7TH DECEMBER 2014
THE MALMESBURY NATIVIT Y Vicar’s Blog
Twice this year I’ve had fun with a bunch of old German. We needed two ancient texts from a JS Bach motet and a JS Bach chorale translated into more singable, modern English for the Abbey Choir. It gave me an excuse to listen to Bach on a rainy afternoon and somewhere in the back of my mind this was me collaborating with Johann Sebastian Bach himself; although he wasn’t actually in the room. But it gets better. Myself and the actors for The Malmesbury Nativity have eight scenes to prepare in the next few weeks. You may have noticed that the prologue changes each year. In 2012 Grandma and Grandad were discussing how Christmas gets earlier ‘every year’, until Grandad fell asleep listening to the football results. (Queen of the South 4, King Athelstan 5.) In the 2013 prologue Grandma had passed away and Grandad was sit-
ting quietly on his own, too sad to open his Christmas cards, until visited by his daughter Hannah (Twynnoy) and his grandson Billy (William) In the 2014 prologue Hannah’s husband is serving overseas in the Army and Hannah is very close to her due date. So our minisoap opera continues, but yet again scenes 3,4,5 and 6 are totally unchanged. Not a word cut or added. We entirely trust the text itself because most of it was written by St Luke and the rest (the Magi bit) was written by St Matthew. We get to collaborate with two of the gospel writers. That beats even Johann Sebastian Bach. So now a question. What do you believe abut the word of God. Do you believe ‘the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword’ as the writer of Hebrews does? (Heb 4:12) I do. Now another question. Is the word
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: December 7th 8am 10.30am 4pm 6pm of God any less active if the words are spoken by an actor in a costume or does it have to be a vicar at a lectern with a funny voice? (And have you noticed how many Anglican clergy seem to have been taught to speak rather oddly?) This is the very heart of The Malmesbury Nativity. Four young Wiltshire undergraduate and post-graduate actors are given St Luke and St Matthew as their texts. And in each of the last two years about 1,250 have encountered the word of God– living, active, Spirit-breathed. Bring everyone you know, bring your neighbours, bring your family, bring your butcher, but above all, bring yourself. The Malmesbury Nativity Dec 20th at 4pm & 7pm Dec 23rd at 4pm Christmas Eve at 4pm & 6pm Tickets £2.50 (Adult), Children free.
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid The Mix at IMPACT in Swindon
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer WED 10th 10.30am Communion THUR 11th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice FRI 12th 10am Primary School Christmas Service 6-9pm Late Night Shopping SAT 13th 10am The Meeting Place
NEXT SUNDAY: Dec 14th 8am 10.30am 4pm 6.30pm
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid Nine Lessons & Carols at Brokenborough with Bishop Mike
ADVANCE Advent & Christmas diary on the back page and in the brochure.
MAT T H E W 2 : 1 - 1 2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: 6
‘“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”’
7
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’ 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Additional Reading: Isaiah 60:1-9
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Take some time to discuss together what you heard on Sunday. 2. From this passage name at least five discipleship characteristics of the Magi that can inform our own discipleship. 3. Discuss them further and decide which is the most pressing challenge for yourself and for us as a congregation. 4. (v11) The Magi bowed down and worshipped. If one of you is physically able encourage them to bow before God for a minute in silence and then discuss how this feels physically, emotionally and spiritually. 5. (v12) How might God warn you? 6. Prayerfully decide together which of your neighbours or colleagues you are going to invite to a Christmas service at the Abbey.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 144 Isaiah 30:1-18 Matthew 14:1-12 Tuesday Psalm 11 Isaiah 30:19-end Matthew 14:13-end Wednesday Psalm 10 Isaiah 31 Matthew 15:1-20 Thursday Psalm 73 Isaiah 32 Matthew 15:21-28 Friday Psalm 90 Isaiah 33:1-22 Matthew 15:29-end
GIVING To regularly support the mission and worship of the Abbey with your Christian giving please contact Alan McAdam at alan@malmesburyabbey.com
8AM BCP SERVICE
MISSION GIVING
From Sunday 4th January 2015 our 8am BCP Communion at the Abbey will be moving one hour later to 9am. Exactly the same service, quiet, 17th century English, but at a new time to encourage a few more faces. The vicar and churchwardens will review this new time in the summer of 2015 so please give us any feedback as this new time settles in.
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.
C I V I L WA R D R O N E
ABBEY GUILD
This Monday, wind permitting, the Wiltshire Archaeological Field Unit will be returning to the Abbey with a camera on a flying drone to attempt to take footage of civil war damage at higher levels. We didn’t want you to think the Abbey was being attacked if you saw this as you passed by.
Please come and join us for Christmas Songs of Praise on Tuesday 9th December at 2.30pm in the King’s Church, Abbey Row followed by tea and mince pies. All are very welcome.
The Christmas Story For young Children (Under seven)
Sunday 21st Dec at 3pm
Get a free ticket!
PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS James Cole will inform us of his recent trip to Israel and the West Bank where he met with local Christians and learned about the situation in the Middle East. Join us at 18 West Street on Monday 8 December at 7.30pm to find out.
ABBEY SKATE & NEW WINE 2015 For your diary the dates for Malmesbury Abbey Skate 2015 are February 18th20th and the dates we are attending New Wine (Week 2) are August 2nd-8th.
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
2 0 1 4 A D VE N T & C HR I S T MA S D I A RY Nov 30th
Advent Sunday, 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm All-age Communion
Dec 5th
6.30pm Advent Carol Service by Candlelight 7.30pm Acoustic Nine Lessons—Gareth Davies-Jones
Dec 6th Dec 7th
7.30pm Malmesbury Community Choir Concert 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion
Dec 12th Dec 13th
4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church Malmesbury CE Primary School Christmas Service at 10.30am 6-9pm Late Night Shopping—open for mince pies etc Malmesbury Singers Concert at 7.30pm
Dec 14th
8am & 10.30am Holy Communion, 4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church
Dec 17th Dec 20th Dec 21st
Malmesbury School Carol Service at 7.30pm The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm & 7pm) 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion 3pm The Christmas Story for Young Children 6.30pm Service of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm) The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm & 6pm) 11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11.15pm) 8am BCP Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration 12 noon Coffee & Champagne (bring a bottle!)
Dec 23rd Christmas Eve Christmas Day