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YOUNG PEOPLE Vicar’s Blog
There were two choices for young people at St Andrew’s, Aylestone in Leicester, where I grew up. You could either sing in the choir and experience the grumpiness and circular conducting of Tommy Moulds the choirmaster, or you could risk the ferocity of Miss Winifred Carter who ran the Sunday School. Winny and Tommy were probably very faithful, flawed human beings just like the rest of us, but they have become Disneyesque villains in my memory over time. I opted for the choir rather than Cruella; better to sing about Jesus in Latin rather than risk any Christian discipleship in the church hall. (Youth club had Vimto, so I briefly gave discipleship a shot at a later point.) The Church of England recently commissioned evidence-based research on why, in the midst of overall decline, certain Anglican
churches are experiencing growth. (From Anecdote to Evidence 20112013) Last year the Abbey PCC had a good look at these findings and were encouraged that certain factors associated with growth are present to some degree at Malmesbury Abbey: having a clear purpose and vision for growth, be willing to change and learn, sharing ministry together as the Body of Christ, actively engaging with people outside the church community, a practical commitment to welcome and discipleship, and a leadership that motivates and inspires, or at least blogs occasionally. But there was one other biggy: church growth is found where there is a high ratio of children to adults. Here’s a further quote from the report: ‘There is an urgent need to focus on children, young people and their parents and a challenge to identify how the church can best invest in people, programmes and strategies which
A B B E Y D I A RY
will encourage young people actively to continue exploring faith.’ Free Vimto just won’t do the trick. The research teams also found a positive association between church growth and employing a children’s & youth worker. 1 Corinthians 3:6 is clear, God grows the church, not us. But what is often missed from that verse is that Paul planted and Apollos watered. We labour for His glory, but we do labour. So it is a profoundly encouraging thing that Andrew & Jude Beebee join us this Sunday as Andrew (seen on the front cover with his new line manager) begins his work as Children’s & Youth Minister at the Abbey. It’s hard work, it’s so important, and the Spirit just strengthened the team.
THIS SUNDAY: February 1st 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Celebration & Commissioning of Andrew Beebee by the Bishop of Bristol, with Junior Church 5.30pm Party! THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 3rd
WED 4th THUR 5th
FRI 6th SAT 7th
2.30pm Prayer for the Persecuted Church (Eilmer House) 10.30am Communion 10.30am Time for Chat 2pm Prayers for Janet Parke (Eilmer House) 7pm Choir Practice 10.30am Creative Response 10am The Meeting Place
NEXT SUNDAY: February 8th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, the Grid & Junior Church 6.30pm Choral Evensong 6pm The Mix at the McAdams
HEBREWS 8:1-13 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: we do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being. Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’ 3
But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. 7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said: ‘The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbours, or say to one another, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’ 13 By calling this covenant ‘new’, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. 6
Additional Reading: John 6:41-47
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Read verses 1-2. Now read it again with a richer translation ‘crowning affirmation’ replacing the words ‘main point’. What is the ‘crowning affirmation’ to which the writer is referring? 2. Hebrews 8 is divided into 3 paragraphs on the previous page. They describe: ‘the mediator of a new superior covenant,’ ‘the old high priestly ministry’ and ‘the new high priestly ministry.’ Which is which? 3. The passage contrasts the earthly sanctuary as a ‘copy and shadow’ (v5) of what Christ has entered in heaven (v2). Describe some things you have experienced in everyday life that are a shadow of the real thing? Describe experiencing the real thing for the first time. 4. Heb 8:8-12 quotes an ancient prophecy of Jeremiah. What are the two main qualities of the new covenant prophesied? 5. A child asks: how do we know God? What is your answer?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 1 Hosea 9 Hebrews 10:1-18 Tuesday Psalm 5 Hosea 10 Hebrews 10:19-39 Wednesday Psalm 119:1-32 Hosea 11:1-11 Hebrews 11:1-22 Thursday Psalm 15 Hosea 11:12-12:14 Hebrews 11:23-31 Friday Psalm 19 Hosea 13:1-14 Hebrews 11:32-40
REGULAR GIVING If you would like to give regularly to the mission and ministry of the Abbey as part of your discipleship, please e-mail alan@malmesburyabbey.com.
ORGAN TUNING
T- S H I R T S & T I C K E T S
The Abbey organ is being tuned on Monday 9th February, all day. To preserve the sanity of our staff, stewards and visitors the Abbey and the cafĂŠ will be closed all day. Our apologies. Morning Prayer will be in Eilmer House at 9am.
See next page! In case you haven’t noticed the small print on the poster and are pretty desperate to be seen looking good in a MAS TShirt or Hoodie, you need to order yours by close of play Monday 2nd February. Contact MAS2015 on skate@malmesburyabbey.com. Tickets for MAS2015 are selling out. So go to the Abbey website and follow the link to buy on line a.s.a.p.
A S H W E D N E S D AY
PRAYER x 2
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which for many is a reflective season of prayer, renewal and fasting before the celebrations of Easter. In the Malmesbury & Upper Avon Group there are two penitential services of Holy Communion with Ashing on Ash Wednesday: 10.30am at Eilmer House, and 7pm at All Saints, Corston. (The morning service is moved to Eilmer House because of the Skate Park.)
Two more prayer meetings coming this week: Pray for Persecuted Christians in Eilmer House on Tuesday 3rd February at 2.30pm. And Prayers for Janet Parke, praying for her work in Zambia, Thursday 5th February in Eilmer House at 2pm.
NOTICEBOARD
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
CONTAC T ABBEY OFFICE Monday (10am-12noon) Tuesday-Friday (9.30am– 3pm) Tel: 01666 826666 sandie@malmesburyabbey.com
CAFÉ HOURS Tuesday-Saturday (normal) 9am– 3.30pm Sunday & Monday closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com
www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
12th CENTURY BEAUT Y 21st CENTURY CHURCH