16TH NOVEMBER 2014
EAT THIS BOOK Vicar’s Blog
‘Christians feed on Scripture. Holy Scripture nurtures the holy communion as food nurtures the human body. Christians don’t simply learn or study or use Scripture; we assimilate it, take it into our lives.’ So writes Eugene Peterson in his book ‘Eat this book’, a phrase based on the words of an angel in Revelation 10:9. Peterson’s heart, like mine, is that the local church should be gathered around a book, share bread and wine, and be lifted up in worship of God. Transformation, not information. This year has been a good year in the book together as we’ve drunk deeply from John’s writing and persevered gladly through the book of Revelation. I loved it. But you may have noticed that we’ve left John behind as Advent approaches. So this is a guide to what lies ahead for us as we eat that book.
One thing you may not know is that up and down the nation the Church of England has a set of Bible readings for use in church on a Sunday. (In fact it provides the daily readings that you find each week in this News Sheet too.) At a number of times of the year we go with the flow, or at least a modified flow, particularly around the major Christian festivals. At other times we will run wild and free as a church (OK, a bit over the top) and tackle a particular book or theme. See if you can guess which is which. As we prepare for Advent Sunday on November 30th we find ourselves in Matthew 24 & 25; parables and signs of the end of the age. Then this year in Advent we’re actually going to look at Matthew’s account of the Nativity for three weeks. A chance for our preaching team to teach on the significance of
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: November 16th 8am 10.30am 4pm 6pm Christmas before St Luke takes over and we are knee deep in sprouts and turkey. Bliss. In the New Year we normally study a New Testament letter for a couple of months, a season of reorientation for the year ahead. In 2015 we’ll begin with a series on the letter to the Hebrews, which takes a profound look at the nature of the Son of God and a long hard look at some very real discipleship issues. In Lent our series from the gospels, Community of the Cross, will help us reflect on the suffering and sacrifice at the very heart of our faith. After Easter our series from the book of Acts, Community of the Resurrection, will unsurprisingly ask what it means to be a church empowered and transformed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And if I had more space I’d tell you about the summer series on the Wisdom lit-
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid The Mix
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 18th 7.30pm Glory! WED 19th 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Alpha THUR 20th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 22nd 10am The Meeting Place
NEXT SUNDAY: November 23rd 8am 10.30am 4pm
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid
ADVANCE Nov 25th Refresh! Nov 30th Advent Carol Service Advent & Christmas diary on the back page and in the brochure. Jan 4th Jan 20th
Baptisms at the pool Glory! Prayer meeting
MAT T H E W 2 5 : 1 4 - 3 0 14
‘Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and
entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19
‘After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts
with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.” 21 ‘His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” 22 ‘The man with two bags of gold also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two bags of gold: see, I have gained two more.” 23 ‘His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” 24
‘Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. “Master,” he said, “I
knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” 26 ‘His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 ‘“So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Additional Reading: Zephaniah 1:7,12-end
DISCIPLESHIP 1. For 5 minutes remind yourselves as to what was being said about the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1-13) 2. Now read this week’s passage from Matthew 25, the Parable of the Talents and remind each other of last Sunday’s teaching. 3. What can we learn from the different amounts of gold given to the three servants? 4. What do the different responses from the three men reveal about their relationship with a) gold, and b) the master? 5. What do verses 28 and 29 reveal about God? 6. Some commentators believe that although Matthew places this parable in his chapter 25 it is not really about the ‘coming of the Son of Man’ (see Mt 24:37). How does the parable work without that connection made?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 71 Isaiah 9:8-10:4 Matthew 7:1-12 Tuesday Psalm 67 Isaiah 10:5-19 Matthew 7:13-end Wednesday Psalm 73 Isaiah 10:20-32 Matthew 8:1-13 Thursday Psalm 76 Isaiah 10:33-11:9 Matthew 8:14-22 Friday Psalm 77 Isaiah 11:10-12:6 Matthew 8:23-end
GIVING To regularly support the mission and worship of the Abbey with your Christian giving please contact Alan McAdam at alan@malmesburyabbey.com
G LO R Y !
