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OUR VALUES Vicar’s Blog
Paperwork. Don’t you just love it? If Noah had had to do paperwork, and Health & Safety for that matter, the Ark would never have floated. Anyway I was filling out a form the other day that asked me for the values of Malmesbury Abbey. Look, I know that you are the perfect church, which in many ways simply reflects the Abbey leadership, but, just in case you have forgotten them, here is what I wrote: 1. Hospitality ‘Let all guests be received like Christ…let fitting honour be shown to all.' (The Rule of Benedict). At the Abbey you will encounter a great welcome team, a professionally led café and bookshop, a diverse culture of Sunday worship, teams that pray for healing on our streets, ongoing partnership with organisations such as BBC History & Gardening, Music for Autism, WOMAD & Wiltshire Council, regular Alpha courses for those
exploring the Christian faith, Little Stars welcoming 80-90 children and carers every Monday morning, and Malmesbury Abbey Skate, now in it’s 9th year, welcoming 600-700 children and families each February half term through the doors of the Abbey. The doors of the Abbey are open. 2. Stability ‘They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season.’ (Psalm 1:3) Abbey ministries rooted in this less glamorous Benedictine value are things like sound financial and property oversight, a commitment to applied biblical teaching, trained small group pastors who nurture prayer, study and fellowship in small communities, an excellent relationship with our local CE primary school, and above all a commitment to daily prayer at 9am. On May 25th 2016, St Aldhelm’s Day, we also launched The Community of
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St Aldhelm , a small intentional community gathered around a common Rule of Life and a commitment to prayer, community, holiness and mission. 3. Creativity ‘In the beginning God created.’ (Gen 1:1) Our annual Holy Week Festival says a lot about how our community embraces this value: jazz, blues, poetry, art, classical, drama, comedy, prayer, science forums, prayer labyrinths and cinema, all blended with a devotions centred on the cross of Christ and celebrations inspired by His resurrection. You’ll also encounter a Holiday at Home for the Elderly, the breathtaking beauty of our Advent & Christmas Carol Services, with a new comission from New York-based Nico Muhly this year, professional actors performing The Malmesbury Nativity, a Glow! Halloween party for kids, a Creative Response arts group, and Lifepath - working with Scripture Union and our local schools. Three values at the heart of the Abbey, which have their roots in the monastic tradition, the Bible, and the nature of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: July 17th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 18th 10am Little Stars TUES 19th 7pm WOMAD at the Abbey WED 20th 10.30am Communion THUR 21st 10am Malmesbury CE Primary Leavers’ Service 7pm Choir Practice nd FRI 22 10.30am Creative Response SAT 23rd 10am The Meeting Place NEXT SUNDAY: July 24th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 6.30pm Deanery Evensong with Archdeacon Christine ADVANCE DIARY July 25th Holiday at Home (URC) July 26th Holiday at Home (URC) July 28th 3pm, Songs of Praise
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As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ 41
‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’
Additional Reading: Colossians 1:15-28
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Read our Luke passage and then share together anything that particularly stood out from Sunday’s teaching and worship. 2. Discuss what you think Jesus, Mary and Martha might be thinking and feeling, as you go through the passage again verse by verse. 3. Mary 'sat at the Lord's feet'. What does this phrase mean and why was this bordering on revolutionary or scandalous in that culture? (See Acts 22:3 where Paul was educated 'at the feet' of Gamaliel). 4. When Martha was 'distracted' (v40), it implies that she was unnecessarily busy, drawn away from Jesus. Discuss how this might have resulted in a lack of intimacy with Jesus, resentment of Mary, and caused her to doubt that Jesus loved her. 5. Do you seem to relate to Mary or Martha the most? How is that you most often experience intimacy with Christ? (Prayer, Bible study, silence, worship etc.) Share a distraction or worry that might be affecting this.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 30 1 Samuel 14:24-46 Luke 23:13-25 Tuesday Psalm 36 1 Samuel 15:1-23 Luke 23:26-43 Wednesday Psalm 34 1 Samuel 16 Luke 23:44-56a Thursday Psalm 37 1 Samuel 17:1-30 Luke 23:56b-24:12 Mary Magdalene Psalm 42 Song of Songs 3:1-4 John 2:1-2, 11-18
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
JUNIOR CHURCH
D R AY C O T C E R N E
Junior Church groups are taking a break over August. However, a DVD will be provided during part of the 4pm service, this will be for primary school aged children. This will happen up the steps in The Parvis and a parent from each family is asked to stay with their children.
This Sunday, July 17th, at 6.30pm, Malmesbury Abbey Choir is singing Choral Evensong at St James’ Church, Draycot Cerne near Sutton Benger. You are very welcome to come along and support this event in a manor church that only has occasional services.
TV LICENCE
SMALL GROUPS
A brief reminder that the Abbey doesn’t have a TV license. So, if the vicar’s sermon is so boring that you are compelled to reach for your phone or i-Pad, can we ask you not to watch live TV. Maybe watch cats doing interesting things on YouTube instead?
Our Small Groups are encouraged to have a lighter summer and perhaps stop meeting in August or have socials if that suits your members. There will be a meeting for all Small Group pastors with Neill in the Parish Office from 8pm-9.15pm on Monday 12th September. If you would like to be placed in a Small Group please make sure Neill has your details before this meeting.
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NOTICEBOARD P R AY E R S F O R J A N E T PA R K E Our next meeting to pray for Janet will be held in the Parish Office on Saturday 30th July at 10am. Come and join us as we pray for Janet’s ministry in her final year serving the Lord in Zambia.
LUKE’S GO SPEL Our teaching series at the Abbey, continues in the gospel of Luke across the summer months: July 17th July 24th July 31st Aug 7th Aug 14th Aug 21st Aug 28th Sept 4th Sept 11th Sept 18th Sept 25th
Mary & Martha (Luke 10:38-end) The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-13) The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) Treasures in Heaven (Luke 12:32-40) Not peace, but division (Luke 12:49-56) Healing on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17) The Wedding Feast (Luke 14:7-14) The Lost Sheep & Coin (Luke 15:1-10) The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32 The Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-13) The Rich Man & Lazarus (Luke 16:19-end)
T I M E F O R C H AT Time for Chat will be taking a rest during the summer and will recommence on Thursday 8th September 2016.
S ON S OF P I TC H ES CON C E R T Hope Church are hosting the winners of the BBC Naked Choir competition, Sons of Pitches, at Malmesbury School on August 29th from 6.15pm. Tickets at https://thehopechurch.eventbrite.co.uk/?discount=HOPE
CONTAC T
ABBEY OFFICE
ABBEY KITCHEN
Monday Closed Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-3pm
Monday- Saturday (normal) 9.30am-4pm
01666 826666 sandie@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
Happy hour (drinks £1) from 9.30am-10.30am. dan@malmesburyabbey.com
Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
MalmesburyAbbeyCafe
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