13 March 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.

Observance of Lent

Marketgait worship includes a responsive Lenten Liturgy at or near the start of the Service. There are no flowers upstairs but a symbolic arrangement has been created on the Beechwood Table in the porch.

Meadowside St Paul's: ecumenical Lent Study series in their church halls at 7.15pm on Tuesdays using material from 40ACTS 'do Lent generously'.

The Broughty Ferry Churches Group issues a warm invitation to the following:

• Study Group on Monday mornings in St Mary's (Queen Street, near Post Office Bar) from 10.15am to 11.45am, using the CTBI Pilgrimage material;
• Soup Lunch on Wednesdays (12.15pm to 1.30pm) in the YMCA, Brook Street (opposite M&S), in support of Christian Aid; soup & a filled roll, then tea or coffee will be provided, invited minimum donation of £3.
• Reflective Act of Worship on Wednesdays at 7.30pm in St Mary's (Queen Street) based round the CTBI Pilgrimage material.

Holy Week and Easter

We have been invited to join ecumenical friends in a Service on Good Friday, 25th March, in Dundee Congregational Church, Constitution Road at 6.30pm.

We are requested to bring fresh daffodils to decorate the church during worship on Easter Sunday.

Community Bible Experience

St James' Church Broughty Ferry are to undertake a planned reading of the Bible during the 8 weeks from 17th April, under the above Scheme, and have invited others to join them. The Scheme provides for daily reading of a specially-produced Bible and shared conversation with others in “Book Club”-style groups. Register with St James' by Monday 21st March (Registration forms on table)

Circuit Meeting Résumé

At the meeting on Thursday, members

• discussed reports from the Circuit Treasurer, Circuit Leadership Team, Safeguarding Officer, Preachers Meeting, Mission in Britain and World Church Funds, and Methodist Homes;
• heard an update on the Perth Joint Youth Worker project (with the YMCA) and successful application for a grant from the Joseph Rank Trust;
• made Appointments for Circuit officer-holders and representatives to Synod.

We are all requested to note the following in particular:

• Circuit Service on Sunday 27th March (Easter Sunday) at 6pm in Scott Street, Perth to mark the 40-year anniversary of Jenny Easson as a Fully Accredited Local Preacher and also “to say goodbye and thank you” from the Circuit to the Rev John Butterfield. This Service will include Holy Communion.

Perth friends are offering to provide drinks for those who may wish to bring a sandwich tea for consumption before the Service and there will also be “tea and biscuits” after.

• agreement that all churches be encouraged to provide wifi to facilitate sharing of worship between churches across the Circuit.
• support is being offered by Preachers for preparation for “Local Arrangements” Sundays on the Plan.
• request for volunteers to help at the District Synod in Central Baptist Church, Dundee on Saturday 23rd April - contact Sue Marshall-Jennings.

Meetings this week

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Club is invited in March for work in Paraguay.

Our prayerful attention this week is drawn to

• translation projects by the Bible Society of India for 25 different language groups;
• provision to teenagers in high schools of 7,000 copies of the New Testament each year over 10 years, by the Bible Society of Cyprus in collaboration with the Church of Cyprus and the Ministry of Education;
• translation of the Bible into modern Croatian by the Bible Society of Croatia.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• all for whom today's 20th anniversary of the tragedy in Dunblane brings difficult memories;
• the President and Vice-President of Conference visiting Synod Cymru District, Thursday-Saturday;
• Ministerial Candidates' Selection Committee, Tues-Fri;
• Scottish Relief & Extension Fund meetings, Dunblane Wednesday;
• the Circuit's responsibility for Manses;
• residents, staff and supporters in the Nottingham and Derby District (Methodist Homes);
• the people of Syria (Christian Aid);
• the Department of Service for Palestinian Refugees' clinics and training centres in Gaza (Embrace);
• administrative personnel (The Leprosy Mission);
• work in Timor Leste (MAF);
• Bible Society work in Paraguay;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Clitheroe Circuit (Lancashire District) and all in the Livingston Ecumenical Parish (Edinburgh and Forth Circuit).

• 6 March 2016
• 20 March 2016

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