‘Be strong, do not fear, your God will come.’
15/12/13 MALMESBURY ABBEY
Vicar’s blog: Take 2 One question I have been asked consistently in the last month is this: ‘will The Malmesbury Nativity be the same as last year?’ I am really quite proud of myself; at no point have I answered ‘actually, it’s going to be twins this year.’ A longer and more helpful answer follows. Last year we wanted a new mix. Carols that had a live band and nodded in the direction of the contemporary folk rock; actors who were trained actors, not vicars pretending; a set that brought everybody close to the action, rather have people 20 rows back straining to see; and something really ‘Malmesbury’ not a generic Christmas play. So we created a script with Aldhelm, William, Eilmer and Hannah Twynnoy as the story tellers—a play within a play. But what we also really wanted was the birth of Christ from the Bible; not The Snowman's Christmas Miracle or What the Donkey saw in the Manger One Starlit Night with the Church Mouse.
Our challenge was to take the birth narratives of the gospels of Luke and Matthew, word for word, NRSV, not a word changed or added, and bring them to life in such a way that over 1000 people wouldn’t realise that they had just been listening in to the Bible. This also meant that Simeon’s prophecy of Mary’s anguish (Luke 2:35) turned up before the Magi, and put the agony of the cross into the nativity story with subtlety, as Luke intended. So is it different this year? No; St Matthew and St Luke seem pretty happy with their scripts and scenes 3-6 remain the same. And although we thought of introducing King Athelstan, we’re holding him back for a future year. So is it different this year? Yes. The beginning and ending are not the same and we’ve added a new song. For those of you who remember last year, there has been some big change in the Old Man’s life and he won’t be listening to Sport’s report. You’ll just have to wait and see. Tickets are still available for 4 of the 6 performances. Young children are particularly welcome to come dressed as a shepherd ,angel, magi, Mary or Joseph. neillarcher.blogspot.co.uk
Abbey Diary SERVICES TODAY: ADVENT 3 8am 10.30am 4pm
BCP Communion Holy Communion Informal Worship, Junior Church & Trax
EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 16th 10.30am Primary School Christmas Service 2pm Small Group Taster 8pm Baptism Preparation in the Parish Office WED 18th 10.30am Holy Communion 7pm Malmesbury School Carol Service THUR 19th 7pm Choir Practice SAT 21st 10am Healing in the Streets 4pm Malmesbury Nativity 7pm Malmesbury Nativity NEXT SUNDAY: ADVENT 4 8am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm The Malmesbury Nativity 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight ADVANCE ABBEY DIARY Christmas Eve
2pm, 4pm & 6pm, The Malmesbury Nativity 11.30pm Midnight Holy Communion
Christmas Day
8am BCP Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration
Isaiah 35:1-10 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendour of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendour of our God. 3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; 4 say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’ 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. 8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Additional Reading: Matthew 11:2-11 2
When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ 4 Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.’ 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: ‘“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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Last week Neill gave us the wonderful image of children in the back of the car asking “Are we there yet?” Do you often think about the 'there' that we are on our way to? Isaiah 35 describes various images or metaphors of what 'there' will be like, can you describe a metaphor that helps you understand/digest what is in store for us? The hope of our eternal destination is one of the many attractive things about the Gospel; do you talk about it with people who don't have this hope? Alice talked about how we can strengthen each other by talking about what difference our faith makes in the day to day and the long term. Share an experience of the difference your faith has made recently.
daily readings MONDAY Isaiah 6 Luke 1:1-25
TUESDAY Isaiah 7 Luke 1:26-38
WEDNESDAY Isaiah 11 Luke 1:39-56
THURSDAY Isaiah 60 Luke 1:57-66
FRIDAY Isaiah 61 Luke 1:67-80
Malmesbury Abbey Skate 2014 Hi lovely people of Malmesbury Abbey. February is fast approaching and it’s nearly time for Abbey Skate. The team have begun planning and we need your help. Are you free during the week of 17th -21st Feb 2014 during half term? We need volunteers for set up, catering, accommodation and supervision; for more details and to sign up speak to Sarah McGrory, sarah@malmesburyabbey.com 07767744167 or Clare Cork at the Abbey Cafe. This is a great time to help show the young people of Malmesbury how cool God is and how much He and we love them. Why not get on board (excuse the pun!) and join in. It's a fun, exciting and worthwhile opportunity to serve the young people of Malmesbury.
Baptisms in the Pool—Jan 5th 2014 On Sunday January 5th 2014 at 4pm we will be holding our annual service of Baptism at the Activity Zone. Worship, testimony and prayer in the sports hall at 4pm, baptisms in the pool at 5pm, followed by our Junior Church pool party and food and drinks together. If you would like to be baptised in the pool, or possibly reaffirm an earlier baptism, please contact Neill or John and e-mail office@malmesburyabbey.com. Baptism preparation will take place on December 16th at 8pm in the Parish Office. (Those wishing to be baptised later in the year should put Saturday 13th September into their diary when it is looking likely that the Archbishop of Canterbury will be baptising in a local river.)
Churches Together Vouchers Thanks to everyone who very generously contributed towards the Christmas Vouchers this year in whatever way – together we raised a marvellous £2,800 and have been able to help nearly 70 local families again. A great example of the church in action in our community!
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols It’s a 150 mile drive, which on a really good day will take you over 3 hours; driving to King’s College, Cambridge, that is. Or you can come to Malmesbury Abbey at 6.30pm on December 22nd for our own Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight. Nine passages of scripture, culminating in John 1, beautiful anthems from the choir and the arrival of Christmas Carols in our worship. Please arrive early to get a seat.
Sunday 22nd December 6.30pm Carols by Candlelight, 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
Champagne & Presents Can we please remind you to bring your bottles of champagne and sparkling wine to the 11am Christmas Day Family Celebration at the Abbey. After the service we normally stand around and share our bubbly for an hour. We also love it when people wear or bring Christmas to this service. Remember to arrive early if you’d like a seat—last year over 400 people worshipped at this service.
Christmas Closures Malmesbury Abbey and the Abbey Bookshop are closed from 12 noon on Christmas Eve and reopen on January 2nd at 10am. The Abbey Café is closed from December 24th and reopens Monday January 6th. The Abbey office is closed from Dec 24th and reopens January 3rd.
12th CENTURY BEAUTY 21st CENTURY CHURCH