4 T H JA N UA RY 2 0 1 5
HEBREWS Vicar’s Blog
My cat Zac, short for Prozac, is a predictable thing. Every morning he whines for food in the kitchen, even if his bowl has a pile of food in it. Every day he tries to kill me by sleeping on the stairs. And after a night on the prowl in Abbey House Gardens he leaps onto the vicarage wall and then methodically walks across the grass putting his feet in exactly the same spot as the previous day. He’s being doing this for 10 years. He’s in a rut; literally. So 2015, New Year’s resolutions, blah, blah, blah, and my question is this: is there actually a way to make our Christian discipleship less predictable this year? There are good ruts of course, the bright side is that Zac always finds his cat flap, so if you are a stratospheric disciple of Jesus keep on and protect and develop what you have, your feet seem to be planted in a good place. But for most of us mortals there will
be a mixture of encouraging and disappointing parts to our Christian journey, and we need a little help. The letter to the Hebrews, which we study together now for 7 weeks, is a challenging New Testament book which will bring some fresh energy to our thinking, living and praying and has the potential to free us from the odd rut. In fact many writers observe that the thing that really links us to the original hearers of the letter, possibly members of house churches in 1st century Rome, is spiritual malaise. Let’s be honest the church avoids discipleship because it’s hard and involves discipline, and the church also avoids the letter to the Hebrews because it can seem remote and complex. So 2015 could have had an easier start. But if you want to start to get to grips with Hebrews, here is a summary of the letter in one paragraph to get you
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: January 4th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Service at the Activity Zone & Pool Party THIS WEEK going (the numbers represent chapters.) Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory; his Son. He is superior to the angels (1), He is superior to Moses and God’s people (3), He is superior to Aaron and the Levitical priesthood (5). He is an eternal High Priest and King (7), mediating sacrificially (10) a superior covenant of intimacy with God, as prophesied by Jeremiah (8). Therefore let us pay attention to Christ (2), grow to maturity (6), keep meeting together (10), live by faith (11), run the race before us (12), and love each other as brothers and sisters (13), since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (12). To accompany our January & February series from the letter to the Hebrews we are recommending Tom Wright’s book Hebrews for Everyone; available at the Abbey Bookshop for £8.50 (rrp £9.99).
EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer WED 7th 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Malmesbury School Presentations THUR 8th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice FRI 9th 10.30am Creative Response SAT 10th 10am The Meeting Place NEXT SUNDAY: January 11th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid 6pm The Mix at the McAdams 6.30pm Choral Evensong (The Epiphany) ADVANCE Jan 20th Glory! Prayer meeting Feb 1st 4pm Welcome to Andrew & Jude Beebee Feb 18th Malmesbury Abbey Skate -20th
HEBREWS 1:1-9, 2:1-4 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’? Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’ 7 In speaking of the angels he says, ‘He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.’ 8 But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.’ We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Additional Reading:
John 1:14-18
DISCIPLESHIP 1.
As preparation read Hebrews 11 as a group. Change reader each time the phrase ‘By Faith’ occurs.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 48 Isaiah 61 John 2:1-12
2.
What is the ‘something better’ referred to in verse 40? (See Hebrews 1:1,2)
3.
Identify the descriptions of Jesus in our Hebrews 1 passage. What do they mean to you?
Tuesday Psalm 73 Isaiah 62 John 2:13-end
4.
What did the Son do before he sat down at the right hand of the Father? What does that mean for you, for us?
Wednesday Psalm 99 Isaiah 63:7-end 1 John 3
5.
Read verses 4-9. Why do you think the writer labours hard to establish the superiority of Christ over all things, including angels? How might the church in Syria read this?
Thursday Psalm 46 Isaiah 64 1 John 4:7-end
6.
Noting that the ‘sceptre of justice’ in verse 8 applies to us all, how might we begin 2015 in a way that avoids drifting away (see 2:1)?
Friday Psalm 148 Isaiah 65 1 John 5
TEXT GIVING You can now give to the ministry and mission of Malmesbury Abbey, and gift aid it, via text. Text 70070 and enter the code MALM12 when requested.
THANKS
G LO R Y !
Many thanks to the enormous numbers of people who worked so hard to make the Abbey a place of celebration, beauty and inspiration over the Advent & Christmas period. Our work together blessed our community in a myriad of ways and blessed the heart of God. No work of service is unseen in His Kingdom.
As we consider the fruit of 2014 in our lives and in our ministry, it is good to remind ourselves, as a year begins, that the foundation is, and always has been, prayer. Join us each day at 9am in St Aldhelm's Chapel, and please check that our monthly Glory! prayer meeting is in your diary. Tuesday 20th January at 7.30pm for 90 minutes of prayer, praise and seeking the Spirit’s leading in our time together and our mission.
MISSION GIVING
ANDREW BEEBEE
In 2015 the Abbey PCC has allocated £7000 to External Mission. In 2014, as well as supporting Janet Parke in Zambia, Charlotte Price in Australia and Phil Williams of Christian Skaters UK , we also supported congregational members making mission trips to Africa, Eastern Europe and elsewhere. If you would like support in 2015 please e-mail Neill before January 15th to discuss this further. The PCC will consider initial allocations on January 17th and further allocations later in the year.
Andrew Beebee joins the Abbey staff as our full-time Children’s & Youth Minister in late January and will be commissioned by the Bishop of Bristol on February 1st 2015 at our 4pm service. Please prioritise being a part of this very special service, and pray for Andrew & Jude as they move to Malmesbury in mid-January.
Alice & John Monaghan The Christmas Story for Young Children
Rhiana Young Brother William in The Malmesbury Nativity
CHRISTMAS PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM SAUNDERS
Sunday 21st December, 6.30pm A Service of Nine Lessons & Carols
Jake Drake Grandad in The Malmesbury Nativity
Enquiries 01666 826666 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com