We have been invited to share in the Good Friday service on March 30th at the Congregational Church in Dundee along with Salem URC and Meadowside St Pauls. Nick will be preaching the sermon. The service starts at 6:30pm. All welcome.
Pastor Margarita from Sevlievo wrote recently to thank the Circuit for the help it had sent for Svetla and her family. ‘It is a witness to her family of our love and care.’
She also told us about an old Bulgarian custom.
‘Soon it will be 1st March. This day is special in Bulgaria. We call it “Grandma March Day”. On this day we give each other a martenitsa. It is made of white and red cotton or woollen threads. It symbolises good health, long life, fertility and abundance. The white colour symbolises purity, innocence and joy. The red colour symbolises life, health and the fire of love. One of the traditional forms of the martenitsa is of a boy and a girl, called Pizho and Pends respectively. In folk tradition the month of March is personified by a woman – Granny March. Her mood constantly changes and so weather in March also changes quite a lot. We say that when Grandma March is angry, weather is cold, and when she smiles – it is sunny and warm. People wear the martenitsa pinned on the lapel, around the waist or around the neck. They take it off when they see the first stork. If they don’t see one, they take it off on 22 March when spring officially starts.
According to the legend when the Bulgarians led by Khan Asparuh reached the Danub valley (present day North Bulgaria) they were enchanted by the place and decided to settle down there. After declaring the new Bulgarian state the khan decided to make a sacrificial offering to god Tangra. Tradition demanded the sacrificial fire to be lit with a stalk of dried dill but the Bulgarians could not find any. While they were wondering what to do a falcon landed on the khan’s shoulder. It had a stalk of dill tied to its leg with a white woollen thread, half of it red because of the blood dripping from the falcon’s injured wing. The bird had been sent by the khan’s sister who had had a dream of her brother’s predicament. The khan took the dried dill and lit the fire. Then he pinned the white and red thread on his shirt to keep him in good health. Apart from the legend suggestions have been made that the martenitsas are an inheritance from the Thracians who have lived on this territory.
So we are sending a small martenitsa for each one of you wishing you happiness, good health and long life. May God bless you abundantly. While wearing your martenitsa do think of us all, and especially of Svetla and her son.’
Perth Methodist Church
Saturday 9th June 2018
10 am to 4 pm
Trey Hall, church planter, coach and mentor, will lead participants in exploring how to revitalise existing churches and start new churches. Reimagine Church is an important initiative within Methodism in Britain and Trey has been sharing important insights and knowledge gained from experience. Trey is aware of the challenging context for Methodism in many places and his work to date has been warmly received and found to be relevant and helpful by Methodists in other districts.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided; there is no charge for the event. Perth’s premises were refurbished in 2017, and provide a warm welcoming environment for study and fellowship.
To book a place please contact Fiona at the Scotland District office, making her aware of any specific dietary requirements.
The box for cards for church friends is in the vestibule; cards may be uplifted today and Christmas Day.
During Caragh’s holiday, we are asked to remove chairs today and set out for next Sunday, please.
Please contact the Rev Nik Wooller if the services of a Minister are required.
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Mondays 10am -12 noon (i/c Liz)
Thursdays 1pm – 3pm (i/c Sue)
Volunteers please contact Sue or Liz
More clothing is still needed; please have a good spring clean of your wardrobes. Anything is welcome. We will
Please take a collecting bag from the table at the top of the stairs or ask a helper for one.
Starter Packs are desperately in need of curtains or material. If anyone has spare curtains that they don’t need, these would be very much appreciated.
Caragh will be taking holiday this month, so cover is needed for her cleaning and chair-removal duties. Please assist in moving the chairs, if you are able, after worship throughout July.
The congregation of St James’, the “Lifeboat Church”, will hold a Songs of Praise today at 6.30pm, with particular invitation to friends in the Churches Group to a “Churches Together” service. Our support is invited.
Our new circuit minister, Nik Wooller, is arriving in Blairgowrie on Tuesday 1st August. There will be an opportunity for all circuit members to see the Blairgowrie manse on Saturday 29th July from 11:00 to 14:00. If you can’t manage at this time but would like to see the manse before it is occupied, please ring Sheila / Keith Pearson.
Further training is now required for “all those who participated in the initial Safeguarding training 5 or more years ago”.
Sessions have been arranged as follows; all last from 2-4pm:
| Tuesday 8 August | Perth |
| Thursday 24 August | Perth |
| Tuesday 5 September | Dundee |
| Thursday 21 September | Dundee |
Please advise Marcia Mackenzie if you plan to attend one of these sessions. If you should be receiving this training, and none of these dates is suitable, please advise a Church Steward and/or contact Marcia Mackenzie; it is possible that an evening session can be arranged.
