19 February 2017

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.

Re-settlement of unaccompanied minors

The leaders of five Churches have issued a Statement expressing concern at the UK Government's announcement of its intention to suspend the programme for the safe re-settlement of unaccompanied minors seeking refuge in the UK.

The Statement, with a joint letter to the Home Secretary, was signed on behalf of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Church of Scotland, Quakers in Britain, The United Reformed Church, and the Methodist Church. The leaders urge the Government to reconsider and adopt a policy that prioritises the well-being of children.

Some Statistics ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight - (27 Feb - 12 March)

• I in 10 children in tea-growing areas of Malawi dies before their 5th birthday;
• over half the children in Malawi's tea-growing areas do not complete primary school;
• I in 3 people in Kenya's tea and coffee-growing regions lives in poverty;
• 1 in 4 children in Kenya's tea and coffee-growing areas is malnourished, often leading to stunted growth.

Preaching Plan

The Plan for March-May is being circulated by email; some print copies will be available from the vestibule table. To have your name added to the list to receive either email or hard copies regularly, please advise David Easson.

Methodist ClothesBank

Mondays 10am -12 noon (i/c Liz)

Thursdays 1pm - 3pm (i/c Sue)

• More volunteers are needed - a minimum of 3 persons per session is really the basic; please contact Sue or Liz beforehand if you can help on a Monday or Thursday.
• Please continue the search for suitable clothing from yourselves (and family & friends!) - Sue's contact with has indicated an outlet to which we can pass on children's clothing and accessories.
• An “open session” will be held between 5pm and 7pm on Tuesday 21st February to facilitate the dropping off / handing-in of clothing items.

Broughty Ferry Churches Group - Lent

Broughty Ferry Churches Group gives a warm invitation to all and any of the following during Lent (1March- 9 April):

• Ash Wednesday, 1st March : “Service of Ashes” in Our Lady of Good Counsel, Westfield Road at 7.30pm;
• Mondays 6th March - 3rd April: Study Group in St Mary's, Queen Street from 10.15am - c.11.45am;
• Wednesdays 8th March - 5th April: Study Group in St James' Church halls Fort Street (by Lifeboat shed) at 7.30pm.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Partnership is invited in February for work in Cuba.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• Bible Society of India's translation work to produce Bibles and material for 25 different language groups;
• Bible Society of Jordan's' project to engage young people with the Bible;
• publication of the New Testament in the Toma language in Guinea-Conakry and continuing work on the translation of the Old Testament;
• work of SBS speakers and volunteers.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President of Conference at the Tri-Service Chaplains' Conference, Andover, Monday - Wednesday;
• Strategy and Resources Committee, Wed - Thursday;
• the Chair of the Synod at the Ecumenical Stakeholders' meeting, London, Thursday;
• the Circuit's Preachers, ordained and lay;
• work in the Bolton and Rochdale District (Methodist Homes);
• Four Homes of Mercy in Bethany, caring for disabled and disadvantaged people, (Embrace ME);
• campaigns against tax dodging (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in Cuba;
• promotional work (The Leprosy Mission);
• work in Mongolia, Burma, and Nepal (MAF);
• we pray with and for the peoples of France, Germany and Monaco (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in Liverpool North Central Circuit (Liverpool District) and all in Livingston Ecumenical Parish (Edinburgh and Forth Circuit).

• 12 February 2017
• 26 February 2017

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