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LOKO’S STORY Christian Aid Week
Loko is 29 and has very little. She lives with her three children and three step-children in a small house. To support them all, she must gather firewood. It is long, back-breaking work, but she must keep going because her family’s only source of income is what she can get for the wood at market. Christian aid partner HUNDEE hopes they will be able to help her soon. ‘The worst thing about collecting firewood is being all alone. I travel to a place on the mountain where there is good fuel wood. It’s an eight-hour walk to get there. I pray to God as I walk: ‘God, please clear all the thorny plants from my way. God, please help me to find good firewood, then I can sell it. God, please bring me good buyers who can give me money. God, please open the paths in front of me.
It is very difficult to collect firewood and sell it. There are many thorns that stab my legs and my body. Sometimes I accidentally cut my leg or hand with the axe and there’s no one to help. There are wild animals like hyenas, cheetahs and snakes. When the rainy season comes it’s particularly frightening because all the grasses grow, the trees have big leaves, and it’s dark so you don’t know what’s going to come out of the bush. It’s scary and I feel very alone. I go to the mountain four days a week and I sell the wood at market three days a week. With one load, I can earn 35 birr (about £1). From all this, I earn 140 birr (about £4) a week. I buy some maize, tea, sugar and medicine for my children and my goat and my cow. It’s not enough for the family, but there is nothing I can do about it. This is all
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: May 10th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 6.30pm Choral Evensong: The Ascension
I have. I need to have more livestock. The money I’m earning at the moment isn’t enough, and I have to spend it all. I’m not able to save. But with a cow, I could sell the milk and butter and start a small business. My children would have milk to drink, they would be healthy. My hope for the future and for my children rests in God. I work day and night, and I pray to him that my children will have good, successful lives. I’m sure God will never let my children face the hard life that I am facing now. This is my hope in God. ‘
Loko is pictured on the back page of this news sheet.
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 11th 10.45am Funeral of Brenda Higgs th TUES 12 2.30pm Abbey Guild WED 13th 10.30am Communion THURS 14th9am MP & Communion 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice th FRI 15 10.30am Creative Response SAT 16th 10am The Meeting Place NEXT SUNDAY: May 17th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church
ADVANCE May 19th Glory! June 19th Riding Lights Roughshod
AC T S 1 0 :4 4 - 4 8 44
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 ‘Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptised with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ 48 So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Additional Reading: John 15:9-17
DISCIPLESHIP 1.
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Acts 7 shows us the stoning of Stephen, Acts 8 the evangelistic ministry of Philip, and Acts 9 the conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus. Have a brief look, but then read the whole of Acts 10. Which apostle is featured, and what precisely is going on in this passage? What does the coming of the Holy Spirit accompany in verse 44? And what happens to the new believers in verses 45 and 46? Why is it important to be baptised with both water and the Spirit as Peter indicates? Are verses 44-48 descriptive of the early church, prescriptive for the contemporary church, or both? Share together your personal experience of baptism in water and the Spirit. Take 10 minutes in 3s and 4s to gently lay hands on each other and pray for the Holy Spirit to come, bless and anoint for service.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 65 Deuteronomy 26 1 Peter 4:1-11 Tuesday Psalm 126 Deuteronomy 28:1-14 1 Peter 4:12-end Wednesday Psalm 132 Deuteronomy 28:58-end 1 Peter 5 Ascension Day Psalm 47 Daniel 7:9-14 Acts 1:1-11 Friday Psalm 148 Exodus 35:30-36:1 Galatians 5:13-end
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
PENTECOST READINGS
A S C E N S I O N D AY
The Church of England offers some specially selected daily bible readings from Ascension Day (Thursday 14th May) until Pentecost which allow us to explore some Old & New Testament passages associated with the Holy Spirit of God. You’d probably notice if you normally use our daily readings, but if this isn’t your practice why not try it for 9 days.
Our Choral Evensong at 6.30pm on May 10th and all our services on May 17th will mark the Ascension of Christ, 40 days after the resurrection. On Thursday May 14th, Ascension Day itself, there will be a short service of Morning Prayer & Holy Communion at 9am in St Aldhelm’s Chapel.
M I N I S T R Y A S S I S TA N T
ABBEY GUILD
We are exploring appointing a Ministry Assistant this September to work alongside Andrew in our Children’s and Youth ministry. This is a one-year training opportunity, serving, developing gifts and deepening discipleship. We would like a member of our church family to host them during this important year. If you have a spare room and you would like to find out more about being a host please speak to Andrew on 07784 3333361.
A change to the programme for the next Abbey Guild meeting. As the country celebrates 70 years since the war ended, Lance Osborne tells us about the rebuilding of the Protestant Church in Dresden after WW2. All invited to Kings Church, Abbey Row on Tuesday 12th May at 2.30pm.
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NOTICEBOARD NEW WINE 2015 From August 2nd – 8th around 30 members from the Abbey will pack their bags and head off for another unforgettable week of laughter and friendship, passionate worship and inspiring teaching at the New Wine summer festival. It’s not too late to book and come with us. You can camp, caravan or commute, come for the whole week, half a week, or just for a day. Go to www.new-wine.org/summer for more details or speak to John Monaghan.
ISRAEL Last year a number of us explored with James & Ruth Cole the possibility of an Abbey trip to Israel. We apologise that we have not been in further contact with you about this. After assessing the response and the various different requirements and aspirations, we have decided that sadly this trip isn't going to be viable. However would still encourage you to consider other options and please contact James or Ruth if you would like advice about other study tours, pilgrimages, and adventure trips to suit all needs, requirements and desires. For those who like adventure and who have a good level of personal fitness, James & Ruth will be helping to lead a trip in October 2016 with Gold Hill Holidays.
VISITING PREACHER Our speaker at the 4pm service on May 17th will be Oliver Home, Diocesan Secretary for the Diocese of Bristol. Oliver will be speaking on Acts 1, and the work of the Spirit in the world and the workplace.
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey