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HOSPITALIT Y Vicar’s Blog
Hospitality, Creativity, and Stability. As we work together to build a 21st Century Christian community right in the middle of a truly inspiring 12th Century Abbey, (with a bit of a dodgy roof and heroic utility bills,) these three key values continue to inform everything we do. They are each found in some way in the monastic tradition that preceded us on this site, they are of course biblical, but they have their origins in the nature of God: the Father who relentlessly loves us and welcomes us, the Spirit who breathes life and order and beauty in Creation, and the Son who is our Rock, our Living Word, our Salvation. This weekend it is hospitality that rather takes us over. No sooner have we shoved the BBC History Weekend out the back door than our kitchen in the South Aisle is fired up, and the Abbey is turned into a giant monks’
refectory, so that our congregations will not only worship together on Sunday at 10.30pm and 4pm but also share food together, really wonderful food, after the services. (More details on the inside back cover.) It is said that in a monastery the kitchen table was never far from the altar. Two holy tables, each meal holy, bread shared, Christ present at both; and the Rule of Benedict rather confirms that. Chapter 31 indicates that the Cellarer should be a holy man, and his kitchen utensils considered sacred. Chapter 35 exhorts everybody to work in the kitchen and to (literally) wash the feet of the community. Chapter 39 gets specific about cooked meats, fruit and vegetables; Chapter 40 about the portion of wine and the perils of drunkenness. Chapter 41 relates meal times to prayer times, a great rhythm for life, and Chapter 43 warns of the
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: October 18th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion & Church Lunch 4pm Informal Worship with Baptisms, Junior Church, Wave & Church Supper
punishment for being late for either. Chapter 49 is an exhortation to abstinence in Lent that increases ‘spiritual longing’ and Chapter 56 clarifies who might have the honour of sitting at the Abbot’s table. What a palaver, you might say; quite a kerfuffle even. But this is Benedict’s point: community matters and it takes work to get it right. And we will struggle to justify the isolated, disconnected Christian life from the New Testament. Christ placed a meal, symbolic, communal and nutritional, right at the heart of our faith, and the Early Church ran with it. Dan, Holly & Nicole don’t just work in the Abbey Kitchen, they work in Christ’s kitchen; and we, as we break bread with others, sit at Christ’s table.
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 20th 3pm 9th Logistics Officers Mess Meeting 7.30pm Glory! WED 21st 10.30am Communion THUR 22nd 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 24th 10am The Meeting Place 3pm Wedding NEXT SUNDAY: October 25th 9am BCP Communion in Eilmer House 10.30am Holy Communion with Springs Dance Co. 4pm All-age Communion with Springs Dance Co. ADVANCE Oct 31st Light Party Nov 1st 6.30pm All Saints Service th Nov 4 7.30pm Confirmation
M AT T H E W 2 5 :3 1 - 4 6 31
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34
‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” 37 ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?” 40 ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” 41
‘Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was ill and in prison and you did not look after me.” 44 ‘They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or ill or in prison, and did not help you?” 45 ‘He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” 46 ‘Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’ Additional Reading: Genesis 18:1-8 NEXT SUNDAY: Revelation 18:21-24, Beauty & Imagination
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Reflect together on our learning, our eating together and our worship last Sunday. What was being said? What was being demonstrated? How did the Holy Spirit particularly speak to you or inspire you?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday (St Luke) Psalm 145 Isaiah 55 Luke 1:1-4
2. Is showing hospitality to others primarily a sacrifice or a blessing? Discuss.
Tuesday Psalm 132 Ezekiel 37:15-end John 15:12-17
3. ‘A typical western Christian today connects with the poor primarily by standing order.’ Would Christ say these words? Is distance from the poor allowable for a follower of Jesus?
Wednesday Psalm 119:153-end Ezekiel 39:21-end John 15:18-end
4. Which Abbey ministries most connect with the outsider or the disadvantaged? 5. Read the Matthew 25 passage twice, slowly, using three voices. Allow a minutes silence in between each reading, and 10 minutes for prayer together afterwards.
Thursday Psalm 143 Ezekiel 43:1-12 John 16:1-15 Friday Psalm 144 Ezekiel 44:4-16 John 16:16-22
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
9AM COMMUNION
E-ABBEY
Due to the early morning set-up and rehearsals for the Springs Dance Company next Sunday, 25th October, our 9am BCP Holy Communion will take place in Eilmer House, led by Revd Linda Sullivan. Springs Dance Company are performing at both our 10.30am and 4pm services.
We would really like to get the entire internet-using Abbey congregation receiving our Friday e-mailing, which links to this document on Issuu, and also has other notices most weeks. Can you e-mail your details to office@malmesburyabbey.com. Please also connect with the Abbey on Facebook and Twitter.
GLO RY !
C O N F I R M AT I O N
This coming Tuesday at 7.30pm come to the Abbey for our monthly Glory! Prayer meeting. A time of extended worship followed by time together asking the Holy Spirit to lead us in intercession for our church, our community and our world.
The Rt Revd Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol, is with us on Wednesday 4th November at 7.30pm for a service of Holy Communion with Confirmation. 14 people, of all ages, from across the North Wilts Deanery, are being confirmed. Please make every effort to come and support them and hear an inspirational word from Bishop Mike. Please be seated by 7.20pm if possible.
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NOTICEBOARD A B B E Y K I T C H E N S U N D AY: O C T 1 8 T H Your lunch or supper this Sunday, as we focus on Christ’s call to hospitality and the work of The Abbey Kitchen, will be slow braised beef, roasted potatoes, seasonal veg, pudding, with vegetarian, dairy and gluten free options. If you worship at the 10.30am this is your lunch; if you worship at 4pm this is your supper; all of us, together. Bring your own drinks; bring generous donations for food. The Abbey will be set up like a large restaurant with an open kitchen in the South Aisle, where Dan will be preparing our food. Young people from the Boat are our waiters at lunchtime; volunteer waiters from the 10.30am congregation are serving supper at 5.30pm.
M I S S I O N AV I AT I O N F E L L O W S H I P The PCC have asked Charlie Doyley to be their link with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) in the coming year, as part of their External Mission Giving. MAF is a charity that works all over the world helping support aid, relief and mission projects in really remote places. This coming Sunday, 18th October, is MAF's annual Day of Prayer and it is focusing on how it brings practical hope to thousands of communities struggling to survive. It would be great if you could join them in prayer for their work over the coming week. For more information visit www.maf-uk.org or speak to Charlie.
CAROL SERVICES BY CANDLELIGHT Advance notice that because of the incredible popularity of our Abbey Advent Carol Service and our Nine Lessons & Carols at Christmas we will be having two of each this year. Advent Carols on 28th & 29th November at 6.30pm, and the Nine Lessons on 19th & 20th December at 6.30pm. Please work out which you’ll be coming too and pick up free Nave seating tickets, which will be available from Sunday November 1st.
CONTAC T
ABBEY OFFICE
ABBEY KITCHEN
Monday 9.30am-12pm 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 ÂŁ1) from 9.30am-10.30am. dan@malmesburyabbey.com
Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
MalmesburyAbbeyCafe
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