Category: News

Call for stewards

Stewards normally are responsible for making sure that worship arrangements are made; at present, these duties are in abeyance.  The stewards’ team is also responsible for the oversight of the wellbeing of the church, by which we mean the members and congregation.

In this time of uncertainty and change, we need to strengthen the stewards’ team to think creatively about the future, and be attentive to what we need to be doing now as a congregation.  We are looking for volunteers from among our membership.  Meetings are held by Zoom, so you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your home.  Appointments are for a year at a time.

Please pray and consider carefully whether you could offer your talents in this way.  If you would like more information, please contact any of the current stewards.  Email editor@dundeemethodist.org.uk if you need relevant contact details.

Fresh from the Word 2021

In the past, I have sourced copies of these Bible reading notes and then distributed them in person.  This is not possible this year.  I am happy to order online, using the best deal I can find at the time, and ensure that the book is sent to your home address.  Or alternatively, I can point you in the right direction for ordering your own.  Email me.

Reset the debt campaign

reset the debt logoA campaign calling for debt cancellation for people who have been swept into unavoidable debt in recent months is launched today by a group of four denominations representing two-thirds of a million Christians and ecumenical charity, Church Action on Poverty.

The Baptist Union of Great Britain, Church Action on Poverty, The Church of Scotland, The Methodist Church and The United Reformed Church call for the Government to create a Jubilee Fund to provide grants to pay off and cancel unavoidable debt accrued by the poorest households during the lockdown period, giving them a more stable platform from which to face the difficult winter ahead.

Register for the free webinar on Thursday 15th October 2020 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

Read more about the campaign.

 

Supporting Refugees and Asylum Seekers

A Supporting Refugees and Asylum Seekers Gathering will take place via Zoom on Thursday 15 October between 11.00am and 12.30pm. It will be hosted by Ian Rutherford and David Hardman (Manchester and Stockport) and Bala Gnanapragasam (London).

Joining from Rome will be Fiona Kendall, the European and Legal Affairs Advisor with Mediterranean Hope. More information.

To join the Zoom meeting on 15 October please let Ian Rutherford know on ianr7@hotmail.co.uk and he will send you the Zoom link.

View synod sessions

The recent meeting of the Scottish Synod included sessions on

  • a Pioneer project that has been running in Inverness for 10 years, providing a safe space in an area of social deprivation
  • the work of Rev Nik Wooller in connecting with those who are not in church
  • ‘God for all’ introduced by the Rev Trey Hall.

All these may be viewed on the District YouTube channel.

The first two were in session 2, and the last in session 3.

Traidcraft Christmas Cards

The Christmas cards for 2020 are now available at the Traidcraft Shop. If you wish to order cards, or anything else from Traidcraft, you can have goods at discounted prices by asking me to order them for you – I am a Fairtrader. There is a postage charge of £4.75 unless the order exceeds £50 at discounted rates. The order will be sent directly to your address.

If you wish to place an order this way, email editor@dundeemethodist.org.uk including your name,  your order, your address and your phone number for any delivery queries. We will need to arrange a suitable method of payment.

You do not need to be associated with Dundee Methodist Church to take up this offer.

 

A Year of Prayer 2021, but now as well!

Conference has declared 2021 a Year of Prayer “so that our Church-wide commitments to evangelism, church growth, church at the margins, and pioneering and church planting will flow from a deep contemplative orientation to God’s grace and love.”

Provision has been made for a Weekly Online Prayer Meeting on Tuesdays at 12.45pm. These are streamed live on Facebook. If you wish to take part on Zoom, register, and you will be sent a link.

Suggestions and resources are also available through Districts, Circuits, and churches.

Broughty Ferry Churches Group update

BFCG held the regular September meeting on Tuesday by Zoom and received reports from the Treasurer, With Refugees Broughty Ferry, and Broughty Ferry Food Bank.  It was agreed that a donation of £500 be given from BFCG funds to Christian Aid as the Coffee Morning in May could not take place.  It was also agreed to invite speakers to the November meeting to help exploration of the feasibility of a “Community Fridge” in the Ferry – this is a way to recycle surplus fresh food and reduce food waste.

Reports from each congregation gave a general picture of gradual resumption of worship by most, following Risk Assessment procedures and, where appropriate, booking to try to control maximum numbers.  It was noted that for some regular attenders, a return to worship together physically, albeit ‘different’ & without socialising, was a welcome step, whilst for others, understandably, the need to exercise personal caution remained.  The resumption of previous activities and use of premises through outside bookings had not taken place.