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7 t h MAY 2017
FISHING IN THE RIGHT PLACE Rev’d Mandy Churcher – May Moore Chaplain & Associate Minister
In between Easter Sunday and Ascension day there are a number of appearances of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. We read of him coming into a locked and barred room, walking to a village with some of his followers, meeting his disciples on a beach and a number of others too. I often wonder what the disciples got up to when he was not around? Did they go back to their families, decide it was time to earn money again or take a short break? Who knows? But certainly Peter decided in one account to 'Go fishing' and all the others went with him. Back to the familiar and known, although Jesus had already told them he had something else for them to do. They fished all night with not one single catch then, as dawn breaks a stranger from the shore tells them to put their nets on the other side. ‘Hey Presto’, there is a huge catch of fish. It
was good that they listened to him because, of course, the stranger was Jesus. With the general election it is a time of potential change in the country and, as was recognised at our church meeting last Sunday, also a time of change for the abbey community. How do we face this and do it God's way? In practice giving time to listen to him, grounding ourselves in the scriptures, seeking his presence and going out with his message He promised His disciples he would never leave them and he will guide and lead us in the coming year as we seek to follow his way. Proverbs 3:5 & 6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. 2
Mandy
CHRISTIAN AID In the South Aisle of the Abbey there is a table full of Christian Aid Week envelopes and we are looking for volunteers to deliver an envelope to every house in Malmesbury during the coming week. If you could take a bundle for your road, then that would be really excellent. [NB all we are asking you to do is to deliver the envelopes - not collect them.] If you are able to collect envelopes, or help/volunteer in any other way then please contact Dick Gray using the contact details below. EVENTS IN MALMESBURY DURING CHRISTIAN AID WEEK: Sat 13th May, 9.30am – 2.30pm Car Wash at ATC Tetbury Hill, £5 Sun 14th May, 6pm Christian Aid Service at the URC Tues 16th May, 10.30am - 12noon Coffee Morning in the Abbey Sat 20th May, 8.30am Plant and Cake Sale (if you are able to help bake a cake please use the contact details below) Sat 20th May High Street Collection (collectors still needed) Sun 14th – Sat 20th May House-to-House collection (collectors still needed)
01666 823979 or richard.gray@tiscali.co.uk
ABBE Y DI AR Y THIS SUNDAY: May 7th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 10.30am Little Stars 7.30pm Diocesan Visitation TUES 7.30pm Glory! WEDS 10.30am Communion THURS 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice FRI 7.30pm Walk Uganda with Bob Hyatt NEXT SUNDAY: May 14th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church ADVANCE DIARY
14th – 20th May Christian Aid Week 16th May
10.30am Christian Aid Coffee Morning in Abbey 7.30pm Refresh! Info on page 6
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22 May
7.30pm Marks Gospel – info on page 7
25th May
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7.30pm Ascension Day Service
John 10:1-10 10 ‘Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice.’ 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7
Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Additional Reading: Acts 2:42-end
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DISCIPLESHIP 1. Read John 10:1-10 followed by Acts 2: 42–end. How do these passages make you feel? 2. ‘I am the gate for the sheep’. It is only later that Jesus calls himself Shepherd. What does Jesus being the gate mean to you? Discuss the role of Shepherd in all its meanings. (Ezekiel 34 has lots of helpful historic references). 3. Who are the thieves and bandits in this passage? Who are the thieves and bandits in our lives? 4. ‘The sheep hear his voice’. How do we know that its Jesus’ voice speaking to us? How can we learn to listen better? 5. ‘I came that they may have life and have it abundantly’ Do you think we are living as though we have abundant life? What does abundant life look like to those who are housebound or unable to worship openly? Finish by praying for those who have yet to hear of God’s love for them.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 103 Deuteronomy 9:1-21 Ephesians 4:1-16 Tuesday Psalm 139 Deuteronomy 9:23 – 10:5 Ephesians 4:17-end Wednesday Psalm 135 Deuteronomy 10:12-end Ephesians 5:1-4 Thursday Psalm 118 Deuteronomy 11:8-end Ephesians 5:15-end Friday Psalm 33 Deuteronomy 12:1-14 Ephesians 6:1-9
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. 5 m
WA L K U G A N D A
G LO R Y !
Come and join us as we see pictures and hear Bob Hyatt report on his recent Walk Uganda trip. 7.30pm on Friday 12th May in the Abbey. All welcome.
This Tuesday 9th May at 7.30pm join us in the Abbey for Glory! An encouraging word, a time of passionate contemporary worship and the opportunity to seek God in prayer and to be led by the Holy Spirit in intercession. Join us. Faithfulness in prayer is at the very heart of our vocation as a church.
REFRESH!
MOVING
Our next event takes place on Tues 16 May at 7.30-9.30pm in the Abbey. The speaker will be Kim Hartshorne, curate at Tetbury Church, who spoke at our Craft Night in Nov. We will be continuing our theme on Jesus’ miracles and Kim will be speaking on Luke 8: 4348. Tea, coffee and cakes will be served. To RSVP or for more information please contact office@malmesburyabbey.com or 01666 826666
Bill & Anne Gibbins, who have been part of our Abbey community for over 30 years, are moving and going to live near to their daughters in Newport Pagnall. During their time in Malmesbury they have given so much of their time and love to the Abbey and, in turn, have always been very much appreciated. They wish to send their love and prayers to all of you. Their new address is: 50 The Limes, Westbury Lane, Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes. ML16 8FA
1 2 t h C E N T U R Y B E A U T Y 2 1 s t C E N T U R Y C H U 6R C H
NOTICEBOARD ABBE Y BO OK CLU B Our book club is friendly and vibrant. Meeting on one Monday and one Thursday a month, it is open to everybody, just turn up! Enjoy some friendly company discussing Christian books over a coffee or maybe something slightly stronger in the Old Bell. Dates vary slightly, please see the facebook group or twitter feed for the next meeting or email the group leader below: The Abbey, Thursday Lunchtime once a month Holly Bird via holly_bird@live.com The Old Bell, Monday evening, once a month Adele Carnegie via bookclub@navigatorsoffaith.com Come along, join in, you’ll love it!
MARK Not many people would associate watching a performance of Marks gospel as being likely to be a fun night. Prepare to be amazed as the genuine humour that’s contained in this 90 minute one man play shines through on the big screen alongside the biblical message. See and hear the gospel as it was originally intended, spoken aloud in a way that spoke to the crowds in its day but remarkably speaks to the crowds in our day. Hosted by the Malmesbury Abbey Christian Book Club contact Holly Bird at the Abbey Cafe (email: holly_bird@live.com) or Adele Carnegie (email: bookclub@navigatorsoffaith.com Monday 22nd May 2017 Malmesbury Abbey 7.30 – 9.30pm (actual screening is approximately 90 minutes)
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CONTAC T
ABBEY OFFICE Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-3pm 01666 826666 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
ABBEY CAFÉ Monday-Friday Friday (normal) 9.30am – 4pm Happy Hour (drinks £1) from 9.30-10.30am 10.30am café@malmesburyabbey.com MalmesburyAbbey MalmesburyAbbeyKitchen
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