Are you looking for small group resources connecting the Christian faith and action for justice? Do you want to run sessions for your church or group this Autumn?
JPIT has different small group resources and materials available, with session plans, videos, blogs and activities. Take a look.
Worship in Dundee on Sunday August 25th will be a Local Arrangement. Please contact Liz, Lorna, Mary, or Jenny with any suggestions.
Are you interested in how worship leading and preaching might be offered and organised in a Single Circuit in Scotland? If so, please consider becoming part of a small team to look at how a single circuit might best provide guidance, support and development for all those involved in the leading of worship and preaching across Methodist and Methodist/ecumenical congregations in mainland Scotland. Hopefully, the team will be able to come up with a new way of working to be implemented from September 2025, including peopling the different roles (Circuit & District WLP secretary and tutor(s)).
Requirements: an interest in and commitment to worship – it is not necessary to be a worship leader or local preacher.
If you would like to be involved in this, please email the current WLP district secretaries, Anne and Carol lpwl@methodistchurchinscotland.net and/or the district tutor, Jill Baker ejillbaker@btinternet.com
Prepared by researchers at Coventry University, this guide is designed to be used by individuals.
General Election 2024
On behalf of the churches that we serve, we encourage Christians in Scotland to engage actively, constructively, and charitably in the democratic process of the General Election called for 4th July 2024.
We pray:
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Maker of heaven and earth
And of all things visible and invisible.
We turn to you in search of wisdom for our times
And the assurance that, in all things,
You remain sovereign and ruler over all.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
You are sovereign and ruler over all
And so, in the discerning of who might best govern our nation,
We turn to you once more.
Grant to us, and to all who seek your will,
A desire to see good governance established
In the interests of all who inhabit these lands.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
You are concerned for the interests of all
And you deny to no one the dignity and integrity
That belong to all who are made in your image.
Grant to us a concern for all who stand on the margins of society
And the courage to affirm their dignity and integrity
And so to stand in solidarity with them.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
You stand in solidarity with us,
Even through Jesus Christ
Your Word made flesh who lived amongst us.
Grant to us the ongoing commitment to pray for, and to engage with,
Those who are elected to govern in our name
That we might see our society better reflect the Kingdom that is to come.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our pray
Signed:
The Methodist Conference is currently taking place in Leeds (27 June – 3 July)
You can find the full agenda and timetable for this year’s Conference on the website. A list of highlights is given here. If you are not going in person but don’t want to miss out, then you can watch the Conference as it is livestreamed.
General Election 2024
On behalf of the churches that we serve, we encourage Christians in Scotland to engage actively, constructively, and charitably in the democratic process of the General Election called for 4th July 2024.
We pray:
Lord our God, we give thanks to you
For your love endures for ever.
In the midst all that changes in this world,
May we hear your voice and know your presence.
Grant to us wisdom, that we might do what the Lord requires of us
And seek justice and mercy in our world, even as we walk humbly with our God.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lord our God, you gift to us life
And the promise of life renewed.
We thank you for those who, in their daily work,
Seek to sustain the health of our nation.
May the renewal of the health of the people
Be to the fore in the considerations of those who seek to govern on our behalf.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lord our God, you care for us
Even to the end of our days.
We thank you for those who, day by day,
Care for the most vulnerable in our society.
May the dignity of those who care, and of those who are cared for,
Be recognised and affirmed in the renewal of our society.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lord our God, you are with us
Throughout all the days of our lives.
We share those days with all who are made in your image
And in the presence of the One who is the image of the invisible God.
Grant to us, and to all who seek the coming of your Kingdom,
A renewed desire to do what you require of us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Signed:
The Scottish Methodist Gathering in Stirling (20-22 September) will this year include a children’s programme during the day on Saturday, led by Emma Williams, an experienced children’s worker with roots in Scotland, who will be joining us for the weekend. To help with the planning for this:
As always, more information on the Gathering is available at the link above or by emailing scotmethgathering@gmail.com
Use the same email address or contact Jill Baker with any offers of help (please!)
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, the Council of Christians and Jews and the Church of Scotland will be co-hosting a webinar to launch a Jewish-Christian Glossary on Wednesday 19th June from 7.30 – 9pm.
A Jewish-Christian glossary is a dialogue and project convened by the Office of the Chief Rabbi and the Church of Scotland. Christian ministers and Jewish rabbis worked together to define some of the key terms used in both religions. The similarities and differences between the faiths are outlined in the document. The glossary is available to view online at the link below:
ocr23-01_a-jewish-christian-glossary_a4_v4.pdf (churchofscotland.org.uk)
If you would like to attend the webinar the registration link is below: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/61760?