‘I know that my redeemer lives.’
10/11/13 MALMESBURY ABBEY
HOSPITALITY THAT INVITES PEOPLE CLOSER STABILITY THAT DRAWS PEOPLE DEEPER CREATIVITY THAT LIFTS PEOPLE HIGHER
Vicar’s blog: tomorrow Malmesbury Abbey is familiar with conflict. In the year 939AD King Athelstan the Glorious, the first King of all England, was buried here. Athelstan had led his English and Welsh forces in a decisive victory over the Scottish, Danish, Norse and Irish at the Battle of Brunanburh; and he chose to be buried here alongside the men of Malmesbury that fought alongside him. His tomb, a later medieval offering, is in the North Aisle, just behind the organ. Much later, on 21st March 1643 the English Civil War raged just outside the doors of the Abbey; you can see the cannon and musket shot holes on the wall to the left of the porch. I think we beat Tetbury that day. And it’s not all ancient history: just 10 days ago the Abbey was filled with the serving military of 9 Logistics from Buckley Barracks, as, in a service led by Padre Richard Priest from our own 4pm congregation, we marked with prayer and worship their safe return from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
But of course for many, whose lives were lost and affected by the global wars of the 20th century and the ongoing conflicts of the 21st century, Malmesbury Abbey is an annual place of remembrance, a place of profound sorrow—as it is this weekend. For civilians like myself, it is possible to feel something of a fraud. Personally, I have no experience to remember, I’m unfamiliar with the reality of battle. I don’t know what it feels like to serve in the military, what it feels like to have that final embrace before you fly out, or what if feels like to put your foot on the soil of another nation dressed in the uniform of your own country. So how do I remember? Perhaps I remember by considering my peaceable life, and the democratic governance of our nation, and the eyes that didn’t live to see it. And I hold before myself the words of the Kohima Epitaph and remember tomorrow: When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today
neillarcher.blogspot.co.uk
Abbey Diary SERVICES TODAY:REMEMBRANCE 8am 10.30am 2.30pm 4pm
BCP Communion Holy Communion & Act of Remembrance Remembrance Service Informal Worship, Junior Church & Remembrance
EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 11th 11am 2 Minutes Silence TUES 12th 9.30am Women Alive! 7.30pm Refresh! WED 13th 10.30am Holy Communion 7pm Pipeline 7.30pm Alpha THUR 14th 10.30am Pop-In, Le Flambé 4pm Evening Prayer 7pm Choir Practice 8pm Men’s Basketball FRI 15th 10.30am Creative Response SAT 16th 10am Healing in the Streets NEXT SUNDAY 8am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, Junior Church, Trax & Baptisms ADVANCE ABBEY DIARY NOV 19th 7.30pm Glory! DEC 1st 6.30pm Advent Carol Service DEC 7th Handel’s Messiah DEC 10th Wiltshire Carol Service DEC 13th Sir James Galway DEC 21-24 The Malmesbury Nativity DEC 22nd 6.30pm 9 Lessons & Carols
Job 19:23-27 23
‘Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, 24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock for ever! 25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Additional Reading: Luke 20:27-38 27
Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?’ 34
Jesus replied, ‘The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor
be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord “the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”. 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.’
small group resource + 1.
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From the questioning of the Sadducees in Luke 20 are they a Jewish sect that seems to believe in the resurrection or a group that doesn’t believe in the resurrection? Assuming you have the correct answer to question 1 , are the Sadducees more likely to be characterised by wealth and power in this world, or by poverty and powerlessness? What can we learn about Jesus’ belief in the resurrection from this passage? What do you believe happens when you die? What does Job believe about the resurrection? Is this orthodox Christian belief? Relating to the resurrection, what does St Paul pray for you in Ephesians 1:18-21? Where are you sitting? Read Ephesians 2:4-9; now answer the question again. Ephesians 1:3 might help. How does where we are sitting affect our life or prayer, worship and our daily life?
daily readings MONDAY Isaiah 5:8-24 Matt 4:23-5:12
TUESDAY Isaiah 5:25-end Matt 5:13-20
WEDNESDAY Isaiah 6 Matt 5:21-37
THURSDAY FRIDAY Isaiah 7:1-17 Isaiah 8:1-15 Matt 5:38-end Matt 6:19-end
The Malmesbury Nativity Tickets (Adults £2 and Children free) are now available from the Abbey Bookshop for The Malmesbury Nativity. Last year well over 1,000 people of all ages saw this retelling of the Nativity by Hannah, William, Aldhelm and Eilmer. This year the production will be very similar but with a different opening, and the performances on Dec 22nd and Christmas Eve will sell out quickly.
Christmas Voucher Scheme Churches Together in Malmesbury (CTiM) like to give a Christmas gift to low income families in the area, so 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 nearly 70 local families – a record! This week special envelopes are available at each service. If you would like to contribute, please place your donation inside one of the envelopes provided, and if you pay tax then please write your name etc on the envelope so that gift aid can be added to the total. Your envelope can be placed in the collection in any of the services during November. If you know of someone who would like to contribute but isn’t here today, extra envelopes are available at the back of the Abbey.
Foundation Governor With the recent departure of Revd Katie Windle to Oxfordshire the Abbey PCC is looking to appoint a new Foundation Governor for Malmesbury CE Primary School, serving alongside Neill, John Jenkins and Tristan Cork. Key responsibilities of a Foundation Governor are ensuring the Christian distinctiveness of the school and good links with the Abbey, as well as the good governance of the school. If you are interested please e-mail neill@malmesburyabbey.com.
Abbey Closing Times With the darker evenings, the colder weather and the drop in tourist numbers the Abbey and Bookshop now closes each day at 4pm. The Abbey Café is opening 9-3pm each day except Wednesday and Sunday when it is closed all day.
SEEK HIM THAT MAKETH THE SEVEN STARS
Advent Carol Service by candlelight Malmesbury Abbey Sunday 1st December at 6.30pm. Admission Free.
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 and Sunday: Closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com
Glory! At 7.30pm on Tuesday 19th November the Abbey congregations gather until 9pm to seek God in worship and prayer. At our last two Glory! Prayer meetings 40-50 people have joined together in passionate praise and intercession that puts at its seeking the voice of God together. ‘And the glory of the LORD will be revealed and all humanity together shall see it.’ Isaiah 40:5
Giving at Malmesbury Abbey If you would like to give regularly to the ministry and mission of Malmesbury Abbey, please e-mail chrisjager@malmesburyabbey.com who will painlessly and confidentially guide you through the process.
12th CENTURY BEAUTY 21st CENTURY CHURCH