BROCHURES
This Tuesday at 7.30pm please prioritise coming to the Abbey at 7.30pm for our Glory! prayer meeting. A time of extended contemporary worship and prayer together including a time to seek God and to intercede for our mission and worship this coming Advent & Christmas.
Our Advent & Christmas Brochure is now available to view online at issuu.com/malmesburyabbey. As part of our commitment to hospitality and welcome we will also be delivering a print copy to every household in Malmesbury, inviting the entire community to join us and celebrate the birth of Christ. On Sunday 23rd November could you please take a bundle of brochures and deliver them in the following 48 hours if possible.
IMMERSION
ADVENT CAROLS
On Sunday 4th January at 4pm there will be a service at the Activity Zone followed by baptisms in the pool and a Junior Church pool party. If you would like to be baptised or reaffirm an earlier baptism, or would like a conversation about it, please contact Revd John Monaghan.
Two early events this Advent & Christmas to invite your neighbours and colleagues to. The Abbey Advent Carol Service on Sunday 30th November at 6.30pm is a truly wonderful candlelit act of worship with Bible readings and inspiring music. Very much something you could invite anybody too. And for those for whom choral music isn’t their thing, Friday 5th December at 7.30pm will be a wonderful acoustic evening with Gareth Davies-Jones on guitar and a glass of mulled wine.
NOTICEBOARD N E W C H I L D R E N ’ S A N D YO U T H M I N I S T E R We are delighted to announce that Andrew Beebee will be joining the staff of Malmesbury Abbey, early next year, as our new Children’s & Youth Minister. Andrew (30) and his wife Jude, an artist, will be moving to Malmesbury in the New Year, and Andrew will be commissioned for ministry at the 4pm service on Sunday February 1st, where the preacher will be the Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Mike Hill. After discipleship training with YWAM, Andrew read Theology at the University of Durham and then qualified as a teacher at the University of Reading. He is currently Children’s Minister at St James’ Church, Muswell Hill, in London, overseeing their Promiseland ministry for Reception to Year 6 children. He leads a team of 50 volunteers working with up to 150 children on a Sunday and mentors teenagers from the church as they grow in ministry and leadership in his department. Please pray for Andrew & Jude as they prepare for their move and a new chapter in life and ministry.
SERVICES OF THANKSGIVING We give thanks to God for the lives of Michael Tombs and Joyce Mellowes who have been called to be with their Lord. There will be a Service of Thanksgiving at the Abbey for the life of Michael on Tuesday 18th November at 3pm led by Revd Neill Archer and for Joyce on Thursday 4th December at 2pm led by Revd Bob Hyatt. All are invited to attend.
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
2 0 1 4 A D VE N T & C HR I S T MA S D I A RY Nov 30th
Advent Sunday, 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm All-age Communion
Dec 5th
6.30pm Advent Carol Service by Candlelight 7.30pm Acoustic Nine Lessons—Gareth Davies-Jones
Dec 6th Dec 7th
7.30pm Malmesbury Community Choir Concert 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion
Dec 12th Dec 13th
4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church Malmesbury CE Primary School Christmas Service at 10.30am 6-9pm Late Night Shopping—open for mince pies etc Malmesbury Singers Concert at 7.30pm
Dec 14th
8am & 10.30am Holy Communion, 4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church
Dec 17th Dec 20th Dec 21st
Malmesbury School Carol Service at 7.30pm The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm & 7pm) 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion 3pm The Christmas Story for Young Children 6.30pm Service of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm) The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm & 6pm) 11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11.15pm) 8am BCP Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration 12 noon Coffee & Champagne (bring a bottle!)
Dec 23rd Christmas Eve Christmas Day