5T H F EB R UA RY 2017
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LIVING STONES Vicar’s Blog
They’ve seen a lot, the ancient stones of Malmesbury Abbey. Clearly the wall on our front cover, situated to the west of our Norman porch, had a very close look at the English Civil War. In our South Aisle, a no longer extant shrine to the Blessed Virgin was right on the front row for the Reformation and the sacking of the monasteries. And apparently the last words of the Abbey’s great spire were ‘which bolt of lightening?’ Yes, our stones have been through quite a bit in the last nine centuries. And yet they still stand, and they witness, generation after generation, both the mission and the malaise of the church. But it is good to remember that, sometimes against compelling evidence to the contrary, the church itself is actually more resilient than the building that houses her. Yes, we can metaphorically look at our
feeble hands, creaking knees, fading eyesight and problematic hearing (and I’m quoting the imagery of Isaiah 35 here, not just lamenting my own middle-age.) But for the great prophet the problems of Israel are simply the day before redemption, and he anticipates renewed strength and a crown of joy. St Peter puts the resilience of a united church this way: As you come to him, the Living Stone…you, also like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house. (1 Peter 2:4,5) Cemented together, cemented to Christ. Dyson will close, (yes, you read it here first,) the Abbey stones will crumble, but the church in her glory and her frailty will remain. And next week, we gather as one combined congregation at 10.30am for a Festival Communion and picnic lunch. United, not because we like the
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: February 5th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church
same songs or liturgies, we don’t. United, not because we all have the same flawed theologies and clumsy opinions, we don’t – we are all wrong in wonderfully different ways. United not by human means, but in Christ himself, because in Him alone it is possible. So Sunday 12th February, it doesn’t matter if you are a regular at 9am, 10.30am or 4pm, pack a picnic and get here for our worship together at 10.30am. There will be Junior Church provision during my sermon, but for those of you staying in to listen, here is a preview of the first three words I will be saying: ‘I passionately believe…’
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 6th 10am Little Stars TUES 7th 9.30am Deanery Chapter 2.30pm Prayer for Persecuted Christians 7.30pm Glory! th WED 8 10.30am Communion THUR 9th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice th FRI 10 2pm Funeral of the late Mrs Diana Collins NEXT SUNDAY: February 12th 10.30am Festival Communion (All Abbey congregations) 12.30pm Picnic Lunch 1.30pm MAS 2017 Set Up
ADVANCE DIARY 13th& 14th Little Stars Soft Play 15th -17th MAS 2017 29th Feb 6.30pm Choral Evensong 1st March Ash Wednesday
M AT T H E W 5 : 1 3 - 2 0 13
‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14
‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 17
‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practises and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Additional Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-12
DISCIPLESHIP 1. From the Vicar’s Blog, discuss together what it means to be ‘living stones.’ 2. Share together what you took away from our teaching on Sunday. How did the Spirit of God inspire you afresh? 3. Who is Jesus addressing in Matthew 5? What is Jesus addressing in Matthew 5:13-16? 4. How do the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10) inform the parables relating to salt, a city on a hill, and a lamp? How do we regain our saltiness? 5. C.S. Lewis described the Sermon on the Mount as being ‘knocked flat on one’s face by a sledge hammer.’ What is the most powerful challenge of verses 13-16? 6. Salt is tasted in food, a bustling city is heard from afar, a lamp is seen in the darkness. How does our society see the (our) church, if at all? How might we change?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 30 Joel 1:1-14 John 15:1-11 Tuesday Psalm 36 Joel 1:15-end John 15:12-17 Wednesday Psalm 34 Joel 2:1-17 John 15:18-end Thursday Psalm 37 Joel 2:18-27 John 16:1-15 Friday Psalm 31 Joel 2:28-end John 16:16-22
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
BISHOP OF BRISTOL
PERSECUTED CHURCH
After serving for 40 years as an ordained person and for 14 years as the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill, a great friend to Malmesbury Abbey, has announced that he will be retiring from September 30th 2017. The Bishop assures us all of his prayers in this time of transition and asks that we pray for those responsible for the appointment of his successor.
Join us this month as our Prayer for Persecuted Christians focuses on countries that don’t normally make the headlines; yes, come along and find out which ones! We meet at Mollie’s on Tuesday 7th February at 2.30pm (4 Mill Lane.) Please contact Mike Langtree for more details.
GLO RY !
BAPTISM
Malmesbury Abbey’s monthly Glory! prayer meeting take place this Tuesday at 7.30pm. Passionate contemporary worship led by John Monaghan, with times of prayer led by Andrew Beebee and Mandy Churcher.
On Easter Day at the 4pm Service there will be an opportunity for children, young people and adults to be baptized at the Abbey. This is in anticipation of the PCCs wish that baptised children over 6 years of age, be offered the opportunity to receive Holy Communion starting on Sunday 25th June 2017. Please speak to Andrew Beebee to register an interest and find out more.
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NOTICEBOARD CHR ISTIAN AID SOUP LUNCH Christian Aid is holding a Soup Lunch at the Upper Room in the URC on Friday 24th February from 12.30pm onwards. The cost of ÂŁ3 includes soup and cake. All monies raised will go toward supporting the work of Christian Aid in all parts of the world, supporting people in poverty and fighting against the causes of poverty. For more information please contact Dick Gray on 823979.
Sunday 12th February 10.30am-5pm There is a Festival Communion at 10.30am, an opportunity for all three Abbey congregations to worship together, stay for a picnic lunch, and then help with the set-up for Abbey Skate – wooden floor, straw bales and the staging if you are able. Monday 13th & Tuesday 14th February 10am-12noon Little Stars half-term special. Come and join the fun! Volunteers needed Volunteers are needed for set-up on Sunday 12th (above), take down on Friday 17th, the welcome team, the cafe, the sound desk, first aid and the prayer team. Please sign up with Matt after the 4pm service any week, or by emailing john@malmesburyabbey.com
Book your tickets on-line before they sell out: www.malmesburyabbey.com/skate
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CHORAL EVENSONG IN 2017!
CONTAC T
Join us, each month, for our 6.30pm Choral Evensong at Malmesbury Abbey, which brings together some of the most beautiful choral music ever written, the timeless liturgy of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and the Shakespearean English of the King James Version of the Bible. Below areAthe dates BB E YforO2017, F F Ithe C Eliturgical themes and a few A Bother B E significant Y CAFÉ choral services: January 29th
The Presentation of Christ (from Feb 2nd)
February 26th
The Sunday before Lent
March 26
The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary (from 25th)
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April 13th
Maundy Thursday Sung Eucharist at 7.30pm
April 14
Good Friday devotional concert at 6.30pm
April 16th
Easter Day
May 25
Ascension Day Sung Eucharist at 7.30pm
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May 28th
St Aldhelm (from 25th)
June 25th
St Peter (from 29th)
July 23rd
Mary Magdalene (from 22nd)
September 24th Harvest Evensong September 28th St Michael & All Angels Sung Eucharist at 7.30pm October 22nd
Wessex Evensong (Alfred the Great, 26th)
November 26th
Christ the King
Dec 2 & 3
Advent Carols by Candlelight
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Dec 16th & 17th
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Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight
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