Category: News

Property Redevelopment

The redevelopment steering group will meet on Tuesday 13th November.  The architect has not been invited to this meeting; we want to explore where we stand, and what questions we have, before we invite the architect to meet us.  If you have any points you wish the group to note, or questions you believe we should be putting to the architect, please contact either Lorna or Margaret.

The link to the church intranet is now live, and can be found in the links section at the bottom of every page of the church website – https://dundeemethodist.org.uk/. The intranet contains minutes of meetings, and documents relating to church redevelopment.  Please contact editor@dundeemethodist.org.uk if you would like to be granted access, which is open to all members of the congregation.

BBC Christmas Eve Service broadcast

This year’s BBC televised Service will be recorded in St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee on Saturday 17th November from 7pm to 10pm, with a rehearsal (venue to be advised) during the afternoon.  There is an invitation to experienced singers to expand the choir and to others to join the congregation.

It will include items by the local NYCOS Choir , the Loadsaweeminsinging group, and the Aberdeen University Chamber Choir, with the other half of the Service being congregational carols.

Tickets are required to ensure numbers are known.

Please sign the sheet on the vestibule table or let a Church Steward know if you wish to participate, no later than 11 November,  so we can advise the Cathedral of numbers and obtain tickets.

Worship Consultation

This open meeting in Marketgait at 1pm on Wednesday will include conversation and decisions about marking the Advent-Christmas season.  Please give apologies, suggestions, suitable material and thoughts about our worship life to Sue C, its Convener.

Being Methodist in our Christian Life in Scotland today

All Methodist churches in Scotland, indeed UK-wide, are being asked to consider their future – either a plan for growth or a plan for an end.

We have arranged two meetings –

  • Tuesday 4th December  7pm-9pm
  • Sunday 20th January after worship and lunch

in which we hope as many of our congregation as possible will participate in discussion of our future together.

The Scottish District of the Methodist Church has produced a short leaflet outlining the issues. Please read this, and consider how you see the Methodist community moving forwards.

Find out what has been/is going on!

Church Council meeting agreed that our entire congregation should be given access to the intranet on the church website, where minutes of committees and documents relevant to the proposed redevelopment are stored.

If you would like to be granted access, please contact Margaret with a proposed username and password (not real words, and preferably some mix of at least 2 of upper / lower case and numbers.)

Church Council brief résumé

Council members and several others attended.

Matters agreed were:

  • appointment for a further year of Council Secretary (Margaret), Church Treasurer (David) & Pastoral Secretary (Jenny);
  • conversation by the whole church on important issues raised in the paper “Being Methodist in our Christian Life in Scotland today” (copies available) – open meetings on Tuesday 4th December from 7pm-9pm and Sunday 20th January (over / after ‘faith lunch’);
  • property redevelopment;
  • Financial Statements formally accepted;
  • increased frequency of Council meetings;
  • note of decision for upstairs worship;
  • Christmas Service on 25thDecember at 10.30am; tree erected 8th December;
  • Council date (before Circuit Meeting) – Thursday 27th February at 7pm.

Update from Traidcraft

Our Board is currently investigating a proposal which would mean Traidcraft is downsized, but transformed into a fair trade business of tomorrow – fit for purpose (and success) in the 21stcentury.  If the proposal is accepted, Traidcraft would continue to operate, and you’d be able to continue to shop with us and change the lives of growers and artisans worldwide.  The Board believes that this transformation is possible, as long as our loss-making model changes.  A new model is being developed by internal staff and external advisors, and we hope to share our vision with you in the week commencing 5th November.

Communion Offering in November

The Church Council on  Wednesday decided that, as part of the commemorations of the centenary of the ending of World War I, there would be no Communion Offering on 4thNovember but encouragement be given for generous contributions to a Retiring Offering on Sunday November 11th (Armistice Sunday itself); the proceeds would be divided between 2 charities associated with support for victims of warfare (chosen charities to be publicised next Sunday).

Scottish Churches Housing Action Christmas Cards

Scottish Churches Housing Action has Christmas cards for sale – price £2.50 for pack of 10 (and see below for postage).

These cards showing “Home“, a bright and warm place, a modern “Christmas family”, in what might otherwise seem an impoverished setting, are designed by Mary Jane Cameron.  The message inside reads “Wishing you peace, health and happiness at Christmas”.  Proceeds will benefit SCHA, and the ongoing work to give more people the chance of an affordable home.

David Easson could collect them from the SCHA office when he is there on any of 7th November or 6th or 13th December, thus eliminating the P&P charge.  Let David know in advance if you would like him to bring cards back for you.

Otherwise, to order cards, please email info@churches-housing.org with your name & address, and number of packs required.  Alternatively phone 0131 477 4500, or write to  44 Hanover St, Edinburgh EH2 2DR.