14THJUNE 2015
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IRRESISTIBLE Vicar’s Blog
Well, I am currently planning Advent & Christmas, but is that really sufficient reason to put a picture from The Malmesbury Nativity on the front cover? Probably not. But with Riding Lights Roughshod bringing their collaboration with Open Doors, Irresistible, to the Abbey next Friday night, I‘ve been thinking a little about the work of the Holy Spirit through drama and music, beauty and creativity. What is actually happening spiritually when actors get up on the stage on Friday, and sing their songs, and bring the issues that persecuted Christians are facing to life through a script, not a sermon. When we studied Revelation together as a church, you may have spotted one of the signs of the absence of God and his kingdom: ‘The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again.’ (Rev 18:22) Babylon has no
soundtrack. Talking about the Gifts of the Spirit last week I didn’t have time to point out an interesting guy, Bezalel, son of Uri, of whom the Lord says ‘I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts – to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.’ (Ex 31:3) Perhaps better known is the story of David ministering to Saul on the harp and bringing deliverance from an evil spirit in 1 Sam 16:23. For me, we don’t have to look beyond Bezalel’s crafting of the Ark of the Covenant or David’s performance to see God’s Kingdom coming. They themselves are it. As I sat in the Abbey, barely breathing, and listened to Olivier Messaien’s Quartet for the End of Time on Maundy Thursday, I wasn’t
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looking at a great big signpost pointing to the Kingdom of God, over there, way off in the distance. The worship of Christ was manifest within me, within others in that moment. The work of the Spirit was, well, irresistible. So as we encounter the revolutionary theatre of Roughshod’s ‘Irresistible ‘, let’s by all means be informed and entertained, laugh and cry, but let’s also welcome the holy presence of God. Your kingdom come.
Roughshod Theatre Company ‘Irresistible’ Malmesbury Abbey Friday 19th June at 7.30pm Tickets £7 & £3(students)
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: June 14th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 6.30pm Choral Evensong with prayers for the new Mayor of Malmesbury THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 16th 9.30am Women Alive! WED 17th 10.30am Communion THUR 18th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice th FRI 19 1pm Wedding 7.30pm Riding Lights th SAT 20 10am The Meeting Place 7.30pm MAMS Concert NEXT SUNDAY: June 21st 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship ADVANCE June 23rd Glory! Prayer Meeting June 29th Lifepath project June 30th Lifepath project July 5th Ordination as priest of Revd Linda Sullivan
G A L AT I A N S 5: 1 6 - 2 6 16
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Additional Reading: Matthew 7:15-20
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Read Galatians 5:15-26. Take some time to think of moments in the New Testament when the life of Christ or one of his followers displayed a particular fruit of the Spirit. You are looking for nine answers! 2. There was serious conflict in the Galatian church over how much Christians needed to observe the Jewish law. How do we as Christians best show ‘fruit’, not dissension or faction, when we strongly disagree with one another? 3. Working individually or in pairs list the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ in verses 22 and 23. Consider each, and write down how your life has demonstrated each fruit in the last few weeks. Then write down how might you have tackled something differently if you were trying more consciously to show the fruit? 4. In pairs or as a group pray for forgiveness fro when you have failed to show the fruit of the Spirit and pray for the spirit’s help to be more ‘fruitful’ in the future.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 44 Ezra 1 Romans 9:1-18 Tuesday Psalm 48 Ezra 3 Romans 9:19-end Wednesday Psalm 119:57-80 Ezra 4:1-5 Romans 10:1-10 Thursday Psalm 57 Ezra 4:7-end Romans 10:11-end Friday Psalm 51 Ezra 5 Romans 11:1-12
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
Y O U T H FA R M D AY The Youth Team will be running a day of fun activities at Roberts Berry Farm on the 27th June from 4pm to 9pm for everyone in school years 6 to 13. There will be a BBQ and lots of outdoor games and activities. The cost is £5 per person. Please email Andrew Beebee by the 21st June to book a place or to find out more.
CHRISTIAN AID
SA FE G UA RDI NG
This year has seen an incredible response from the people of Malmesbury to Christian Aid week, with aan increase in giving from £6,563 in 2014 to £7,659 this year. Our thanks to all who gave, collected, washed cars, served soup or baked cakes, and particularly to Dick Gray, from our 9am congregation, who served brilliantly as Christian Aid Committee Chair this year.
Malmesbury Abbey takes the safeguarding of our young people very seriously and last month we updated our Safeguarding Policy. If you would like a copy please email andrew@malmesburyabbey.com. Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Jill Johnston and she is available to talk to anyone, young or old, who is worried about a young person on 01666 824812 or safeguarding@ malmesburyabbey.com.
12t h CE N TU RY B E AU T Y 21st CE NTU RY CHU R CH
NOTICEBOARD C A F É U P D AT E With departure of the wonderful and lovely Clare Cork on Friday June 19th, a number of changes are taking place in the Abbey staffing and vision. Dan Wyatt, from our 4pm congregation, is now in post as Catering Consultant to the Abbey and is working 10 hours a week to lead the café through this time of transition. Dan has worked as Head Chef at award winning gastro pubs and now works as Head Chef at the Harnhill Centre for Christian Healing. He is now joined by Holly Bird as Café Supervisor who will be working mornings in the Café to compliment her afternoon role as Asst Bookshop Manager. We are still looking for one more half-time Café Supervisor to join the team (see below) and Dan will shortly be spending time with our amazing café volunteers getting to know them and training them for the season ahead.
CAFÉ SUPERVISOR Malmesbury Abbey Café is looking to appoint a second half-time Café Supervisor. You will be an energetic, flexible and enthusiastic person with great people skills and totally committed to the Abbey ethos and community. Key to this new role will be managing and supporting volunteers, food preparation to a high standard, stock ordering and a massive smile for our 65,000 visitors. Approximately 21 hours a week, mainly Saturday and afternoons, reporting to the Catering Consultant or Manager. Please e-mail dan@malmesburyabbey.com for an informal conversation or leave your details at the Parish Office.
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
breathe May 3rd May 10th May 17th May 24th May 31st June 7th June 14th June 21st June 28th
The Spirit & the Word of God (Acts 8:26-40) Receiving the Spirit (Acts 10:44-48) The Spirit & the World (Acts 1:1-11) The Power of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-21) The Community of the Spirit (Acts 2:38-47) The Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-13) The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26) Worship in Spirit & in Truth (John 4:19-26) The Work of the Spirit (Acts 13:1-12)
Talks available online shortly.