12TH MARCH 2017
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SHINE Vicar’s Blog
As a lad, Friday night for me was always choir practice at St Andrew’s, Aylestone, which at a certain point was followed (illegally) by the pub. Sunday night was always BCP Choral Evensong followed by sherry and singing around the piano. At one point I did mention to my parents that it was the 1970s not the 1870s but they seemed content enough to live in a time warp and, in truth, so was I. However on Saturday nights we, and it seemed like the whole nation, gathered around televised comedy; and it is the closing catchphrases that remain with me years later. True, some pretenders to the throne have emerged from movies more recently. Ron Burgundy’s ‘Stay classy, San Diego!’ is wonderfully the least classy of the lot. The actor Jim Carey actually gets two rather good closing lines. As a TV News Anchor in Bruce Almighty his attempts at profundity
are eventually abandoned and he goes with ‘and that’s the way the cookie crumbles.’ And in The Truman Show the climax of the film is Carey’s liberating and rather triumphant sign off: ‘In case I don’t see ya, Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night.’ But my favourites remain the comedians. Dave Allen’s final line always seemed to be appropriate for the multi-faith, multi-cultural Leicester of my childhood: ‘Goodnight, and may your God go with you.’ The biggest snigger was brought forth on a weekly basis by The Two Ronnies: ‘And it’s good night from me,’ ‘and it’s goodnight from him.’ ‘Good night.’ But the warmest glow came from a song sung simply and a rather silly exit dance mimicked in most school playgrounds; Bring me sunshine sung by the Saturday night giants, the best ever, Morecambe & Wise:
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: March 12th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church
‘Bring me sunshine in your smile, bring me laughter all the while. In this world where we live there should be more happiness. So much more joy you can give to a brand new bright tomorrow.’ Well I probably shouldn’t steal their final words as I head off to pastures new, but I do hope and pray for a different sunshine to warm your backs: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.’ (Numbers 6:24-26) You are loved.
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 13th 10am Little Stars TUES 14th 7.30pm Glory! WED 15th 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Malmesbury School Chamber Concert th THUR 16 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice th SAT 18 7.30pm MAMS Concert NEXT SUNDAY: March 19th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church ADVANCE DIARY 14th Mar Glory! prayer meeting 15th Mar 7.30pm Malmesbury School Chamber Concert th 25 Mar 9.30am Refresh! Breakfast
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David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, ‘Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 14
‘But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18 Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people for ever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.’ 20 Then David said to the whole assembly, ‘Praise the Lord your God.’ So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king. Additional Reading: John 12:20-26
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Take some time together to discuss our vicar’s final blog and the content of last Sunday’s sermon and worship together. 2. How does 1 Chronicles 29:12 inform our understanding of leadership in society and leadership in the church? 3. In the Magnificat who does God exalt? Does that happen in the church? 4. Verses 14-20. Note which verses are concerned with the inner life and character of a man or woman and which are descriptive of outward actions. Are they connected? 5. Verse 19 highlights transition and the emergence of Solomon’s leadership as he follows King David. How does David pray? What are the opportunities and challenges of transition at the Abbey in the next 18 months? How can we support each other?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 32 Jeremiah 7:21-end John 6:41-51 Tuesday Psalm 50 Jeremiah 8:1-15 John 6:52-59 Wednesday Psalm 35 Jeremiah 8:18-9:11 John 6:60-end Thursday Psalm 34 Jeremiah 9:12-24 John 7:1-13 Friday Psalm 41 Jeremiah 10:1-16 John 7:14-24
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
CONTINUIT Y
REFRESH
During the coming transitional period in the Malmesbury & Upper Avon Group the oversight of our churches will be led by the Venerable Hedley Ringrose. Initially all enquiries should be directed towards to Sandie Brown in the Parish Office on 01666 826666 or office@malmesburyabbey.com.
The next Refresh event will be a Breakfast at Malmesbury Abbey on Saturday 25th March at 9.30am. We will be serving bacon rolls, pastries, fruit, yoghurts and, of course, teas and coffees. There is a cost of £6. This year we are looking at Jesus’ miracles and at the Breakfast Adele Carnegie will be giving a talk “The Miraculous Meal” from Mark 6: 35-44. We can cater for 30 people so it is important to book your place with Sandie 01666 826 666 or office@malmesburyabbey.com.
VICAR OF DIBLEY
M O T H E R I N G S U N D AY
Congratulations and thanks to the amazing cast, crew and production team of Malmesbury Fringe Theatre’s The Vicar of Dibley. A truly wonderful community event that raised £1754 towards the Abbey’s roof appeal. Thank you.
We will be celebrating Mothering Sunday in the Abbey by the giving of a small posy of flowers to each lady in the congregations. If you would like to help on the team preparing the posies please come to the Abbey on Friday 24th March at 9.30am. Likewise if you might be able to donate small flowers and/or greenery, it would be very much appreciated. Please contact Linda Sullivan or Jill Johnston if you need more information or to let them know that you can help.
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NOTICEBOARD N E I L L AT S O U T H M E A D H O S P I TA L After nearly 13 years at Malmesbury Abbey, the Revd Canon Neill Archer is moving on to a new area of ministry from Monday 13th March. Initially Neill will be on be on full-time attachment to the North Bristol NHS Trust, working at Southmead Hospital with Revd Brenda Dowie and her chaplaincy team. And then at a point a little later this year he will be looking to take a post as a chaplain at another hospital in the South West. Neill will be worshipping as a member of the congregation at Bristol Cathedral where he already sings as a tenor deputy, normally twice a week, in the Cathedral Choir. This coming Sunday March 12th, his final day in ministry in the group, he will be preaching at 10.30am and 4pm at the Abbey. All are welcome to join Neill for a quiet drink at The Old Bell between 6-8pm that evening.
NEW ADVENTURES FOR THE ROBERTSONS Rachel Robertson, one of our two ordinands in training at Trinity College Bristol, will be ordained in Hereford Cathedral on July 2nd. Rachel will then be a curate for two churches - one on the edge of Hereford, surrounded by schools, and one in a village, surrounded by fields. Please pray for Dan to find a fulfilling and suitable job, and for Catriona, David and Kirsty to make new friends.
REVDS ALICE & JAMES PETTIT After completing her curacy in the Diocese of Canterbury, the Revd Alice Petit has been licensed as Priest-in-Charge of St. Andrew's, Ham Common, Richmond. James will be looking after Caspar and Monty for now. Alice and James send their love and best wishes to all at the Abbey and would welcome visitors to the new home.
CONTAC T
ABBEY OFFICE Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-3pm 01666 826666 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
ABBEY CAFÉ Monday- Friday (normal) 9.30am-4pm Happy hour (drinks £1) from 9.30am-10.30am. café@malmesburyabbey.com
Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com MalmesburyAbbeyKitchen
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