4 December 2016

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.

Methodist ClothesBank

Links are also being forged with similar groups offering clothing and other necessities - eg for children and young people, or for less formal activities. This is also a positive indication that we have our place within a range of bodies seeking to support and help those with identifiable needs.

Donations of good quality clothes from people known to us can be brought in - ask Sue or Liz for advice on this.

Not surprisingly, the need for further storage / sorting space is a reality; it is therefore proposed to make use of the library area, which will entail removal of items such as the “staging” and many rarely-if-ever-read books. If there are books you think strongly that we should retain (where?!), please either let Sue or Jenny Easson know or take charge of them yourself. Please also take away any you might wish for yourself.

The chairs in the former crèche room will be replaced.

ClothesBank sessions take place on Mondays 10am -12 noon (Liz Kay in charge) and Thursdays 1pm - 3pm (Sue Marshall-Jennings in charge).

Dundee Food Bank

Liz Kay wishes to pass on thanks to all who make donations to this still vital work.

A special request has been made for any items appropriate to or suitable for the Christmas season.

Plan Dec 2016 - Feb 2017, including amendments

The Circuit Preaching Plan for the next Quarter has been distributed by email and some printed copies are available on the vestibule table.

If you wish your name added to those who receive either an electronic or printed copy, please let David Easson know.

Please note the following amendments:

• NO Services in St John's Methodist, Arbroath on Sundays 25th December or 1st January
• Final digits in Rev Stewart Young's phone number: 7738

Flower Rota

“Elaine writes: I would like to thank everyone on the flower rota for this past year and the flower arrangers who have given of their time to do the flower arrangements.

I do have some vacancies on the flower rota, if anyone feels they could do one. I hope to have the new rota out by the end of December.”

3Generate Event

The 3Generate event for children and young people took place last weekend in Swindon, with close to 700 young Methodists and youth leaders gathering for “fellowship and fun”. The age range was from 8 to 23, with a programme of presentations and talks for older ages on topics such as well-being and justice, whilst young attenders considered “what the church might look like if they were in charge.”

This event has more than doubled in size over the last 2 years, with provision for some age groups fully booked; consideration is being given to the scale and shape for future events.

The event aims to be as consultative as possible, in its planning, presentation and activities. This past year has seen an increased focus on accessibility, with specialist volunteers present to provide additional support for those with learning difficulties, physical limitations, or in need of emotional help.

3Generate provides the forum for the election of the next Youth President of the Methodist Church. Michael Pryke from Stamford in Lincolnshire is now the Youth President-designate and will take up his new role from next September.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in December for work in Uzbekistan.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• Bible Society in Romania working with prisoners due for release;
• Paraguayan Bible Society offering practical help with food and medicine, housing and study groups to riverside people living in deep poverty;
• project in China to train Bible Study teachers and seminary students and so to provide a future leadership;
• SBS Board meeting on Thursday.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the Vice-President of Conference at a United Methodist Church Board meeting, Washington, DC, next weekend;
• Miriam Weibye, the incoming Ecumenical Officer for the Scottish Episcopal Church, on the retiral of Elspeth Davey;
• worship during Advent and Christmas in the Circuit;
• work in the Southampton District (Methodist Homes);
• Helen Keller School, in East Jerusalem now under Franciscan leadership (Embrace);
• staff and supporters in the UK (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Uzbekistan;
• partnerships with other agencies (The Leprosy Mission);
• work in Uganda (MAF);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, the Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea- Bissau (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Salford Circuit (Manchester and Stockport District) and our colleagues in Montrose (Angus, Dundee and Perthshire Circuit).

• 27 November 2016
• 11 December 2016

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