22 January 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.

Worship Consultation résumé

At the meeting on 10th January,

• arrangements were made for the Café / Local Arrangement Service on 29th January;
• topics were noted for future conversation including feedback to note for next Christmas, displays in the window & worship area panel, and fitting the rhythm of the church year;
• the next meeting, including discussion on Lent and new Plan matters, was fixed for Wednesday 1st February at 1pm in Marketgait.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The Week of Prayer is traditionally observed from 18th to 25th January - the octave of St Peter and St Paul - but it may be observed at other times, eg Pentecost. This year's world-wide theme is Crossing Barriers using material prepared by churches in Germany, based on the call for reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5, 14-20.

The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service in Broughty Ferry will be held on Wednesday (not last week, as previously advertised) at 12 noon in St Mary's Episcopal Church, Queen Street (NB different venue from recent years). A warm welcome is extended to everyone to this Service.

Edinburgh City Centre Workplace Chaplain

See the advertisement for the above full-time post. The closing date for applications is 25th January 2017.

Methodist ClothesBank

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

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

• Please continue the search for suitable clothing from yourselves (and family & friends!) - “any clothing at all is welcome - smart or casual”.
• 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.

the Connexion magazine

A copy of the latest edition of this magazine is on the vestibule table; please borrow, read, and return, or download. There are items relating to work in Scotland and also to family members of active and Supernumerary Ministers in Scotland.

Homeless Sunday

Homeless Sunday (formerly known as Homelessness Sunday) is a partnership between Housing Justice in England and Wales, and Scottish Churches Housing Action in Scotland. It offers an opportunity for prayer for those who are homeless, for considering practical steps, and for voicing concern about the scandals of and associated with homelessness.

Churches are invited to

• Connect with homeless people
• Challenge political representatives
• Commit to practical action.

“Homelessness” is a single word which covers a vast variety of situations, issues, and challenges and needs of vulnerable people who need help, support, guidance, and prayer. The issue tends to be more prominent in the winter months, when the weather is colder and wetter, and people experiencing homelessness become more visible. But for people experiencing homelessness and charities and organisations looking to support them, this is an all-year-round situation. It is also important to celebrate work that tackles the problems and to hear the stories and to affirm people who no longer struggle with their housing.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Partnership is invited in January for work in India.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• translation of the Old Testament into Kera by the Bible Society of Chad;
• Bible Society of Jordan's 6-week programme to reach around 600 children;
• translation of the New Testament into the Akposso language of Togo;
• Thailand Bible Society's setting-up of Bible-based trauma healing programmes.

News from Malawi: during 2016 almost 9,000 people were reached by Bible Society work. The Good Samaritan programme for those affected by HIV / AIDS enabled over 6,000 people to undergo HIV screening, over 9,000 to participate in training and educational workshops, and over 3,400 to receive assistance with food, clothing, home-based care services and counselling. The Churches have established over 15 support groups to help people living with HIV, also widows, orphans and those with disabilities.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President and Vice-President of Conference in the Chester and Stoke District this weekend;
• Methodist Council, Milton Keynes, Wednesday - Thursday;
• District Candidates Committee, Edinburgh, Saturday;
• work in the London district (Methodist Homes);
• combating of Female Genital Mutilation by the Coptic Orthodox Church through BLESS (Embrace ME);
• work of ACT, a coalition of church and faith-based groups in over 100 countries (Christian Aid);
• Bible Society work in India;
• work in China, Korea and Laos (The Leprosy Mission);
• work in Mareeba, Australia (MAF);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Cyprus, Greece and Turkey (WCC);
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Wirral Circuit (Liverpool District) and in Tranent with Cockenzie (Edinburgh and Forth Circuit).

• 15 January 2017
• 29 January 2017

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