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PAYING AT TENTION Vicar’s Blog
Last Christmas my hair had a crisis. Normally when I wake up in the morning I seem to have a Mohawk. I think it must be because I spend roughly 50% of the night sleeping on one side, and 50% on the other, though to be honest I’ve never stayed up all night to check. But at Christmas my Mohawk lasted well into the morning and became the subject of a discussion with The Magi (AKA my three daughters). When they asked the question ‘how often do you condition your hair Dad?’ I could just sense that ‘annually’ wasn’t going be an acceptable answer. So I asked them ‘O wise ones, how often would you suggest?’ So now I have an impressive conditioning regime, I’m worth it, which is mocked mercilessly by my ‘friends’ at basketball, until I point out to them that there is actually hair on my head to condition. And, is there a point to all this vicar?
We get out of condition. We know Jesus speaks of life to the full, life in abundance, but somehow life doesn’t quite feel like that—particularly the more obviously spiritual dimensions of life. Through neglect we get out of shape, perhaps not as catastrophically misshapen as my vertical Christmas hair, but when St Paul says ‘do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world’ (Romans 12:2) I think he gets it that the world is subtly trying to conform us to its patterns. He understands that workplaces, schools, unis, relationships, communities, High Streets, aren’t designed to form in us the mind of Christ— in fact sometimes quite the opposite. Lent pays attention to this. It’s origins were in a 40 day preparation for an Easter Baptism, dying to sin, and rising to life in Christ. A profoundly good thing. How it plays a
A B B E Y D I A RY
part in our lives is pretty much up for grabs. But, in a society that is geared to distract us from Christian discipleship, Lent is a 40 day window to deliberately question our own walk with God. We take up a new Bible reading discipline and it questions us ‘do I actually love and trust these Spirit-inspired texts?’ We turn up at church and small group for six weeks, it asks us ‘am I genuinely present to God and others in Christian worship, or am I a bystander?’ We give up a particular food or drink and find ourselves questioning what actually gets us through the day. We take time in silence and stillness and suddenly we are more aware of our inner conflicts. For 40 days we pay attention. Lent begins February 18th, Ash Wednesday.
THIS SUNDAY: February 8th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, the Grid & Junior Church 6.30pm Choral Evensong 6pm The Mix at the McAdams THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 9th
ABBEY CLOSED, Morning Prayer in Eilmer House TUES 10th 9.30am Women Alive! WED 11th 10.30am Communion THUR 12th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 14th 10am The Meeting Place
NEXT SUNDAY: February 15th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, the Grid & Junior Church 5.30pm Skate Park set-up ADVANCE Feb 18th Ash Wednesday Feb 18th Malmesbury Abbey Skate -20th 2015
HEBREWS 10:19-31 19
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
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If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Additional Reading: John 15:5-19
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Read Hebrews 10:32-34 to get the context the Christian community were facing. Where is close to this today? 2. Now read Hebrews 10:19-25. How does this passage link with 1 Corinthians 13:13? 3. Read verse 22. It is an exhortation to draw near to God. What is the problem the writer is identifying in the church and how is it manifest in our own lives & church. 4. Read verse 23. It is a call to hope. Again, what is the problem the writer is identifying in the church and how is it manifest in our own lives & church. 5. Read verse 24 & 25. What does the writer imply is missing from the lives of the people he is writing to, and what is the best response? 6. Church is to be redesigned with us meeting together each day in some form. What might that look like?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 30 2 Chronicles 9:1-12 Hebrews 12:1-13 Tuesday Psalm 36 2 Chronicles 10:1-11:4 Hebrews 12:14-29 Wednesday Psalm 34 2 Chronicles 12 Hebrews 13:1-6 Thursday Psalm 37 2 Chronicles 13:1-14:1 Hebrews 13:7-19 Friday Psalm 31 2 Chronicles 14:2-end Hebrews 13:20-25
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.
S K AT E H O S T S
HUSTINGS
We are looking for a home or two to host some of the Skatepark volunteers during MAS2015 in a couple of weeks’ time. It would be on a B&B basis – lunch and dinner is provided for them at Eilmer House. If you are able to offer a bed or two please contact John Monaghan as soon as possible. Many thanks.
On Friday April 24th at 7.30pm there will be a General Election Hustings hosted at Malmesbury Abbey. In an event, which will be a little like BBC’s Question Time, all those standing to be the next MP for the North Wiltshire constituency will be answering questions posed by the ’studio’ audience. More details to follow, but an important date for your diary.
ABBEY GUILD
ORGAN TUNING
Join us at the King’s Church, Abbey Row on Tuesday 10th February at 2.30pm when our very own Janet Smith will be talking about her visit to Africa and India during the Autumn of 2014 where she met the girls she sponsors. All are very welcome. Refreshments will be provided.
The Abbey organ is being tuned on Monday 9th February, all day. To preserve the sanity of our staff, stewards and visitors the Abbey and the café will be closed all day. Our apologies. Morning Prayer will be in Eilmer House at 9am.
NOTICEBOARD B A P T I S M O N E A S T E R D AY All our services on Easter Day at the Abbey are joyous celebrations of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you would like to be baptised at our 4pm service on Easter Day could you please contact one of the clergy or Sandie in the Parish Office by the end of February.
EASTER EVE VIGIL We are considering holding an all-night Easter Vigil from 10pm on Easter Eve until 6am on Easter Morning. The Abbey will be open all night, with prayer and worship every 30 minutes and probably a fire outside and simple food and drink shared. Then at 6am there will be Holy Communion and breakfast together. If you are interested in being a part of this could you e-mail Sandie so we get an idea of numbers. office@malmesburyabbey.com
SMALL GROUPS We are pretty delighted that over 150 people meet regularly as a part of a small group at Malmesbury Abbey; it is a primary source of discipleship and pastoral care. However, there are a few empty chairs in our small groups that could do with you sitting in them. If you’d like to try out a group, perhaps just for Lent to see how it goes, please contact neill@malmesburyabbey.com.
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
CONTAC T ABBEY OFFICE Monday (10am-12noon) Tuesday-Friday (9.30am– 3pm) Tel: 01666 826666 sandie@malmesburyabbey.com
CAFÉ HOURS Tuesday-Saturday (normal) 9am– 3.30pm Sunday & Monday closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com
www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
12th CENTURY BEAUT Y 21st CENTURY CHURCH