All are welcome – Safeguarding is the responsibility of each and every one of us.
‘Following on from the excellent District Prayer Diary that Jill Baker produced for us last year, I am hoping that we can have a similarly inspiring one this year. I invite you to submit prayers, meditations, stories and other reflections, particularly around ‘mission’. This may be something that your church is involved with – at home or abroad – or it may be thoughts around the need for mission and our call to discipleship. I look forward to hearing back, either directly on smj4409@hotmail.co.uk or via Fiona at District Office, by the end of July. Many thanks. Sue Marshall-Jennings’
The tragedy that took place at Grenfell Tower on 14 June has touched many hearts across the world.
The London District Chairs, the then President and Vice-President of the Conference and the Conference itself have all shared their grief and their prayers.
But it has been the work on the ground that should really be highlighted: the amazing support of local volunteers, Notting Hill Methodist Church and the Revd Mike Long.
At one of the prayer vigils Mike said: “There are times when all the words we can say are not adequate and sometimes words fail us because no words can do justice to how we feel, or what we have seen or what has happened.”
Three tonnes of food were donated and many more tonnes of clothes and toiletries, which have all been shared or are in the middle of being processed. Further donations of goods are not required, but money for those affected is still greatly appreciated.
As well as being a base for donations, holding prayer vigils and organising community action, the church has extended its opening hours for prayer, reflection and practical assistance from 9.00 in the morning until 7.00 at night Monday-Saturday – a true hub for the local community.
Many candles were lit and Mike later spoke of the importance of lighting candles as a sign not only of grieving but also of a faith that dares to hope.
For updates and information on how you can help, see the church website.
Our support via the Bible-a-Month Partnership is invited in July for work in Argentina.
Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to
As intimated orally last week, donations may be made today to the Relief Fund to aid victims of the devastating fire in London. An offering plate will be available by the door before and after worship; contributions will be sent, as requested, to the Methodist London District for collecting and processing.
Envelopes for donations in support of the work of caring for older people through the Church’s Care Agency may be returned in the offering plate today.
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Caragh will be taking the holiday to which she is entitled during July, so cover is needed for her cleaning and chair-removal duties. Help from those able to undertake moving furniture will be appreciated, between 3rd and 29th July.
Further training is now required for “all those who participated in the initial Safeguarding training 5 or more years ago”.
Sessions have been arranged as follows; all last from 2-4pm:
| Tuesday 4 July | Arbroath |
| Tuesday 8 August | Perth |
| Thursday 24 August | Perth |
| Tuesday 5 September | Dundee |
| Thursday 21 September | Dundee |
Please advise Marcia Mackenzie if you plan to attend one of these sessions. If you should be receiving this training, and none of these dates is suitable, please advise a Church Steward and/or contact Marcia Mackenzie; it is possible that an evening session can be arranged.
All are welcome – Safeguarding is the responsibility of each and every one of us.
It has been agreed that Pam Bostock will again send in a bulk order for this Handbook; please sign the list on the vestibule table if you wish to order a copy, or contact Jenny Easson. The cost for an ordinary print copy is £3.50 and for a large print copy £3.95 – the bulk order will be “post-free”.
Copies should arrive in the Circuit during August.
The Eagles Wings Group is going to have to move from its existing base in the next few months, and so they are seeking alternative premises. A brief summary of what they are looking for appears below.
If you are aware of any possibilities which might match their requirements, please contact Eagles Wings direct with any suggestions they might follow up.
“We currently operate from the old Elim church in Dudhope Crescent Road, but unfortunately have been told that we need to move out within the next 3 months. We have fairly specific needs – we need to be central, have a space big enough to hold approx 50 service users, a large kitchen, at least 2 offices and a parking space for our soup kitchen van.”
The congregation of St James’ will again be “opening their doors” during the Ferry Gala Week, 2nd – 9th July.
They will also hold a Songs of Praise each Sunday evening at 6.30pm, with particular invitation to friends in the Churches Group to a “Churches Together” service on Sunday 9th July.
Requests for favourite hymns should be made to the Pastoral Locum, Cathy Brodie by Friday 30th June either by e-mail cjb@cathy.org.uk or by post to St James, Fort Street, Broughty Ferry.
Our support via the Bible-a-Month Partnership is invited in June for work in Nepal and in July for work in Argentina.
Our prayerful attention is drawn this week to