Dundee Methodist Church

18 October 2015

Next Sunday
25 October 2015

10.45 am
Coffee available
11 am
Worship led by Rev Dr D Gerald Bostock

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.

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.

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.

Please watch this space for more details; we encourage the purchase of any personal copies to be made through the church bulk order.

Safeguarding

The Church Council recently 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 via the numbers shown on the posters throughout the church. Many thanks.”

International Bible Reading Association

IBRA devotional and study material can be ordered through Heather. Please sign the paper on the vestibule table or contact Heather direct.

Meetings this week

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.
Saturday 24th October 2015, 1pm St Paul's Cathedral Lunchtime concert given by Andrew Lees (Violin) & Walter Blair (Piano) Adults £5, Students £3, accompanied children free - includes tea, coffee at end.

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

  • the International Fund-Raising Congress for Bible Societies, in the Netherlands this week;
  • use of Bible Sunday website to download resources in churches throughout Scotland;
  • completed translations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and new ones beginning; prayers for peace, particularly in the east;
  • work on the Kyrgyz Old Testament in Kyrgyzstan, following the New Testament 10 years ago.

Dewhurst Cotton Reels update

Beryl Cowling has now sent away to Barbara 80 from the 100+ so far received, but more are very welcome - see earlier news-sheets for the background to this project in Bradford.

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Saturday 7th November 2015, 3.30pm St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church, Broughty Ferry Organ and Clarinet recital with Calum Robertson (Old St Paul's Scottish Episcopal Church, Edinburgh). Admission free - including refreshments after.
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 in Hong Kong 22nd - 25th celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the union of Methodists in Hong Kong;
  • the Vice-President in Rowton, Shropshire, today, at the Navigating Change Conference Tuesday & Wednesday, and in Petts Wood, Kent, next Sunday;
  • Connexional Audit Committee and Regional Stationing Committee, both Tuesday;
  • District Ecumenical Forum, District Executive, Circuit Treasurers Meeting & District MWiB, all in this week;
  • work in London (Methodist Homes);
  • 4 clinics in Cairo dealing with the health of African refugees living in poor conditions (Embrace);
  • the International Directorate (The Leprosy Mission);
  • Bible Society work in the Philippines;
  • Hope Agency for Relief and Development helping those returning to former conflict areas in South Sudan (Christian Aid);
  • Day of Prayer today (MAF);
  • we pray with and for the peoples of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (WCC);
  • we remember fellow Methodists in Mansfield (Nottingham and Derby District) and in Aberdeen (North of Scotland Mission Circuit).