Category: News

Inside Syria – Building Bridges and Seeing Truth

The Rev Andrew Ashdown is visiting Tayside and Fife to share his experiences and insight from 1st February to 4th February. Our Baptist friends in Broughty Ferry invite us to join them in their premises (St Vincent Street) on Sunday 4th February at 6.30pm for a talk, questions & answers, followed by a Vigil for Syria.

“Revd Andrew Ashdown has [been] building extensive contacts with faith community leaders in the country, Muslim as well as Christian. The good news stories of people working together across faith communities to rebuild their towns and cities are rarely heard in the media.”

(Rev Dr Brian Talbot, Broughty Baptists).

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 18-25 January

This year’s theme, “That All May Be Free”, is based on Exodus 15, with material prepared in the Caribbean.

The themes of the daily material raise some of the contemporary issues addressed by the churches of the Caribbean.

  • The Caribbean Churches work together to heal the wounds in the body of Christ.
  • Reconciliation demands repentance, reparation and the healing of memories.
  • The whole Church is called to be both a sign and an active agent of this reconciliation.

“The chosen passage allows us to see that the road to unity must often pass through a communal experience of suffering. Although our liberation and salvation is at God’s initiative, human agencies are engaged in their realisation. Christian participate in God’s ministry of reconciliation, yet our divisions hamper our witness to a world in need of God’s healing.”

(from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland)

Broughty Ferry Churches Group invites our support at the Service in St Mary’s SEC on Thursday 25th January 2018 at 12 noon.

Easter on Iona

The accommodation at the Abbey and Macleod Centre are closed in 2018 for major refurbishment. Instead, the Abbey is running residential programmes in conjunction with the St Columba Hotel.

Kissed-Pierced-Hidden-Revealed: Seeing God’s Passion from Gethsemane to Glory runs from 28th March to 2nd April, and will look at how artists working in all kinds of circumstances – from power to poverty, the mainstream to the margins – have responded to Christ’s passion and resurrection.

More information

the connexion – latest issue – Our Calling

the connexion is a free magazine about the life and work of the Methodist Church, bringing together inspirational stories from Methodist people who are passionate about sharing God’s love to change lives.

Issue 10 challenges the Church to refocus on its core purpose of Our Calling.
Stories from across the Connexion tell how local churches are prioritising worship, learning and caring, service and evangelism in response to God’s love.

Download a PDF of the connexion issue 10 – Winter 2018 

Earlier issues of the connexion.

Angels at the Nativity

three angelsThe congregations of Dundee Methodist Church and the United Reform Church in Dundee have been regularly sharing services of worship for the past 3 months, exploring the possibility of working together more closely in the future.

We recently had a very enjoyable ‘DIY Nativity’ service led by URC members which included impromptu participation from members from both churches. Ecumenical working was taken to new heights when Rev Nick Baker (Methodist) (left) and Rev Alan McGougan (URC) decided that they were the most appropriately qualified people to be angels. Having seen their outfits – we were all happy to go with that suggestion but thankfully Lori Stewart from the URC provided a more traditional input as one of the few young people taking part!!

Sevlievo appeal – thanks

An e-mail from Sue and Julya to Circuit congregations, expresses “huge thanks” for the amount raised which to date totals £667.60. The sum of £617.60 has already been sent to Bulgaria, via Julya; Pastor Margarita is handing it to the family along with donations received from Bulgarian churches.

“What a difference this will make to this family who must surely have been wondering how they would ever begin to cover the medical costs that Svetla and her surviving son are incurring. Your generosity will have lifted a huge burden from them, so that instead of worrying about finances, Svetla and Konstantin will now be able to concentrate on getting better. More too, the massive sense of relief on the part of the grandparents who, whilst having so little money and the struggle of supporting the daughter and grandson through a horrific time, must now feel overwhelmed by the love and support from congregations so far away, who have not only held them in prayer but who have gone the extra mile with them and extended that support beyond their wildest imagination. True connexionalism as part of a worldwide family of Methodists.

Thank you all so much”

Dundee Food Bank

A letter of thanks has been received for Marketgait’s donations and support during the past year. The FoodBank remains committed to “providing emergency food relief to individuals, couples and families experiencing hardship throughout the city of Dundee and its surrounding area”.

In 2016, over 8,500 people were assisted with non-perishable food provision and the FoodBank is currently feeding 150 persons per week. (Clients can access the Foodbank on 3 separate occasions over a 6-month period.)

Cafe service coffee

Tea and coffee are served at tables before and during the coffee. Help with serving on 31st December 2017 would be much appreciated.

Supporting the Church Financially

Offering envelopes for 2018 are now available – please uplift from the table. If you wish to join the envelope scheme for regular giving, please see Mary Foster, who is also the contact for Gift Aid.

To give by Bank Standing Order please see the Church Treasurer, David Easson.