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‘Look, the Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world.’

09/03/14 MALMESBURY ABBEY

HOSPITALITY THAT INVITES PEOPLE CLOSER STABILITY THAT DRAWS PEOPLE DEEPER CREATIVITY THAT LIFTS PEOPLE HIGHER

Vicar’s blog: Real Lives Don’t pity me too much, there are many profound privileges to being a vicar.

One that never, ever loses its shine is reading the opening of John’s gospel at our Nine Lessons and Carols Service. The service itself is one layer of joy and artistry upon another, but then to stand right in the middle of a candlelit Abbey to proclaim words of such mystery, beauty and light to a darkened world is virtually worth being ordained for in itself. (Not quite.)

John 1 begins with the heavenly identity of Christ, the Word, and there follows over the next 21 chapters many phenomenal signs and wonders which John allows to punctuate the narrative of the gospel to remind of us who precisely we are dealing with— water into wine (ch.2) , feeding the five thousand (ch.6), walking on water (ch.6), a number of significant healings culminating in Lazarus (ch.11), the triumphal entry into Jerusalem (ch.12) and, of course, the Resurrection itself (ch.20). But, just as John portrays Christ’s heavenly intimacy with the Father and the Spirit and the light and life that flows from the Trinity, John also earths Jesus—the Word becoming flesh (John 1:14). John recalls Jesus as he talks with people, and drinks and eats and cooks and weeps and washes feet and dies.

The reality of heaven meets the reality of earth. And it is these real lives, normality meeting divinity, that will take us through to Easter in our next teaching series.

Nicodemus, fearful, concealing his curiosity about Jesus at night, and bringing question after question to Jesus to try and work out who this Rabbi really is (John 3). A woman at a well (John 4), who doesn’t understand how her relationships all end up so wrecked, meeting, at last, a man who seems to value her, and know her. Mary, in John 19, not a spiritual super hero, but a mother, watching her son die on a cross. Agonising human loss. Lazarus (John 11) trying to make sense of his heart beating again after it stopped four days earlier. The disciples reeling at the social awkwardness of the Messiah washing their feet.

Mary on Easter Day, the first human being to have to try and live in light of the Resurrection. Thomas, wanting hard data, fingers in wounds; show me. And this Sunday, John the Baptist surrounded by a crowd hassling him about who he was, and simply pointing in the opposite direction, away from himself, ‘why don’t you ask Him who He is?’

So this Sunday we’re changing gear from John’s letters. From concepts, ideas, theologies and ethics, to real lives. Our part? To bring our real life to the table.

neillarcher.blogspot.co.uk

Abbey Diary THIS SUNDAY: MARCH 9th 8am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, Junior Church & the Grid 6pm The Mix//McAdams 6.30pm Choral Evensong EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 10th 7pm Open Doors Prayer TUES 11th 9.30am Women Alive!

7.30pm Parenting Course WED 12th 10.30am Holy Communion THUR 13th 10.30am Time for Chat 4pm Evening Prayer 7pm Choir Practice SAT 15th 10am Healing in the Streets NEXT SUNDAY: MARCH 16th 8am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, Junior Church & the Grid 6pm The Mix//Campbells ADVANCE ABBEY DIARY April 12th Josh Flowers & the Wild April 14th Phantom of the Opera April 15th Glory!

April 16th God & Dinosaurs 2 April 17th Riding Lights ‘Inheritance’ April 18th Faure Requiem April 19th BBC Wiltshire Easter Service April 20th Bishop Lee preaching June 3rd Glory!

June 20/22 Church Weekend Away July 2nd Music for Autism

John 1:19-34 19

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ 21 They asked him, ‘Then who are you? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ 22 Finally they said, ‘Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.”’ 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, ‘Why then do you baptise if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’ 26 ‘I baptise with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.

29

The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, “A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptising with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.’

32 Then John gave this testimony: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.” 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.’

daily readings MONDAY Psalm 11 John 1:43-51

TUESDAY Psalm 44 John 2:1-11

WEDNESDAY Psalm 6 John 2:12-25

THURSDAY Psalm 42&43 John 3:1-15

FRIDAY Psalm 22 John 3:16-21

Additional Reading: Romans 5:12-19 12

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned – 13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: the judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

small group resource + 1.

‘Who are you?’ ‘What do you say about yourself?’ (v22.) John answers in terms of his spiritual role, his ministry as it related to Jesus. In groups of two or three answer the same questions similarly about yourself? As well as things you are doing, are there also things you feel called to do that you are frustrated by not doing?

