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FIVE WOUNDS Vicar’s Blog
Last November I used Proverbs 26:11, a graphic reference to a dog, to illustrate a point in a sermon. Every single Abbey member I have spoken to, it seems, has remembered the proverb but completely forgotten the sermon. (Well do you remember what I was speaking about?) So I tentatively risk Proverbs again: Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Proverbs 27:6) I mention this thoughtful, and I’ve found pretty helpful, proverb because I think the writer of the letter to the Hebrews writes in this spirit. Five times in the letter the writer gets pretty direct, pretty pushy and addresses the issues that the church isn’t talking about but needs to talk about. We wrap the writer’s points up in a churchy word, exhortations, but in essence they are wounds, from a friend,
from a pastor, and they are a path to restoration, not judgement. Hebrews 2:1-4 seems a pretty contemporary wound. Don’t get distracted, don’t stop paying attention to what you have heard, don’t drift away, don’t ignore the salvation we have in Jesus. Don’t drift; ouch. Hebrews 3:7-19 addresses an ancient problem and quotes the end of Psalm 95: ‘today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts.’ The problem for God’s people is not that they can’t discern his voice, but that they don’t like what He is saying. How is that enemy-loving and possession-selling going? Hebrews 5:11-6:12 is pretty blunt, verging on the rude: Church, could you please grow up! Sometimes the church is heart-breakingly beautiful and graced with God’s love. At other times we are less glorious.
A B B E Y D I A RY
And the writer wounds with accusations of immaturity. Read it, it’s tough love.
THIS SUNDAY: January 11th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid 6pm The Mix at the McAdams 6.30pm Choral Evensong (The Epiphany)
THIS WEEK Hebrews 10:19-39 is the lettuces passage I referenced last year. In essence the writer is saying Christ hasn’t given up on the person sitting next to you, so you probably shouldn't either. But sadly we do, and we lazily critique community out of existence. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing. Christ died for the church, you might want to commit to it. The fifth wound, Hebrews 12:14-29, echoes the second wound and asks us not to refuse Him who speaks but worship with reverence and awe the God who is a consuming fire. Trust these wounds.
EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 13th 9.30am Women Alive! WED 14th 10.30am Communion THUR 15th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 17th 10am The Meeting Place
NEXT SUNDAY: January 18th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid 6pm The Mix at the Campbells ADVANCE Jan 20th Glory! Prayer meeting Feb 1st 4pm Welcome to Andrew & Jude Beebee Feb 18th Malmesbury Abbey Skate -20th
HEBREWS 2:5-3:1 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: ‘What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honour 8 and put everything under their feet.’ In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 5
In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.’ 13 And again, ‘I will put my trust in him.’ And again he says, ‘Here am I, and the children God has given me.’
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Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. 14
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Additional Reading:
John 10:22-30
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Read Hebrews 2:5-10 out loud. Explore the meaning of verses 5-8 (look up Psalm 8:4-6 as well). 2. Verse 9 says that Jesus became one of us so he might 'taste death for everyone'; and verse 10, that Jesus is made 'perfect through suffering'. What do these statements mean? 3. Read Hebrews 2:11-18 out loud. Verse 15- we are freed from a 'fear of death'. Have you been freed from this fear? Pray about this at the end of your time together. 4. Verses 17 - Jesus is our 'merciful and faithful high priest'. Can you look up what the role of the high priest was in Leviticus and what 'atonement' means. Discuss how Jesus fulfills that role perfectly for us today. 5. Verse 18 is an encouragement to us whenever we are tempted by sin. Chat about this together as you feel comfortable (!) and spend time praying with each other about what you have discussed during this bible study.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 2 Amos 1 Hebrews 1 Tuesday Psalm 9 Amos 2 Hebrews 2:1-9 Wednesday Psalm 20 Amos 3 Hebrews 2:10-18 Thursday Psalm 21 Amos 4 Hebrews 3:1-6 Friday Psalm 67 Amos 5 Hebrews 3:7-19
TEXT GIVING You can now give to the ministry and mission of Malmesbury Abbey, and gift aid it, via text. Text 70070 and enter the code MALM12 when requested.
BRISTOL CATHEDRAL CHOIR
G LO R Y !
As well as our beautiful monthly Choral Evensongs sung by Malmesbury Abbey Choir, including 6.30pm this Sunday, the gentlemen of Bristol Cathedral Choir are singing an additional Choral Evensong on Sunday 25th January at 6.30pm. This is followed by refreshments and then a short informal concert by the gentlemen. All are very welcome.
As we consider the fruit of 2014 in our lives and in our ministry, it is good to remind ourselves, as a year begins, that the foundation is, and always has been, prayer. Join us each day at 9am in St Aldhelm's Chapel, and please check that our monthly Glory! prayer meeting is in your diary. Tuesday 20th January at 7.30pm for 90 minutes of prayer, praise and seeking the Spirit’s leading in our time together and our mission.
MISSION GIVING
ANDREW BEEBEE
In 2015 the Abbey PCC has allocated £7000 to External Mission. In 2014, as well as supporting Janet Parke in Zambia, Charlotte Price in Australia and Phil Williams of Christian Skaters UK , we also supported congregational members making mission trips to Africa, Eastern Europe and elsewhere. If you would like support in 2015 please e-mail Neill before January 15th to discuss this further. The PCC will consider initial allocations on January 17th and further allocations later in the year.
Andrew Beebee joins the Abbey staff as our full-time Children’s & Youth Minister in late January and will be commissioned by the Bishop of Bristol on February 1st 2015 at our 4pm service. Please prioritise being a part of this very special service, and pray for Andrew & Jude as they move to Malmesbury in mid-January.
NOTICEBOARD
With only 5 weeks to go, we are super excited about launching our Abbey Skate 2015, which takes place Wed 18th - Fri 20th February. This three day event runs all day from 10am to 9pm and is open to all ages and all abilities! Invite your friends and family, get out your scooter, your skateboard or your roller skates and come and join with us! Book your tickets on-line before they sell out: www.malmesburyabbey.com/skate Volunteers needed - This event, which is an extraordinary opportunity to share God’s love with people in our town, is dependent on your support. To combat ‘someone-else-can-do-it’ syndrome (!), please pray about what help you can offer and pop the dates in your diary so that prayer can turn into action! If you’ve got a pulse (even with the help of a pacemaker!), you can help. We need people to offer accommodation to the lovely Christian Skaters UK team, people to welcome at the door, people to help out with admin, sound, set-up, prayer and catering (even if it’s making just one meal). Please contact john@malmesburyabbey.com for more information or to sign up, or write your name on the sign up sheet on the welcome desk in the Abbey. Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
CONTAC T ABBEY OFFICE Monday (10am-12noon) Tuesday-Friday (9.30am– 3pm) Tel: 01666 826666 sandie@malmesburyabbey.com
CAFÉ HOURS Tuesday-Saturday (normal) 9am– 3.30pm Sunday & Monday closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com
www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
12th CENTURY BEAUT Y 21st CENTURY CHURCH