190114

‘Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light.’

19/01/14 MALMESBURY ABBEY

Vicar’s blog: Tom I had a chance to pray with Tom and Sarah Price last Sunday. Tom is leaving on Wednesday 22nd January to work with Tearfund in the Philippines for 3 months.

Tom asks for the Abbey’s prayer support, and writes: ‘I'll be flying out to Manila with Oenone Chadburn, head of humanitarian support; the trip lasts about 12 weeks, so I should be back second week of April. I'll be joining a team to help establish a relief hub for Integral Alliance, Tearfund's disaster relief partner agency for that area. I'll be working as a communications officer, visiting projects, partners and beneficiaries to collect stories, case studies and photos to report back to IA's charity members (i.e.

Tearfund, Medair, and others) and their supporters. I'll also be hosting journalists and training local people.

It's still pretty early days for this project and currently they don't have anywhere permanent to stay. I think we'll be based in Manila and will travel out to affected areas fairly frequently, but the logistics will be worked out when I get there. I've been asked to blog the trip for Tearfund, so that will be a good way for Abbey members to stay in touch and pray for me; I also hope to send some quick updates directly to you all.

Please pray that Sarah will have lots of people to keep her company and give her love and support, and that the preparation, travelling and setting up go smoothly.’

So let’s pray as often as we can.

neillarcher.blogspot.co.uk

Abbey Diary THIS SUNDAY: JANUARY 19th 8am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, Junior Church & Trax 6.30pm Christian Unity Service at St Aldhelm’s RC Church EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer WED 22nd 10.30am Holy Communion 7pm Pipeline THUR 23rd 10.30am Time for a Chat 4pm Evening Prayer 7pm Choir Practice FRI 24th 10.30am Creative Response SAT 25th 10am Healing in the Streets 10am Prayers for Janet Parke NEXT SUNDAY: JANUARY 26th 8am BCP Communion 10.30am Morning Prayer & Healing Ministry 4pm Informal Worship, Junior Church & Trax ADVANCE ABBEY DIARY Feb 5th Healing Ministry training Feb 11th Glory!

Feb 19th- Malmesbury Abbey Skate Feb 21st 2014 April 15th Glory!

April 17th Riding Lights ‘Inheritance’ April 20th Bishop Lee preaching June 3rd Glory!

June 20th- Church Weekend Away June 22nd (Paul Langham & Bishop Lee) July 2nd Music for Autism

1 John 2:3-2:14 3

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

7

Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

12

I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.

14 I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Additional Reading: John 14:15-21 15

‘If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.’

small group resource + 1.

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Apart from the cross of Calvary, which action of Jesus Christ strikes you as really loving and why?

‘God is love’ (1 John 4:16). Does our understanding of love define God, or does our understanding of God define love? Is it then a problem if we don’t fully understand either?

Read 1 John 2:3-2:14. Verse 5 seems to put obedience at the heart of love—or maybe John’s implying something else. What is he getting at?

And how is it at the heart of human relationships?

See verses 9 & 11. Have you ever encountered hatred? What did it look like? Is it realistic to expect not to encounter hatred in the life of the church? (NB John seems to have the problem in his churches.)

‘In verses 7-11 John urges behavioural change, in verses 12-14 he shows confidence that God can work that change in us.’ Discuss.

daily readings MONDAY Gen 6:1-7:10 Matt 24:1-14

TUESDAY Gen 7:11-end Matt 24:15-28

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Gen 8:1-14 Gen 8:15-9:7 Matt 24:29-end Matt 25:1-13

FRIDAY Gen 9:8-19 Matt 25:14-30

Happy 100th Birthday Ella Love and congratulations from all at the Abbey to Ella Beams, from our 8am congregation, who will be celebrating her 100th Birthday on January 26th.

Happy Birthday from us all.

Malmesbury Abbey Skate 2014 Thank you for a brilliant response to our sign up for volunteers from both the 10.30am and 4pm congregations!! We still need help in the cafe during the event, First Aiders and accommodation in particular so keep volunteering. Email sarah@malmesburyabbey.com, phone 07767744167 or speak to Clare in the cafe. There will be a team briefing at 6.30pm on Tues 18th Feb 2014 for all those who have signed up to come along and pray for the event, ask questions and go over risk assessment, job descriptions and safe guarding. T Shirts/Hoodies are also available to order from Sarah McGrory.

Thank you and please continue to pray for this event.

Prayers for Janet Parke Please join us as we continue to pray for Janet Parke and her work at the Mukinge Hill Academy in Zambia. We will be meeting in Le Flambe at 10am on Saturday 25th Janaury. Further information from Gillian Yacomeni.

Israel 2015 We are currently exploring the possibility of a 10-day Abbey trip to Israel in 2015 led by James & Ruth Cole with Neill & Marilyn Archer. Anybody interested in this is invited to meet at the Parish Office at 8pm on Monday 27th January. Attending this meeting does not commit you to anything.

Time for Chat Please join us at Time for Chat. A new event taking place in the Abbey each Thursday morning from 10.30am-12noon. All welcome to come and share coffee, meet with familiar faces and make new friends. For more information please contact Revd Mandy Churcher.

Noticeboard The 4pm, January 26th—be there!

Next Sunday at 4pm we're going to be doing 'church with a twist'! There will be a 'mystery tour' for the adults, and a fab surprise for the kids, so cancel everything else in your diaries that afternoon, come with a sense of expectation to meet with God, and we will see you all in the Abbey at 4pm!

Listening to People with Dementia Two sessions led by the Acorn Christian Listening Trust on 1st and 8th March 10.30am - 1pm; an opportunity to explore listening to people with dementia.

A booking fee of £5 per person will cover both sessions. Booking forms available from the back of the Abbey or for more information please contact Revd Mandy Churcher at mandy@malmesburyabbey.com

January 5 January 12 January 19 January 26

God is here God is light God is love God is not

1 John 1:1-4 1 John 1:5-2:2 1 John 2:3– 2:14 1 John 2:15-27

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 : 12-3pm Sunday: Closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com

The Parenting Children Course Next month, the Abbey will be running a free 5-week course for any parents or carers of children aged 0-10 years. This is a fantastic opportunity to invite those inside and outside the church to share the ups and downs of parenting and pick up ideas along the way. It will be on Tuesday evenings in the Abbey, 7.30pm9.45pm, starting 25th Feb and finishing 25th March. Make sure to grab some flyers on the way out to give to your friends. To book a place, or find out more information, contact our curate, Rev John Monaghan, 01666 829101 or john@malmesburyabbey.com

12th CENTURY BEAUTY 21st CENTURY CHURCH