13TH DECEMBER 2015
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NINE LESSONS Vicar’s Blog
All over our nation services of Nine Lessons and Carols are popping up; it’s the time of year apparently. They are a relatively recent invention, designed by Bishop Edward Benson in late 19th century Cornwall to get drinking men out of the pubs and into Truro Cathedral on Christmas Eve. You might ask the question why on earth didn’t he simply go to the pub and talk about the birth of Christ there; nevertheless I am grateful for his initiation and the later refinement by King’s College, Cambridge, which is the model for our services at the Abbey. We’re having two Nine Lessons this year: December 19th & 20th, both at 6.30pm. (As I write there are plenty of free tickets left for the 19th but only about 30 for the 20th, which looks like being standing room only.) This year not will not be that different from last year: hundreds of
candles, beautiful anthems from the choir, including a joyous piece from JS Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, an utterly brilliant sermon from the vicar, (must remember to download,) and the chance to belt out Hark the Herald and O come all ye faithful. Excellent. However there will be a subtle tweak. Our nine lessons themselves have been slightly remodeled, bringing something unique to SN16 9LC. Seven lessons are exactly the same. Micah’s ancient prophecy of the birth at Bethlehem and Isaiah’s announcement that a child will be born to ‘a people walking in darkness’ are both still there. We are of course keeping the three readings from Luke’s gospel recording Gabriel’s visitation, the Birth and the fieldabiding Shepherds. And we also need the Magi with their Christmas presents from Matthew. And the final 9th Lesson, read from the centre of the
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: December 13th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church
Abbey, has to be the mystery and majesty of John 1 - In the beginning was the Word. But two traditional Genesis readings have given way to make space for a small portion of Hebrews 1 and a fourth reading from Luke. Luke 2:21-35 becomes our 7th reading. As Jesus is presented in the temple on the eighth day of his life, to the astonishment of his parents an old man (Latin: ‘Senex’) named Simeon, prophesies that Jesus is the Messiah and that a sword will pierce Mary’s soul. He sees the shadow of the cross even in Christ’s infancy. And listen in with fresh ears as we begin our service with Hebrews 1. In these days God has spoken to humanity through his Son. Christ, the radiance of His glory, the exact representation of His being, the sustainer of all things, is born to us.
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer WED 16th 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Malmesbury School Carol Service THUR 17th 10am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 19th 10am The Meeting Place 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 1
NEXT SUNDAY: December 20th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 3pm The Puppet Nativity 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 2 ADVANCE Dec 23rd 7pm The Malmesbury Nativity Christmas 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, The Eve Malmesbury Nativity
ZEPHANIAH 3:14-20 14
Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. 16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, ‘Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. 17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.’ 18 ‘I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you. 19 At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honour in every land where they have suffered shame. 20 At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,’ says the Lord.
Additional Reading: Luke 3:7-18
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Share together your experience of God in all our Advent worship so far; include your reflections on the James McVinnie organ recital and the David Hoyle art lecture. 2. Read the Zephaniah passage together and share any insights that you gained from last Sunday’s teaching. 3. This psalm of great joy commands God’s people to sing, shout and rejoice. Where and why? 4. What names, titles or characteristics of God are depicted in this passage? Why might this passage be suitable for the seasons of Advent or Christmas? 5. What spiritual disciplines might we engage with if we are struggling personally with ‘limp hands?’ 6. Pray together for an encounter with God, for spiritual growth and for fruitfulness in our mission as a church this Advent & Christmas.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 40 Isaiah 38:1-8, 21, 22 Matthew 16:13-end Tuesday Psalm 70 Isaiah 38:9-20 Matthew 17:1-13 Wednesday Psalm 75 Isaiah 39 Matthew 17:14-21 Thursday Psalm 76 Zephaniah 1:1-2:3 Matthew 17:22-end Friday Psalm 98 Zephaniah 3:1-13 Matthew 18:1-20
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
N E W Y E A R ’ S D AY
E - M A I L M E LT D O W N
If the weather is fine, you are invited to arrive at 2pm at the Vicarage on New Year’s Day. Bring cake and wellies. We will do the Malmesbury River Walk together, at a pace suitable to a vicar, and then gather for beverages and cake around an open fire. DVD provided for children.
Sandie’s computer in the Parish Office sadly left us for a better place last week, taking with it her up-to-date e-mail list. If you didn’t get your usual Friday e-mail from her could you contact her at office@malmesburyabbey.com to get yourself reconnected. Many thanks.
If the weather is really lousy we’ll give it a miss.
STOCKING FILLER
GLO RY ! 20 16
In the first half of 2016 the teaching at Malmesbury Abbey will be focussing mainly on Luke’s Gospel, with additional passages from the Acts of the Apostles (also by Luke) incorporated after Easter. The Abbey Bookshop is now stocking Tom Wright’s Luke for Everyone and Acts for Everyone as a devotional and study resource you may wish to buy (and wrap?) and use.
For your 2016 diary the dates of our Glory! praise and prayer meetings in 2016: Jan 12th, Feb 9th, Mar 16th, April 12th, May 10th, June 14th, July 12th, Sep 13th, Oct 11th, Nov 15th. All Tuesdays from 7.30pm-9pm, except March 16th, which is a Wednesday, and a Late-Night Glory! on the Labyrinth before Holy Week. Small Group Pastors, please schedule your small group meetings to prioritise Glory!
12t h CE N TU RY B E AU T Y 2 1st CE NTU RY CHU R CH
NOTICEBOARD C H A M PA G N E Arrive early for our 11am Family Celebration on Christmas Day if you want a seat. Don’t forget to wear Christmas clothing if possible and to bring along presents for John and Pete to meet. And don’t forget to bring a bottle of champagne for the party afterwards.
S U N D AY 2 7 t h D E C E M B E R On Sunday 27th December we will not be having our normal pattern of services at the Abbey. There will however be a simple service of Holy Communion at 11am, led by the Revd Peter Yacomeni. All are very welcome from all our congregations.
P O O L PA R T Y On Sunday 3rd January at 4pm our service will be a time of celebration and teaching in the Sports Hall at the Activity Zone followed by a Junior Church pool party from 5pm. Please bring tasty food and nibbles to share afterwards in a side room.
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
ABBEY ADVEN T & CH RI STMAS D IARY 20 15 Sun 13th Dec
Wed 16th Dec Sat 19th Dec Sun 20th Dec
Wed 23rd Dec
ADVENT III 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 7.30pm Malmesbury School Carol Service 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 1 ADVENT IV 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 3pm The Puppet Nativity for younger children 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 2 7pm The Malmesbury Nativity
Thurs 24th Dec CHRISTMAS EVE 1pm, 3pm & 5pm The Malmesbury Nativity 11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11.15pm) Fri 25th Dec
CHRISTMAS DAY 9am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration 12 noon Coffee & Champagne (bring a bottle)