Meeting on Thursday 12th November will now NOT take place, as the preparation of material and training of facilitators is not yet complete. Apologies are extended for this change and any resulting inconvenience; we await news of further proposals and timetable for these discussions and any consequent decisions.

Singing the Faith

At the recent Church Council, further conversation about purchase of the new hymn book was referred to the Worship Consultation. After due consideration at the Consultation, it was agreed that Dundee should proceed with the purchase of Singing the Faith, towards which funds can be allocated from legacies and donations in memory of two former Choir members.

The Church Stewards in consultation with the Treasurer, organists and others, will oversee the placing of this Order, and it is hoped that copies may be here for the beginning of Advent.

Purchase of personal copies may be made through the church bulk order.

Safeguarding

The Church Council has approved our own Church Safeguarding Policy.

Sue Marshall-Jennings (as Safeguarding Officer) asks us all to note the following:

“Safeguarding concerns everyone and is about making the church a safe place for all people and is an essential foundation for mission. We can all be considered 'vulnerable' at times, whether through loss and grief, illness, unemployment or disability, as well as the very young and older people. Safeguarding means we all need to be aware of how vulnerable people can suffer actual harm or be at risk of harm whether that harm is physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, financial or through neglect or self-neglect.

If you have any concerns, contact Rev Nick Baker, Sue Marshall-Jennings or the Social Work Department on the numbers shown on the posters throughout the church.”

Worship Consultation résumé

A very well-attended Consultation discussed

  • how we may best welcome, include, and provide for children coming to Sunday worship; there will be a table at the rear, chairs on the landing, & provision for going downstairs - Lorna is preparing the rota of volunteer adults;
  • worship for Advent and Christmas; public Worship on 25th December at 10.30am, Café Service on 27th December with an invitation to Meadowside St Paul's and Salem URC;
  • cessation of Jars of Grace Appeal and guidance on responding to special appeals;
  • “early singing” to continue on the first Sunday of each month - volunteer leaders welcome!
  • flowers in Lent: small vase of white flowers, none on Palm Sunday;
  • Singing the Faith hymn book & use;
  • next meeting - Wed 20th January 2016, 7pm.

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

  • Grow and Learn project of outreach to young people in the Dominican Republic;
  • revision of the Cornilescu Bible in Romania;
  • Biblia Moov project of the Bible Society of Portugal to engage young people.

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Wednesday 21st October 2015, 10am (registration & coffee) to 3.15pm (departure). St Silas Episcopal Church, Park Road, Woodlands, Glasgow G4 9JE “We are a family: the changing face of family ministry” - a joint Methodist / ACTS one day conference.
The conference will be hosted jointly by the Methodist Church and the Scottish Churches Children's Group of Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS). The report “We are a family: the changing face of family ministry” is the culmination of two years' ground-breaking research and consultation regarding the current shape of work with families across the Church in the UK undertaken by the Consultative Group on Children's Ministry (CGMC) and the Methodist Church.
The day will be led by Gail Adcock, the Family Ministry Development Officer for The Methodist Church in the UK; Gail has been the lead coordinator for this research project.
This day event will explore a host of different ways in which the Church works with familes and will seek to answer questions, such as:
  • How is the Church working with families today?
  • What does this ministry look like?
  • What training and resources are available for those working in this field?

Also experience the brand new ' Core Skills for Family Ministry' course developed to equip all those working with families and includes reflections from Carrie Longton, co-founder of Mumsnet. Delegates will receive a free edition of the brand new Core Skills Course book. Refreshments and lunch will be provided, a donation towards the catering costs would be appreciated.
For further information contact Gary Williams (Methodist Regional Learning & Development Officer, South); williamsg@methodistchurch.org.uk , tel: 01413323196 mob: 07799900464. Online registration.
Thursday 19th November 2015, 6.30pm to 8pm St George's Tron Church, 25 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 1HW >“Forming Missional Communities”: an ecumenical presentation and discussion led by Professor Elaine Heath. She is an ordained Elder of the United Methodist Church, McCreless Professor of Evangelism at SMU Perkins School of Theology, and “a visionary leader and theologian, a mystic, an instigator, and passionate believer in the power of the Holy Spirit”.
Organised by the Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network. All are welcome - details from Helen Wareing: wareingh@methodistchurch.org.uk.

Prayer Points for this week

  • The President of Conference on the Isles of Scilly, Friday - Saturday;
  • Methodist Council, Monday - Tuesday;
  • work in Scotland (Methodist Homes);
  • harvesting the olive crop on the West Bank (Embrace);
  • work in India (The Leprosy Mission);
  • Bible Society work in the Philippines;
  • Corambiente working to combat malnutrition in Colombia (Christian Aid);
  • work in Liberia (MAF);
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal (WCC);
  • we remember fellow Methodists in Newark and Southwell (Nottingham and Derby District) and in Armadale (Central Scotland Circuit).