Category: News

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.

 

Easter Greetings from the Philippines

A card and greetings have been sent to us by Christian Paul N Calero (aka ‘Toto’), whom we sponsor though Signpost International.  The message he has written reads

“May you find the renewal of hope, health and love and the spirit of God.  Happy Easter to you and lovly (sic) family.”

Through our sponsorship, Signpost Intentional is helped to support projects to benefit the whole community of West Habog Habog where Toto and his family live.

Easter Offering Appeal

Envelopes are available for support of the world-wide work of the Church.  This year’s focus, on the theme “Seek Peace and Pursue It” (Psalm 34, v14) is on situations in Sri Lanka, Japan, and Israel-Palestine.

Envelopes may be returned via the offerings plate today or in coming weeks.

The Easter Offerings Appeal’s origins date back some 135 years to the tradition of particular support for Methodist Women Missionaries; money donated now goes to the World Mission Fund which in 2017 received £340,641 from the Easter Offering Appeal.  The Appeal and associated Service is offered as a gift from Methodist Women in Britain (MWIB) to the whole Church.

More information & stories.

Lent 5 liturgy

Lent 5: Reading – Psalm 126

A prayer of blessing

A blessing on you,
God the Father,
for the goodness of your creation.

A blessing on you,
God the Son,
for bringing us your salvation.

A blessing on you,
God the Holy Spirit,
for your ongoing revelation.

A blessing on God
now and for evermore.

Amen.

(c) ROOTS for the Churches Ltd

Circuit Meeting Report

On Wednesday the meeting

  • appointed a new Circuit Treasurer, a new Circuit Secretary, and an additional Circuit Steward (all with immediate effect);
  • the Arbroath and Montrose societies will be represented at Circuit Leadership Team meetings;
  • accepted the financial, Preachers’ and Mission in Britain reports;
  • agreed a loan of £25k to Dundee for building renovation purposes;
  • expressed support for the month of June a Circuit focus on the book of Jonah during June, in worship and other groups, as part of a Connexional programme;
  • heard “exciting news” from each of the 5 congregations in the Circuit.