27 September 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 distributed today for return in the offering plate 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. Thanks!

Dundee Doors Open Weekend

Warm thanks are expressed to all who in any way contributed to the preparation for and holding of last weekend's “Open Doors” participation.

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 8th October at 7pm. Some time will be spent on “children and worship”. Please contact 'tricia Laurie for information, apologies, or to pass on comments or ideas.

Circuit Meeting résumé

At the meeting on Tuesday, reports from the Leadership Team, Treasurer, and Methodist funds treasurers, Preachers' Secretary, and Safeguarding Officer were received, discussed and accepted.

The current situations of Blairgowrie and Montrose were explored, leading to the decision that they be expected to contribute a nominal level of assessment this year and use the resources they have to explore who they are and where God may be leading them as Methodist people in their communities.

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 September for work in Iraq and in October for work in the Philippines. Our prayerful attention this week is drawn to

• translation projects in India;
• funding for Bibles to meet the demand of the rapidly growing church in China:
• distribution of over 1 million Bibles each year by the Bible Society in the Philippines.

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 Labour Party Conference, Monday - Tuesday;
• Connexional Leaders' Forum, Monday - Tuesday;
• District Chairs' Meeting, Tuesday - Wednesday;
• Service for the launch of the (Episcopal) Scottish Theological Institute, Perth, next Sunday;
• “Craft Fair” Perth, Saturday;
• residents, staff and projects in the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District (Methodist Homes);
• Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief working with disadvantaged Lebanese women (Embrace);
• participants in Church Challenge (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Iraq and the Philippines;
• UK support team (MAF);
• work in Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea (The Leprosy Mission);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Oxford (Northampton District) and all in Grahamston United Church, Falkirk (Central Scotland Circuit).

• 20 September 2015
• 4 October 2015

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