17TH APRIL 2016
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ADMINISTRATION Vicar’s Blog
‘The book after John’s Gospel in the New Testament could just as easily be described as The Administration of the Apostles. Discuss.’ Well, I suppose, after Jesus shares his vision, there are some pretty specific travel arrangements in Acts 1:8 which the early church takes quite seriously. But perhaps the first juicy bit of administration occurs in Acts 1:26 when they elect a replacement for Judas Iscariot by drawing lots. Rather odd, actually. We’d vote. And then the end of Acts 4 and the beginning of Acts 5 pays attention to church finances and property, and focuses on the need for generosity, fairness and integrity in the way we handle money and possessions. Aaaah! In Acts 6:1-6 the church gathers to make some appointments. (We should do that
sometime.) Acts 6:2 looks a little like a 1st century Role Description and Acts 6:3 a Person Specification – which sadly neglects equal opportunities legislation. Oh, and then they pray and lay on hands. Prayer, and administration. And then the church grows. Perhaps God likes healthy organisation? For a few chapters Acts goes disappointingly quiet on administration. Puh! But thankfully Acts 13:1-3 has a satisfying meeting and appointments process, and then Acts 13:4 has a nice detail of Barnabas & Saul’s travel plans. Plenty of itineraries in Acts. However Acts 15 is utterly climactic. Not only is Acts 15:6-21 the minutes of an entire Church Council meeting, Acts 15:22-35 is the important matter of Correspondence. (See also St Paul’s letter to…)
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: April 17th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church
In conclusion, Luke’s second scroll is rightly known as the Acts of the Apostles. It is Spirit-breathed, world-changing, miraculous, and presents the 1st Century Church as an inspiration to the churches that followed it. But in Acts we are looking at a Spirit-led community that also had elections, appointments, council meetings, financial arrangements, governance, correspondence, responsibilities, vision and leadership and saw God working in it and through it. Vision Sunday 2016, next Sunday from 10.30am. Worship, prayer, elections, finance, vision, food, bouncy castles*, reports. Don’t miss it. Bring a picnic.
*unbiblical
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 18th 10am Little Stars WED 20th 10.30am Communion THUR 21st 10.30am Time for Chat 6.45pm Choir Practice rd SAT 23 10am The Meeting Place NEXT SUNDAY: April 24th 10.30am Coffee 11am Festival Communion 12.30pm Picnic Lunch 2pm Annual Meeting (Agenda on back cover) 4pm Scouts & Guides Service 6.30pm Choral Evensong ADVANCE DIARY 5th May Ascension Day Sung Eucharist (7.30pm) th 10 May Glory! 20th May & Music in Country 21st May Churches 25th May Community of St Aldhelm launches
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Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered round him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ 25
Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.’
Additional Reading: Acts 9:36-end
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Read John 10:22-30. Then ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about the passage as you wait for one minute in silence. 2. Repeat again, but this time, read the passage in a different translation, and during the minute’s silence think about just one verse or section that stood out to you. Share with each other. 3. 'My sheep listen to my voice…' (v27). How can we hear God’s voice today? Use a personal example of God speaking to you in the past month. 4. '…I know them and they follow me' (v27). What does it mean to you to follow Jesus? Can you think of lifestyle, behaviours or priorities in your life that have changed as a result of following Jesus? 5. What encouragement can you glean from verse 28? 6. Share one instruction or aspect of following Jesus that you find challenging and then pray for one another.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 103 Exodus 32:1-14 Luke 2:4-end Tuesday Psalm 139 Exodus 32:15-34 Luke 3:1-14 Wednesday Psalm 135 Exodus 33 Luke 3:15-22 Thursday Psalm 118 Exodus 34:1-10, 27-end Luke 4:1-13 Friday Psalm 33 Exodus 35:20-36:7 Luke 4:14-30
OPEN DOORS Congratulations to our youth Bible study, Deeper, who raised £335 for Open Doors last weekend. The World Watch List 2016 is now available.
MINISTRY REPORTS
C H U R C H WAR D E N
As part of our Annual Meeting on Vision Sunday, a number of short reports on the ministry of the Abbey have been prepared. It can’t cover everything that the Abbey community does but it does give us an idea of our last year together. The reports will appear on issuu.com/malmesburyabbey early next week, and printed copies will arrive in the Abbey on Wednesday.
Lesley Wilson has served wonderfully and faithfully as our Abbey 4pm Churchwarden for the last 4 years. She now feels it is the right time to step aside, so if you worship at 4pm and feel that sharing the oversight of the 4pm Christian community with Neill and the team might be what God is calling you to please contact Neill or our 10.30am churchwarden, Diana Crowe, for a chat in the next few days.
1,400 RAILINGS
MEMBERSHIP
On Saturday April 30th, starting at 8.30am, a team of adults, drawn mainly from Neill’s basketball playing fraternity, will be attempting to paint all the Abbey railings. 1,400 of them. Lots of coffee, bacon rolls and black paint. We could do with 20+ volunteers drawn from the Abbey congregations too. Can you contact james.palser@natwest.com to put your name down for the team and to get further instructions.
In preparation for the Annual Meeting next Sunday, the current Church Electoral Roll (our membership list) will be at the back of the Abbey so that you can check that your details are correct. If your details do not appear on the list and the Abbey is your regular place of worship then please complete a blank form and leave it in the folder or post to the Parish Office. Many thanks to the 30 people who did this last week.
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PCC 2016-2017 The Abbey’s PCC (Parochial Church Council) is the legally constituted body that works with the Vicar and Ministry Team to oversee the mission and ministry of the church. From next Sunday the PCC will be made up as follows: Ex-officio Members Revd Canon Neill Archer (Chair) Revd John Monaghan Revd Linda Sullivan
Churchwardens Diana Crowe (to be re-elected) 1 to be elected Deanery Synod Representatives (with 1 year to serve) Geoff Canning (Secretary) Jane Henderson Chris Jager John Sunderland (Vice Chair & Property Oversight) Elected Parochial Church Council
With 3 years to serve 3 to be elected With 2 years to serve James Cole Tom Hunton Alan McAdam (Treasurer & Financial Oversight) With 1 year to serve Sue Kirby Sam Saunders Dave Richards We will be filling the vacancies for our 4pm Churchwarden and 3 new PCC Members at our 2pm Annual Meeting on Sunday April 24th. Please complete the paperwork at the back of the Abbey and speak to Neill if you wish to put your name forward for election.
VISION SUNDAY 10.30am Coffee 11am Festival Communion & Vicar’s Report 12.30pm Picnic Lunch & Bouncy Castle 2pm
ABBEY OFFICE
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Annual Meeting - Sunday 24th April
ABBEY KITCHEN
Opening Prayer Apologies (please write names on sheet) Appointment of Tellers (to count votes if necessary) Election of Churchwardens (2) Nomination of Pro-warden for St John the Baptist, Brokenborough Election of PCC Members (3 to serve for 3 years) Appointment of Sidespersons & Welcome Teams Appointment of Independent Examiner Appointment of Churches Together Representatives (4) Questions to the printed Ministry Reports* (including PCC, Churchwardens, Deanery Synod, ) Financial Report Questions to the Financial Report* Electoral Roll (membership) update A.O.B. (Please submit to PCC Secretary before Friday 22nd April) Provisional Date for Next Annual Meeting (Sunday April 30th 2017 at 2pm) Closing Prayer (2.45pm) *please submit questions before the meeting begins if possible
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