The Plan for September-November has now been drawn up and is published. Please sign the list on the vestibule table or advise David Easson to receive a copy regularly, by email or hard copy, if you have not already done so.
The Circuit Sewing Bee announces its first gathering
Saturday 1 September, 10.30am – 3.30pm
in St John’s Methodist Church, Ponderlaw Street, Arbroath
Dear Friends
It was good to join with so many other Methodists from around the UK and the world at the Methodist Conference in Nottingham. Gathering with several hundred others to worship, sing, listen and confer was a real privilege and encouragement, if also at times somewhat challenging. It was a strong reminder that we are connected with a body much bigger than just our local churches, circuits or even District. Conversations about God at work in the world, what it means to be Methodist in our working out of our faith, how we relate with other churches and faiths are all shaped by Methodists from Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Norfolk, Yorkshire, London etc.
A bit like a Church Council there are plenty of differing views and yet we were all held together by a common faith, a mutual love and respect. A guided conversation was held in front of the conference between two people from very differing perspectives regarding marriage and relationships. The respect and love that shone through at this point was an example for all of us about how we engage with one another. I have reproduced the guidance here about how we hold together as a Christian community whilst living with contradictory ideas. Living as a community with contradictory ideas is nothing new as many of the letters in the New Testament testify but St Paul encouraged people to recall their primary identity as members of the body of Christ.
The body connects us in life and through death. This is good for us to remember as we mourn the death, and celebrate the life, of Heather – a local preacher in this Circuit and Methodist throughout her life. We give thanks for her ministry amongst us, her commitment to her Lord, her challenge to live in sympathy with the environment, and the reminder of infinite grace.
With love
Nick
A model statement on Living with Contradictory Convictions
We continue to believe that God has been revealed in Jesus Christ, accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, and live in communion with God and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We cherish our place within Christ’s Church recognising that it is Christ alone who chooses, calls and confirms us as members of His church, the body of Christ.
Whilst we may not all agree about everything, we recognise the importance of the truths which bind us together as well as the issues which currently divide us.
Therefore, we resolve:
Donations of bags for clients to take away their chosen clothes will be gratefully received – thanks are expressed to Tesco and Morrisons for supplying strong bags for this purpose.
The Clothes Bank will be CLOSED during the Dundee fortnight i.e. 23rd July to 2nd August. Sadly, we do not have the staff to man it.
If anyone has a collecting box for any Methodist charity / fund, and would like to have them emptied, please hand them in to David Easson, Treasurer, before the middle of August. Thanks!
The 2018-19 edition, entitled ‘A World Transformed’ starts in September. If you wish to add your name to a circuit order, please sign the sheet on the vestibule table or let Jenny Easson know. Standard print copies cost £3.50, large print copies £3.95.
On Sunday 29thJuly, there will be a shorter Act of Worship, led the Rev Nick Baker, from 10.45am to 11.30am, with an invitation thereafter to travel for food and fellowship together in Arbroath.
Our friends in St John’s in Arbroath will provide soup, tea/coffee and biscuits and ask that Dundee folk bring “food to share” (picnic-style items). They are very much looking forward to a time of meeting, getting to know each other better, and learning about our life as different churches within the same Circuit.
If you hope to go to Arbroath, it would be helpful to know names, what type of food you might bring, and whether help with transport can be offered or would be helpful. Please contact Sue Commander or Jenny Easson about this or for further information.
Sue is now preparing the new District Prayer Diary and would be very pleased
to have contributions on the themes – from the District Development Proposals – of Biblical Engagement and Social Action.
In previous years we have offered prayers for people and situations within
particular Circuits and hope to be able to do this again. Everyone is invited to submit contributions, which should be sent to Sue by 17th August.
