Category: News

Scottish Churches Housing Action

The speaker at next week’s café service, Alastair Cameron, is the recently retired Chief Executive of Scottish Churches Housing Action.

Scottish Churches Housing Action believes in  NO ROOM FOR HOMELESSNESS!

This means a Scotland in which all people can live in homes which:

  • they can afford
  • offer privacy, security, comfort and dignity
  • offer support appropriate to the needs of the different stages of their lives
  • are located in communities that meet their economic, social, spiritual and recreational needs

Thanks from Svetla

Dear Ladies and gentlemen,

I express my gratitude and sincere thanks to you for the grant with which you gave a chance for my quick and successful, healthy recovery and maintenance.  Thank you for being part of the few, real and decent people who have responded to my needs at this difficult time for us.

I acknowledge the support of all donors from the bottom of my heart and wish you healthy bright days and happiness for the homes.

Amen!

Worship Consultation résumé

At Wednesday’s meeting it was agreed that

  • the Easter display in the porch will remain to Pentecost (20th May) after which a new display will focus on images of doves and flames;
  • as part of ‘Jonah in June’ two open evenings will be held on Wednesdays 6th and 27th June to explore and deepen our scripture knowledge;
  •  a series of exploration evenings will be held in autumn on the theme of “Talking of God” on Wednesdays 26th September, 7th October, 14th and 28th November – these fit within the university term;
  • a different approach will be taken to “fifth Sunday” worship on Sunday 29th July (lectionary Gospel is John 6, ‘the great picnic’) with a shorter act of worship then invitation to join a shared meal elsewhere (details to be developed!);
  •  Sunday 24th June will be united worship in Marketgait led by URC Ministers;
  • the next meetings will be on Monday 11th June at 12 noon (to plan 29th July service / outing), and Wednesday 22nd August at 1 pm.

Jonah in June

The Methodist Church encourages us to take a month to study a book of the bible in depth. In June, all the circuit preachers will be looking at the book of Jonah.

To complement the preaching, we have arranged two evening sessions in which we will be able to discuss points that arise from our studies. These will be held in Marketgait on Wednesdays 6th and 27th June at 7pm. All are welcome.

Online service in Livingston

When severe weather caused by the ‘Beast from the East’ cancelled all four Sunday services at Livingston United Parish Church, technology came to the rescue.

To provide the congregation with some form of worship, an online broadcast was set up and the Revd Stephanie Njeru, the Methodist member of the team ministry, provided a short service.

The service was a success and earned lots of positive feedback.The church will take the encouraging statistics to the Church Council in a bid for future services to also be broadcast.

The Revd Njeru said: “This was an inspired solution to the problem that the weather brought. Hopefully will be the first of many acts of worship that will enable the housebound or non-churchgoers the opportunity to worship alongside others.”

Humanitarian Aid for the Democratic Republic of Congo

Christian Aid is responding to urgent humanitarian need in the Kasai Districtof the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with funding from the Scottish Government’s new Humanitarian Emergency Fund.

Christian Aid has worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the 1970s. But months of escalating violence in Kasai District is threatening families who had become healthier and more resilient.

Our partner, HelpAge, will be providing shelter kits and essential non-food items to reduce the risk of disease for internally displaced people and host families. Women and children are particularly vulnerable.

Christian Aid’s Head of Humanitarian Policy and Practice, Michael Mosselmans said, ‘Sadly, the enormous humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo have not received the media and political attention from the international community that they so clearly deserve. Christian Aid therefore commends the release of much-needed funding for the emergency in the DRC from the Scottish Government.’

Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, the Scottish Government’s Minister for International Development and Europe said, ‘For decades, the DRC has struggled with one of the world’s most relentless emergencies. Escalating conflict within the country has resulted in 4.3 million people displaced from their homes, 9.9 million considered food insecure and 2 million malnourished children.

‘We want Scotland to be a good global citizen and our Humanitarian Emergency Fund aims to provide emergency life-saving aid to those in most need.’

Church Leaders meet with First Minister

At the annual meeting of Church Leaders with the First Minister, topics included social isolation, loneliness, and child poverty.  To mark the Year of Young People in 2018, young adults from various denominations were also present.

The Church leaders urged the First Minister to address the issues of child and food poverty.

 

Methodist Women in Britain Fellowship Day

Scotland’s Methodist Women in Britain offer an invitation to this event on Saturday 19th May from 11am to 3pm in Pollokshaws Church, Glasgow (Shawholm Cres G43 1NY); the speaker will be the Rev Jackie Bellfield (minister, broadcaster on local radio and after-dinner speaker).

There will be a Market Place / bring-&-buy, proceeds to The Congo Appeal.

Tickets (£8) including buffet lunch and tea-coffee on arrival, from Gail Balfour: g.bal4@blueyonder.co.uk

Presidential Easter Message

The President of Conference, the Rev Loraine Mellor, and the Vice-President, Mrs Jill Baker, have issued their Easter Message focussing on the Resurrection.

Loraine and Jill have also asked for Methodists to pray for Kemerovo, – for those affected by the fire that engulfed a shopping and entertainment complex in the Siberian coal-mining city of Kemerovo, killing at least 64 people, the majority of whom were children.