8TH NOVEMBER 2015
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SEASONS Vicar’s Blog
There are different seasons in life; ask the writer of Ecclesiastes:
A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to tear and a time to sew. A time to keep silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:4,7,8) I find the rhythm of the writer’s poetry to be slightly hypnotic; it draws me in. I also find his frankness, and the authenticity of his reflections on the human condition, freeing. But doesn’t his perception of ‘the changing scenes of life’ go right against St Paul’s exhortation to ‘Rejoice in the Lord always.’ Always? Really? Didn’t Christ weep? In truth,
an unthinking application of Philippians 4:4 can turn us each into the worst, most superficial, eversmiling Christians; those of endless comedy parody. What Paul was actually saying, is that in every scene of life joy and peace is to be found, in Christ, in the Lord. Peace beyond human understanding, joy beyond the merely experiential - found in Christ alone. Becoming a Christian is a relocation in Christ. Being a disciple is staying there. So, this Remembrance Sunday, we are at liberty to prayerfully remember those lost and affected by war and conflict, and to mourn and weep with Christ at the brokenness of our warring world. And in our sorrow we hear afresh His call to be peacemakers, to be reconcilers, in this generation. The writer of Ecclesiastes chose to
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write seven paired lines, I’ve just quoted three. Two things. Firstly, why not take a moment to reflect on your life and all seven pairs found in Ecclesiastes 3. You’re in there, probably in more than one line. And secondly, note that the writer deliberately chose a number associated in ancient Jewish culture with the sacred, seven. Wherever you find yourself, God is with you.
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: November 8th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion with Act of Remembrance 2.30pm Royal British Legion Remembrance Service 4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church and Act of Remembrance. THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 10th 2.15pm Funeral 7pm Malmesbury School Presentation Evening WED 11th 10.30am Communion THUR 12th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice FRI 13th 10.30am Creative Resp. th SAT 14 9.30am Choir Practice 10am The Meeting Place NEXT SUNDAY: November 15th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church & Wave ADVANCE Nov 17th 7.30pm Refresh! Nov 24th 7.30pm Glory!
PSALM 46 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Additional Reading: John 14:23-29 NEXT SUNDAY: Matthew 13:3-9,19-23; Bearing Fruit in the Kingdom
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Reflect on our learning and our worship together last Sunday. What was being said? How did the Holy Spirit particularly speak to you or inspire you? 2. Take some time together to remember those known to you whose lives have been directly affected by conflict. Where is God in these reflections? 3. Read Psalm 46 together. It is of course a song, to be sung, not read. Which piece of music or song known to you would you say most captures the feel or tone of Psalm 46? 4. ‘God is our refuge; therefore we are his refugees. We can learn more from refugees about God than they can learn from us.’ Discuss why you agree or disagree with this statement. 5. How does God bring about the changes implied in verses 8 and 9? 6. What is the fruit of human stillness?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 44 Isaiah 5:8-24 Matthew 4:23-5:12 Tuesday Psalm 48 Isaiah 5:25-end Matthew 5:13-20 Wednesday Psalm 119:57-80 Isaiah 6 Matthew 5:21-37 Thursday Psalm 57 Isaiah 7:1-17 Matthew 5:38-end Friday Psalm 51 Isaiah 8:1-15 Matthew 6:1-18
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
C A R N I VA L L O V E
BAPTISMS
Many thanks from the Abbey to all who serve on the Malmesbury Carnival Committee. From their 2015 charitable fundraising £500 has been donated to our annual Holiday at Home for the elderly and £1500 has been given towards the start-up costs of our Monday morning softplay project, which kicks off in February 2016. Awesome generosity and support; thank you.
As is the case each January, on Sunday 3rd January at 4pm there will be a service of Celebration in the Main Hall of the Activity Zone followed by Baptisms and a Junior Church Pool Party. If you would like to be baptized by immersion, or to remember an earlier baptism and get in the water again, could you contact John or Andrew very shortly.
ABBEY GUILD
URGENT DELIVERY
The Abbey Guild next meets at the King’s Church on Tuesday 10th November at 2.30pm where Mike Lynch will be talking about his Canadian Adventure, including his work as a lumberjack amongst other things! A very warm welcome and refreshments provided.
There will be no News Sheet next Sunday as pressed into your hand instead will be a copy of the 2015 Abbey Advent & Christmas brochure. We’d also like to bless you with another 50-100 copies of the brochure for delivery across Malmesbury in the following 72 hours. We’ve found that more people come to Abbey services and events when we actually let them know about them. Your help is essential and greatly appreciated.
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NOTICEBOARD REFRESH! Join us for a social evening of celebration in the Psalms with mulled wine, nibbles, creative activities and singing on Tuesday 17th November at 7.30pm. In preparation for this event please think about your favourite psalm or part of a psalm and why it is special to you. For more information or to let us know that you are coming please contact Sandie on office@malmesburyabbey.com
CHRISTMAS VOUCHER SCHEME Each year CTiM (Churches Together in Malmesbury) like to give a Christmas present to low income families in the area, so that they can enjoy celebrating this special time of year too and know that the local community cares for them. Our generosity means they will be given vouchers that can be exchanged for food at the local Co-op stores; last year we were able to help around 60 local families. This week special envelopes are available at each service. If you would like to contribute, please put your donation inside one of these envelopes, and place it in the collection during the service.
Malmesbury Abbey Skate are delighted to be supported by Waitrose Community Matters for the whole month of November, so please collect your green tokens when you visit, and put them in the Abbey Skate Charity Box on your way out when you shop! The more tokens we collect, the more we raise for purchasing soft-play equipment for our big launch of Abbey Soft-play on 15th/16th February. We aim to run a weekly soft-play session in the Abbey commencing from this date.
ABBEY ADVEN T & CH RI STMAS D IARY 20 15 Sat 28th Nov Sun 29th Nov
Fri 4th Dec Sat 5th Dec Sun 6th Dec
Wed 9th Dec Thu 10th Dec Sat 12th Dec Sun 13th Dec
Wed 16th Dec Sat 19th Dec Sun 20th Dec
Wed 23rd Dec
6.30pm Advent Carols by Candlelight 1 ADVENT SUNDAY 9am & 10.30am Advent Holy Communion 4pm All-age Advent Communion 6.30pm Advent Carols by Candlelight 2 7pm Youth Action Wiltshire Carol Service 7.30pm Malmesbury Community Choir Christmas Concert ADVENT II 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 7.30pm Organ Recital – James McVinnie (Bach, Muhly & Messiaen) 7.30pm The Nativity in Art – talk by Dean David Hoyle 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
Thurs 24th Dec
CHRISTMAS EVE 1pm, 3pm & 5pm The Malmesbury Nativity 11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11.15pm)
Fri 25th Dec
CHRISTMAS DAY 9am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration 12 noon Coffee & Champagne (bring a bottle)