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THE KINGDOM Vicar’s Blog
I really don’t like those moments in church when the preacher asks a question from the front, one that isn’t rhetorical, and clearly someone from the congregation is expected to put up their hand with an answer. At those moments I am internally convinced that I know absolutely nothing about the Christian faith: ‘Who is the mother of Jesus?’ ‘Well, I thought it was Mary, but now I’m not so sure.’ So, I either focus on my Size 13s and avoid eye contact, or sit smiling hoping to give off a generous spirited ‘I’ll give others a chance to answer’ air. One speaker that I was listening to asked this. ‘What is the gospel?’ Yikes. You wouldn’t want to be the idiot that got that wrong. We stared intently at our shoes, and then a young man in an appalling sweater put his hand up and said: ‘Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins.’
Phew, we all breathed. But then the speaker said something interesting. ‘Sure, that’s at the heart of our faith, but when Jesus himself proclaims the gospel, the good news of God, in Mark 1:15 what does he actually say the good news is?’ We all flicked to the passage and discovered what Jesus thought the good news is: ‘The Kingdom of God is near.’ The good news is the breaking in of the rule of God. The Kingdom of Heaven drawing close to our humanity. Jesus clearly meant it, because when he taught the disciples to pray, the Kingdom was his number one priority. Thy Kingdom come. Our world is breathtakingly beautiful, but broken. The poetry of Genesis 3 poignantly reveals broken society, a broken earth, broken relationships with God and one another, the domination of men, broken
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: October 9th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church
workplaces and ultimately sickness and death. A sad fall from the life, abundance and beauty of God’s Kingdom in Genesis 1&2. So, with faltering faith, we pray for the Kingdom. We look at the struggles in our lives, at the tragedies in our communities, and at the enormity of the pain in our world and we pray for His kingdom. One day we shall see him face to face, one day all will be well, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. But until the fullness of that heavenly Kingdom we work and we pray that we would see fresh glimpses of restored beauty that point to God.
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 10th 10am Little Stars TUES 11th 7.30pm Glory! WED 12th 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Alpha THUR 13th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice th FRI 14 10.30am Creative Response
NEXT SUNDAY: October 16th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 6.30pm Wessex Choral Evensong ADVANCE DIARY 28th & 29th Abbey Closed all day for Oct organ tuning st 31 Oct Light Party 2nd Nov Confirmation Service
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Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’ 14
When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed. 15
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. 17
Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ 19 Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’
Additional Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Take some time to discuss together anything that you took away from our worship together on Sunday; then read the passage, twice. 2. Why might Jesus have been walking in an area between two religious groups that hate each other? How does this speak of the vocation of the church? 3. ‘The church is a collection of people that seriously disagree with each other, but nevertheless share bread and wine.’ Discuss. What is the church most conflicted on currently, and why? 4. Who pronounced a leper clean in Jewish law? What do the ten lepers teach us about community, obedience and thanksgiving? 5. How might verse 19 be abused by the church?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 126 2 Kings 21:1-18 1 Timothy 1:1-17 Tuesday Psalm 132 2 Kings 22:1-23:3 1 Timothy 1:18-2:end Wednesday Psalm 119:153-end 2 Kings 23:4-25 1 Timothy 3 Thursday Psalm 143 2 Kings 23:36-24:17 1 Timothy 4 Friday Psalm 144 2 Kings 24:18-25:12 1 Timothy 5:1-16
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
WESSEX EVENSONG
KITCHEN
On Sunday 16th October there is a special Wessex Choral Evensong at 6.30pm as part of Malmesbury’s first Wessex Week. The preacher, reflecting on King Athelstan’s faith, will be the Revd Jonathan Wilkes from Kingston-upon-Thames Parish Church and the hymns will have West Country associations.
Holly and Stella could really use some voluntary help in the Abbey Kitchen during the week. We’re looking for energetic people with a couple of hours to spare in the week who would enjoy a fast-paced working environment. Training provided! Please contact Holly or Stella if this would interest you.
ABBEY GUILD
GLO RY !
Shelly Hollingworth is encouraging the Abbey Guild to get creative in ‘Creative Space’ on Tuesday 11th October at 2pm in The King’s Church, Abbey Row. All are welcome; followed by refreshments.
Don’t miss our next Abbey prayer meeting, Glory!, on Tuesday 11th October at 7.30pm. A time of passionate praise and worship followed by intercessory prayer together.
12th CENTURY BEAUT Y 21st CENTURY CHURCH
NOTICEBOARD F O U N D AT I O N G O V E R N O R The PCC is currently looking for somebody to serve as Foundation Governor at Malmesbury CE Primary School, to join the governing body and focus on helping to develop and maintain the distinctive Christian character of the school. This is a wonderful opportunity to work with other members of the Abbey who are Foundation Governors and to serve our community. There are six evening meetings a year with the full governing body, and planning meetings with the Foundation Governors. You do not have to be a parent in the school, and young or old we would love you to pray about joining us. Please speak to Revd John Monaghan or John Jenkins.
PROJECTIONISTS We need a few more volunteers to help operate the projector during our 10.30am and 4pm services. You don't need to be a technical wizard, just to be reasonably confident on a computer. Age is no barrier and full training and support will be given. With enough volunteers on the rota you will probably only be operating once a month or so. If you would like to find out a little more about the role, please contact Dwight Doyley at dwight@malmesburyabbey.com or speak to any of the projectionists.
VA C A N C Y The Abbey Kitchen is also looking to appoint a paid part-time member of staff to work Saturdays 8.30am-5pm and provide holiday cover. You will be an energetic, flexible and enthusiastic person with great people skills. We are looking for someone who is committed to the Abbey ethos and community. Key to this role will be managing and supporting two fully trained members of staff and volunteers, food preparation, and a massive smile for our regulars and visitors. Please speak to Holly or Stella if you feel you might be suited for the above.
CONTAC T
ABBEY OFFICE
ABBEY KITCHEN
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