29 October 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.

Thinking about Advent

• The Circuit Preachers are holding a “training day” to which they warmly invite all interested; it will consider and plan for the marking of Advent in and throughout the Circuit's churches. The “day” will take place on Saturday 4th November in Marketgait from 10.30am to 4.30pm.
  “This is open to Preachers, Church Stewards, members of Worship Consultation groups and anyone else interested. It is hoped that during the session, as well as exploring many aspects of Advent, a suitable Advent liturgy can be agreed for use throughout the circuit.”
• The next Dundee Worship Consultation will be on Wednesday 8th November at 1pm.
  All interested are invited; feedback, comments on and material for worship can be given to Sue Commander.

The Gideons

• Gideons International is a Christian organisation founded in 1899 in Wisconsin, USA, with its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. It is registered as a charity in England & Wales, and in Scotland, with its registered office in Lutterworth.
• Its primary activity is the free distribution of Bibles. This comprises a global enterprise in some 200 countries and members currently distribute over 8 million Scriptures annually.
• The name comes from the Biblical character Gideon whose story can be found in the Old Testament book of Judges, chapter 6.

Methodist ClothesBank

• Wanted: volunteers, carrier bags, rag bag items and jeans
• If you would be willing to join the rota in the coming months, please contact Margaret Goudie. 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, the heavier the better. Money from the sale of rags enables the ClothesBank to buy underwear and socks for our clients.

Flower Rota

“Elaine writes: I would like to thank everyone on the Flower rota for the support given to me over the years in the people providing the flowers for Sunday worship and the people arranging the flowers. I will no longer be doing the flower rota due to commitments outwith. I hope the support continues for the person who takes this task on."

Warm thanks are extended on behalf of our whole church community to Elaine for her many years of contribution to “the ministry of flowers”, together with her late mother, Florence, and her father, Tom, both of whose faithful work we continue to remember. If anyone wishes to 'take this task on', please contact the Minister or Church Stewards.

(Jenny Easson)

“In Touch” - District newsletter

This is now being sent by email from the District Office with local distribution to be arranged by churches. If you wish to receive a copy by email or a printed copy, please let the Eassons know. There is a paper to sign on the vestibule table to indicate your wish. Alternatively, read it now!

“One Mission” Prayer Diary

This handbook to support our prayers for work in Scotland and beyond has been prepared by Sue Marshall-Jennings, with others; she is the District representative to the Connexional One Mission Group. The Diary has been circulated to Synod members but is intended for anyone wishing to use it. Please ask a member of Synod to forward it; may be available from the District Office: fiona@methodistchurch.plus.com;>tel: 01786 820295.

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

Our support via the Bible-a-Month Partnership is invited in October for work in Liberia and in November for work in Bulgaria.

Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to

• translation of the Old Testament into the Bemba language by the Bible Society of Congo;
• Bible Society of Portugal's work with churches and other organisations to provide the History of Jesus booklet to one million children aged 4-14;
• attendance at Premier Digital Conference in London next weekend as means of informing and equipping SBS in the use of digital technology.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• the President of Conference at Navigating Change conferences, first in Stoke-on-Trent on Tuesday, and then in Plymouth next weekend;
• the Vice-President of Conference in the South-east District (of England) until Tuesday;
• Connexional Allowances Committee, meeting on Thursday;
• MAPUM (Methodist-Anglican Panel on Unity and Mission) meeting, Westminster, on Wednesday;
• mission partners and ecumenical accompanists;
• Blairgowrie Church Council, tomorrow;
• work in the Channel Islands (Methodist Homes);
• Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation's support of disabled people (Embrace ME);
• partners working in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (Christian Aid);
• staff and families newly arrived in Uganda (MAF);
• work in Nigeria (The Leprosy Mission);
• we pray with and for the peoples of Canada and the USA (WCC);

we remember Methodists in the Ipswich Circuit (East Anglia District) and in Inverness (Inverness Circuit), also the United Reformed Church congregation in Carluke.

• 22 October 2017
• 5 November 2017

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