2.

Read John’s father (Zechariah) prophesying over his infant son (Luke 1:76-79). What does he say bout John, and Jesus?

3.

‘Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (v29 and see v36). Read Isaiah 53:4-7 and Exodus 12:21-24. Now in two groups: how would you explain these passages with simplicity for somebody with little understanding of the Christian faith. You are allowed one sentence each for Exodus, Isaiah & John. Share your answers.

4.

John’s listeners were hearing this all afresh; we’ve heard this so many times. How do we guard against the essential truths of the Christian faith from becoming dulled and over-familiar through repetition? How do keep the whole Christian life from becoming dulled?

You can’t escape the Apocalypse I thought that would get you reading (writes Neill.) The Apocalypse, which means the ‘unveiling’ or the ‘disclosure’, or more familiarly the Revelation of Jesus Christ is coming to Malmesbury Abbey as our 3-month teaching series from May to July. It is probably the most misunderstood or avoided book of the Bible, and has some of the worst theology associated with it—we’ve all probably imbibed some at some point. But as Revelation itself declares ‘blessed is the one who reads the word of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it’’ (Rev 1:3), so it is worth persevering. So a few encouragements, because May is not that far away. Small Groups, can I suggest that, if you don’t meet weekly, you do so for these three months; sort the diary out now. Those of us not in small groups, can I suggest you e-mail me, and I will do my very best to find you a place in a small group seeking new members or in one of two new groups as they form shortly. Finally Eugene Peterson’s Reversed Thunder will be one of a number of accompanying books for this series—it is available in the Abbey Bookshop now.

Giving All the ministries of Malmesbury Abbey, and our Mission Giving, are sustained by the regular generous giving of our congregations. If you would like to enquire confidentially about setting up a standing order/giftaid please e-mail chrisjager@malmesburyabbey.com or phone 01666 823778. Thank you.

Linda Sullivan As part of her continuing training towards ordination, Linda Sullivan will be undertaking a six week placement at a church different to her own. To this end, Linda will be worshipping at Cirencester Parish Church from Ash Wednesday until and including Easter Sunday and will not be seen much in the Abbey.

Thank you Jose Newman would like to thank members of the abbey for their kindness, cards, visits and prayers following the death of John Ponting. Many thanks also for the donations at the funeral.

Noticeboard Abbey Guild This month Lance Osborne will be introducing Musical Surprises and it’s also our AGM. So do come and join us on Tuesday 11th March (please note NOT Thurs 13th as appeared on last weeks News Sheet) at 2.30pm in King’s Church, Abbey Row. All very welcome.

Open Doors—Prayer for the Persecuted Tomorrow, Monday 10th March @ the home of Harry & Mollie (18 West Street) at 7.45pm. This month we will use the Lent focus Live Like A North Korean. If you would like a booklet there are some available at the back of the Abbey.

5.25pm A reminder to parents and carers of children in Bubbles & Splash, at our 4pm service, that they now need to pick up their children at 5.25pm and bring them back to the Abbey.

March 9 March 16 March 23 March 30 April 6 April 13 April 20 April 27

John the Baptist Nicodemus the Woman at the Well Mary, Mother of Jesus Lazarus the Crowd Mary Thomas

John 1:19-34 John 3:1-17 John 4:1-26 John 19:25-27 John 11:17-45 John 12:12-16 John 20:1-18 John 20:19-31

Real Lives

Contact ABBEY OFFICE Mon &Tues (9.30am-12noon) Weds, Thurs ,Fri, (9.30am-2.30pm) 01666 826666 www.malmesburyabbey.com sandie@malmesburyabbey.com Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com NORMAL CAFÉ HOURS Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 9am-3pm Wednesday: 12-3pm Sunday: Closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com

Friday e-Mailing If you would like to receive an e-mail every Friday from the Parish Office, with a link to this News Sheet online and other additional notices and links, please contact Sandie Brown at office@malmesburyabbey.com.

Refresh!

The first Refresh! event of 2014 will be held at the URC, St Mary’s Street on Wednesday 19th March at 7.30pm. Ann Holt, OBE (Bible Society) will be giving us an introduction to the Psalms during the evening. There will also be time for quiet reflection and prayer. Invitations are available at the back of the Abbey should you wish to invite a neighbour or friend. Please contact Sandie at the office to book a place or for more information.

12th CENTURY BEAUTY 21st CENTURY CHURCH