Dundee Methodist Church

10 December 2017

Next Sunday
17 December 2017

11 am
Worship led by Mr Keith Pearson
6 pm
Nativity Service, Salem URC

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.

Retiring Offing to support Svetla and her family

  • During this week further news has come from Julya about the recent tragic road accident in Bulgaria in which Svetla was seriously injured, her elder son killed, and her younger son injured.
  • A practical way of showing our concern for the family and shocked community is to help alleviate medical and other costs, and to do so quickly. It has therefore been agreed that today's Communion Offering (normally in December for Action for Children Scotland) be replaced by a plate (on entry) for donations to assist Svetla and her family. If you wish to contribute but cannot do so today, please contact David Easson (Church Treasurer). It is hoped that a first amount from the Circuit will be sent during this coming week.
  • An offering for Action for Children Scotland will be taken on Christmas Day.
  • A card will be available next Sunday to be signed and sent from Marketgait to our fellow Methodists in Sevlievo, as a sign of our solidarity with and support for them at this time.

Nativity Service

Our URC Salem friends extend a warm invitation to join their traditional service and re-telling of the Christmas Story next Sunday evening at 6pm in their premises off Constitution Road (north of dual carriageway).

Methodist ClothesBank

We can always use carrier bags and volunteers - to join the rota, please contact Margaret. Men are especially welcome, since we have more male than female customers.

There are regular uplifts of items in the “rag bag” - any still usable item of clothing or footwear can be contributed and money from the sale enables purchase of underwear and socks for clients.

Preaching Plan for December - February

This has been circulated by email and there are some printed copies on the vestibule table. If you wish either an electronic or hard copy each Quarter, please sign the paper on the table or contact David Easson.

Methodist Prayer Handbook 2018-19

Contributions are invited for the next edition, which will have the theme of A World Transformed by God's Love.

Contributions, not exceeding 120 words or 12 lines, should be sent, with name & postal address, to methodistprayerhandbook@gmail.com, by Friday 12th January 2018. Photos fitting the theme may also be submitted. More details - essential if you intend to submit a contribution.

Bible reading notes

'Fresh from the word' 2018 costs £9.95 for the print edition, and £6.99 for the Kindle edition from Amazon. Please let Margaret Goudie know if you would like a print copy; she will attempt to source them without postage charges.

Meetings this week

Date & timeVenueDetails
Sunday, 10th December, 7.30pm Caird Hall Dundee Choral Concert; various works including Rutter's “Gloria” . Tickets are £15.00, Students and Unemployed £5.00. Accompanied School Pupils are admitted FREE.
Monday, 11th December, 1.30pm Dundee Methodist Church Link Club Party setting out, all premises
Tuesday, 12th December, 10am - 4pm Dundee Methodist Church Link Club Christmas Party & Service
Thursday, 14th December, 12noon St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church, Broughty Ferry “Persecuted Christians” prayer group. If you wish, bring food for a shared meal after.

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Partnership is invited in December for work in Guinea-Bissau.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

  • Bible Society in Mozambique's production of a revised Bible for the Ndau people;
  • Bible Society of Rwanda's provision of Bibles for prisoners;
  • Bible Society of Namibia's work to translate the Bible into the Oshikwanyama and Oshindonga languages;
  • Nepal Bible Society's provision of Bibles for and contacts with marginalised children;
  • Bible Society of Serbia's provision of Bibles for children and young people “in a country where they find suffering and confusion'”.

Forthcoming events

Date & timeVenueDetails
Friday, 2nd March, 10am to 3.30pm Perth Methodist Church Preparing for Bible Month studying Jonah. Professor John Drane and Olive Fleming Drane will lead local preachers and worship leaders, small group leaders and anyone who would like an opportunity to enhance their biblical knowledge and understanding. Lunch and refreshments will be provided at this free event. More details and how to book.
Saturday, 3rd March, 10am to 3.30pm Perth Methodist Church Reimagining Church Forum, led by Trey Hall (church planter, coach and mentor). Lunch and refreshments will be provided at this free event. More details and how to book.

Prayer Points for this week

  • the President of Conference in the Cannock Chase Circuit next weekend;
  • work of the Scottish Relief & Extension Fund and of the District Advance Fund;
  • the ecumenical relationships of the Circuit's churches;
  • work in the Leeds area (Methodist Homes);
  • farming communities in Burkina Faso (Christian Aid);
  • work in The Democratic Republic of Congo (MAF);
  • Pontifical Mission for Palestine's work with young teenagers (Embrace ME);
  • work and relationships with other agencies (The Leprosy Mission);
  • we pray with and for the peoples of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (WCC);
  • we remember Methodists in the Bishop Auckland and Shildon Valley Circuit (Darlington District), all in the Rosyth Ecumenical Partnership (Forth Valley Circuit), and the URC congregation in Carluke.