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SHEEP Vicar’s Blog
I was at a conference recently in London and the Preacher to the Papal Household, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, was speaking. He has been preaching to Popes since 1980, and Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have all listened in on his eloquent and insightful meditations. As I quietly sang his name to the tune of the song ‘Guantanamera!’, try it, I reflected that his preaching engagement has to be about the toughest gig on the planet. In the middle of his talk on leadership he spoke of a conversation he had had with Pope Francis where he had asked the Pope what sort of qualities he was looking for in his new Bishops. Pope Francis replied: ‘I am looking for leaders that smell of sheep.’ I thought that was a particularly fine observation. It’s no good me being a vicar if I can tick the boxes for attending the right conferences, or
know my way around an i-Mac, or be ace with the rotas, and, confession time, I do like a nice rota, but not actually smell of the very people you are called to walk and pray alongside. However, after over 12 years here at the Abbey, I think we are all getting pretty familiar with each other’s smell. Which is a good thing. As most of you will know I’ve been on leave in August & September and I’m back at work from October 1st. It’s been really good to rest and restore, and continuing with the sheep analogy, to find some still waters. But I have missed you, and I know from your cards, e-mails and texts that you have missed me too. The church has never been a collection of people that agreed with each other. The church has never even been a group of people that particularly liked each other. But as we worship, work and learn together we do grow
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: October 2nd 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church
accustomed to each other’s smell, and when one of us is down or not around, things don’t seem quite right until our brother or sister, and their unique fragrance, is restored to the flock. It’s good to be back in ministry from this weekend. And as I do return from still waters, a special thank you to our truly wonderful churchwardens, Diana and Mark who have carried a lot in my absence, and to Sandie, Mandy, John, Linda, Catherine and the rest of an amazing team who have served the church so faithfully in the last two months.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. In grass meadows He makes me lie down, by quiet waters guides me. My life He brings back. Psalm 23:1-3 (translation by Robert Alter.)
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 3rd 10.30am Little Stars TUES 4th 2.30pm Prayer for Persecuted Christians at Mollie’s 7.30pm Refresh th WED 5 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Alpha THUR 6th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 8th Abbey Bookshop & Kitchen Closed NEXT SUNDAY: October 9th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church ADVANCE DIARY 11th Oct 7.30pm Glory! 16th Oct 6.30pm Wessex Evensong 28th & 29th Abbey Closed all day for Oct organ tuning
LU K E 1 7 : 5 - 1 0 5
The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ 6 He replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it will obey you. 7
‘Suppose one of you has a servant ploughing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, “Come along now and sit down to eat”? 8 Won’t he rather say, “Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink”? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”’
Additional Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Take some time to discuss together anything that you took away from our worship together on Sunday. 2. Read the passage, twice. 3. Discuss together what you understand by the word ‘faith.’ What is the difference between the faith we express in our creeds and our worship and the faith we need to do something? 4. When did you last need to exercise faith? How did God respond? 5. Read verses 5 & 6 again. The phrase is ‘increase our faith’ not ‘increase my faith.’ How might we share faith as a community or group of people rather than individualise it? How might you explain Christ’s response to your next-door neighbour?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 98 2 Kings 17:24-end Philippians 1:1-11 Tuesday Psalm 106 2 Kings 18:1-12 Philippians 1:12-end Wednesday Psalm 111 2 Kings 18:13-end Philippians 2:1-13 Thursday Psalm 115 2 Kings 19:1-19 Philippians 2:14-end Friday Psalm 139 2 Kings 19:20-36 Philippians 3:1-4:1
REGULAR GIVING 6. ‘Verses 7-10 , and the implied link with servants or slavery, have no place in the 21st century.’ Discuss.
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. m
P R AY E R
KITCHEN
Pray for Persecuted Christians on Tuesday 4 October at Mollie's (4 Mill Lane) starting at 2.30pm. This month we will be focussing on the Horn of Africa, a region where the Church is being challenged to the utmost. For more information please contact Mike Langtree.
Holly and Stella could really use some voluntary help in the Abbey Kitchen during the week. We’re looking for energetic people with a couple of hours to spare in the week who would enjoy a fast-paced working environment. Training provided! Please contact Holly or Stella if this would interest you.
ABBEY GUILD
GLO RY !
Shelly Hollingworth is encouraging the Abbey Guild to get creative in ‘Creative Space’ on Tuesday 11th October at 2pm in The King’s Church, Abbey Row. All are welcome; followed by refreshments.
Don’t miss our next Abbey prayer meeting, Glory!, on Tuesday 11th October at 7.30pm. A time of passionate praise and worship followed by intercessory prayer together.
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NOTICEBOARD C O N F I R M AT I O N The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill, will be with us on Wednesday Nov 2nd at 7.30pm for a service of Confirmation. This joyous occasion is an opportunity to confess your faith and be prayed for by the Bishop to be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit. Candidates are normally younger people who were baptized as infants, and also adults, making the Abbey their spiritual home. Please contact Andrew, John or Sandie in the office if you’d like to know more.
PROJECTIONISTS We need a few more volunteers to help operate the projector during our 10.30am and 4pm services. You don't need to be a technical wizard, just to be reasonably confident on a computer. Age is no barrier and full training and support will be given. With enough volunteers on the rota you will probably only be operating once a month or so. If you would like to find out a little more about the role, please contact Dwight Doyley at dwight@malmesburyabbey.com or speak to any of the projectionists.
VA C A N C Y The Abbey Kitchen is also looking to appoint a paid part-time member of staff to work Saturdays 8.30am-5pm and provide holiday cover. You will be an energetic, flexible and enthusiastic person with great people skills. We are looking for someone who is committed to the Abbey ethos and community. Key to this role will be managing and supporting two fully trained members of staff and volunteers, food preparation, and a massive smile for our regulars and visitors. Please speak to Holly or Stella if you feel you might be suited for the above.
CONTAC T
ABBEY OFFICE
ABBEY KITCHEN
Monday 9.30am-12pm Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-3pm
Monday- Saturday (normal) 9.30am-4pm
01666 826666 sandie@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
Happy hour (drinks £1) from 9.30am-10.30am. holly@malmesburyabbey.com
Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
MalmesburyAbbeyCafe
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