4TH DECEMBER 2016
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BARNS Vicar’s Blog
I was discussing barn raising with the churchwardens last week, as you do. (And no, this doesn’t herald a new approach to fixing the Abbey roof.) There is a very moving scene in the Harrison Ford movie Witness where an entire Amish community comes together for a day to build a barn for a newly married couple. And there is something quite similar, but slightly more jolly and choreographed and with lovely colourful shirts, in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Communities coming together to do something that alone would be simply impossible. On a good day, something the Body of Christ does well. And last weekend about 50-60 of us came together and built barns, otherwise known as our Advent Carols by Candlelight. This allowed about 450 people from our community to engage with worship
from across the centuries and some of the most profound texts from our scriptures. So with those barns built, and others about to be erected at Christmas, the churchwardens and myself wanted to express our very grateful thanks to all who powered up the organ, warmed up their voices or rolled up their sleeves in any way: Stewards with orders of service, a warm welcome and a whole pile of candles. Readers who read beautifully from Genesis, Isaiah and the Psalms. Intercessors that helped us bring the needs of the world to God. Our amazing Abbey Choir, who put in so much hard work and preparation, rehearsing twice a week since early October. And of course the team that led them: John Hughes (Organist & Choirmaster), Becky Saunders (Asst Conductor)
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: December 4th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church
and Annie Davis (Lay Precentor). An amazing effort that drew us all into the holy presence of God. And the message of Advent? What is it that we are asked to note? That light has come to the darkness. It was anticipated in the dawn light of Creation. It was spoken of by the prophets, who saw their people stumbling in darkness. And the Psalmist, in the very personal cry of Psalm 43, cried out for the guidance of the LORD’s light and truth. And we, you and I, have that light, that salvation in Jesus. And St John gently warns us in his opening words that we should look at it, and love it, and pray that one day we might comprehend the beauty, grace and mercy we each have in Christ.
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 5th 10am Little Stars TUES 6th 2.30pm Prayer for the Persecuted Church WED 7th 10.30am Communion THUR 8th 10am MCEPS Service 7pm Choir Practice FRI 9th 10.30am Creative Response th SAT 10 9.30am Choir Practice 7.30pm Malmesbury Singers Christmas NEXT SUNDAY: December 11th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church
IN THE VILLAGES: December 11th Rodbourne 4pm: Family Carols by Candlelight Brokenborough 6.30pm: Nine Lessons & Carols
ISAIAH 11:1-10 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord – 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash round his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting-place will be glorious. Additional Reading: Matthew 3:1-12
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Share together anything that stood out from our teaching last Sunday. Plus any reflections from our worship together on Advent Sunday. 2. Read the passage twice with time for silent reflection in between, and prayer after. 3. Look very carefully at verses 1-5 and use examples from the New Testament to show how the Early Church might have used this passage to understand the Messianic ministry of Jesus. 4. Which verse does Paul quote from this in Ephesians 6? And why? 5. How might we work to build a church, and a world, that takes the description of the Messianic ideal in verses 6-9 seriously?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 30 Isaiah 45:14-end 1 Thess. 1 Tuesday Psalm 56 Isaiah 46 1 Thess 2:1-12 Wednesday Psalm 62 Isaiah 47 1 Thess. 2:13-end Thursday Psalm 54 Isaiah 48:1-11 1 Thess 3 Friday Psalm 86 Isaiah 48:12-end 1 Thess 4:13-end
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. m
P R AY E R
PCC
Pray for Persecuted Christians at 2.30pm on Tuesday 6 December at Mollie's (4 Mill Lane). This month we will focus on their plight in the Middle East. More information from Mike Langtree.
We have a couple of vacancies on our Parochial Church Council that will need to be filled next April at our Annual General Meeting, or potentially before then. If you think you might bring something to the governance of the Abbey and would be interested in standing for election, please talk to Neill or the Churchwardens in the New Year for more information.
N E W Y E A R ’ S D AY
ABBEY GUILD
There will only be one service in the Malmesbury & Upper Avon Group on Sunday January 1st 2017 – a service of Holy Communion at the Abbey at 11am. All are very welcome.
Abbey Guild will be meeting on Tuesday 13th December at 2pm in The King’s Church, Abbey Row. Annette Bains will be with us as we have Christmas Fun & Games. We are very thankful for the many years of the Abbey Guild’s ministry but due to circumstances we sadly announce its closure. We recognise that this step will be a loss to many as the Guild has been a rich ministry. We would like to thank all those who have been involved over the years. God bless you.
12t h CE N TU RY B E AU T Y 21st CE NTU RY CHU R CH
NOTICEBOARD MALMESBURY CE PRIMARY SCHOOL Some prayer points for Malmesbury Primary School from Steven Heal, the head teacher: • For a joyful Christmas time, where children and adult alike are struck by the wonder of the incarnation. • For children and families who will have painful Christmases, particularly those who will miss loved ones. • For stamina for our staff as they enter a frenetic and tiring period of the school year. • For the right person to take over the Reception class as Mrs Driver leaves us. • For wisdom for our governors and leadership as they take decisions which affect the lives of so many. • For every child, that they may grow into the unique individual which God intended them to be. • For parents currently choosing a school for their child next September - both primary and secondary. The next prayer meeting for the school will be happening at 12noon on Monday 5th December in the school. Parents and members of the church family are all invited.
W A I T R O S E C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S Malmesbury Abbey Skate are delighted to be supported by Waitrose Community Matters for the whole month of December, so please collect your green tokens when you visit, and put them in the Abbey Skate Charity Box on your way out! The more tokens we collect, the more we raise to help fund this unique outreach event.
! ABBEY AD VENT & CH RISTMAS D IARY 20 16 Sun 4th Dec
Thu 8th Dec Sat 10th Dec Sun 11th Dec
Wed 14th Dec Sat 17th Dec Sun 18th Dec
Fri 23rd Dec
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ADVENT II 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 10am Malmesbury CE Primary School Christmas Service 7.30pm Malmesbury Singers Christmas Concert ADVENT III 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 7.30pm Malmesbury School Carol Service 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 1 ADVENT IV 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 3pm The Puppet Nativity for younger children 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 2 7pm The Malmesbury Nativity
Sat 24th Dec
CHRISTMAS EVE 2pm, 4pm & 6pm The Malmesbury Nativity 11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11.15pm)
Sun 25th Dec
CHRISTMAS DAY 9am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration 12 noon Champagne (bring a bottle)