19TH OC TOBER 2014
STABILIT Y Vicar’s Blog
Stability; one of the Abbey’s core values, and let’s be honest not a particularly exciting word. Nobody seems to cry out to heaven ‘I want the gift of stability.’ But when you consider an image like building a house upon rock (from Matthew 7:24-27) or a flourishing tree planted by streams of water (from Psalm 1:3) you start to get to the heart of it. Roots matter, foundations matter, and what we pass on to the next generation matters. With a decent appetite for theology and practice of praying more times in a day that most of us manage in a week, St Aldhelm, the first inspirational Abbot of Malmesbury, built Abbeys and churches in the 7th century on the foundation of a community shaped and inspired by the Bible. From this flowed pioneering street evangelism and church planting that had stability and longevity. Hey, we’re still here!
But what does stability say about us? Well, we’re working together to build an Abbey for the 21st Century and beyond. Sowing faithfully in prayer so that the generations that come after us may reap. There’s a growing crowd in the chapel every morning at 9am, and Glory! is going monthly in 2015 as our praying numbers keep increasing. If anything encourages a vicar it’s that. We’re also preserving and developing our 12th century building so that the church in the 22nd century won’t be meeting in a ruin. (Yes, we need architectural stability too.) Stewardship matters as well. We’re committed to a sound financial foundation at the Abbey, and in late November we’ll present our 2015 budget to our congregations, but we’re not ungenerous and find we grow through working in partnership with charities like Music for Autism and Tearfund (in southern
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: October 19th 8am 10.30am 4pm 6pm Uganda) and being a positive partner in the Diocese of Bristol. However Stability is primarily about the formation of people; equipping people to follow Jesus, to live holy, good lives. Small community life is crucial and we have approximately 175 people committed to midweek small groups. With 50 on Alpha in 2013 and 40 on Alpha this year the number of people coming to faith and being baptised or confirmed is also strengthening the church. But our priority in prayer this weekend has to be the development of our leadership team and our ministry to the emerging generation by the appointment of our new fulltime Children’s & Youth Minister. Please pray, on both knees, for wisdom and a clear sense of the Spirit’s leading for all involved.
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid The Mix//the Archers
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer WED 22nd 10.30am Communion THURS 23rd 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 25th 10am The Meeting Place 2pm Matt & Chloe’s Wedding am & pm Alpha Away Day NEXT SUNDAY: Oct 26th 8am 10.30am 4pm
BCP Holy Communion Morning Prayer & Healing Ministry All-age Communion
ADVANCE Oct 31st Nov 18th Nov 25th Nov 30th Dec 21st Dec 20th
Glow in the Dark Party Glory! Refresh! Advent Carol Service Nine Lessons & Carols The Malmesbury Nativity
JOHN 6:16-27 16
When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’ 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
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The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realised that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realised that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. 25
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’ 26 Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.’ Additional Reading: Psalm 148
DISCIPLESHIP 1.
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Read verses 16-21. Did this really happen? Is your Christian faith strengthened or challenged by such an extraordinary supernatural event? Now read John 1:3 & Colossians 1:15-17. What dimension of Jesus Christ do these passages reveal to us, and how might they inform our prayer and worship differently? Read Matthew 14:22-31. What does this longer account reveal? In Matthew 14 John the Baptist is not saved from execution but Peter is saved from drowning. How do we hold these two things together? A new song we’re singing at the 4pm, Oceans, begins with the words ‘you call me out upon the waters.’ Listen to it, or sing it if possible. Then discuss: ‘Christian discipleship can only ever take place upon the waters.’
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 80 2 Kings 5 Acts 26:1-23 Tuesday Psalm 89:1-18 2 Kings 6:1-23 Acts 26:24-end Wednesday Psalm 119:105-128 2 Kings 9:1-16 Acts 27:1-26 Thursday Psalm 92 2 Kings 9:17-end Acts 27:27-end Friday Psalm 88 2 Kings 12:1-19 Acts 28:1-16
GIVING To regularly support the mission and worship of the Abbey with your Christian giving please contact Alan McAdam at alan@malmesburyabbey.com
NEW MINISTER
G LO W I N T H E D A R K
On October 19th & 20th we will be looking to appoint a new full-time Children’s & Youth Minister for the Abbey. We have been blessed with many applications and three really excellent short-listed candidates. Please pray for them and for our interview panel as we all seek to discern the Lord’s will for the next chapter of our ministry and mission with children and young people in our community.
Whatever your age you can be part of this new exciting event on Oct 31st aimed at primary school age children! Before the event we need people to pray, make fairy cakes and sew simple drawstring goody bags (material provided). At the event we need helpers to move chairs, supervise bouncy castles, serve hot dogs and run side shows. If you are able to offer your support for this great community outreach event please contact Gill Shaw (on 825647) or Sandie in the Parish Office.
ALL SAINTS
JOBS
On Sunday 2nd November at 6.30pm there is Service of Thanksgiving for the Faithful Departed. During this reflective 45 minute service we remember all those whose funeral we have conducted at the Abbey, and nearby, in the past year. If you have lost somebody in the last 12 months and would also like their name read out during this service please contact Sandie in the Parish Office.
A few significant roles are emerging in the life of the Abbey that we’d invite you to prayerfully consider if you are the right person for. We’re currently looking for a Health & Safety coordinator, a Safeguarding Adults responsible person, an extra Café Director and Bookshop Director, someone for the PCC to represent people in their 20s and 30s, a New Media person (Facebook & Twitter) and a chair for our Property Team. E-mail Neill if you’d like a conversation about any of these.
NOTICEBOARD G LO R Y ! 2 0 1 5 Glory! our time of extended contemporary worship and Spirit-led prayer, is going monthly in 2015. This information is for your diary, and we’d encourage all our Abbey small groups not to meet that week and to prioritise our intercession together on: Jan 20, Feb 24, Mar 31, April 28, May 19, June 23, July 21, Sep 22, Oct 20 and Nov 24
2 WEDDINGS God is good. On Saturday 18th October Peter & Emily from our 4pm congregation are getting married in Northleach, and then on Saturday 25th October Matt & Chloe, formerly of our 4pm and now based in London, are getting married at the Abbey. Please pray for God’s richest blessing on them.
PCC UPDATE FROM SARAH DOYLEY The Abbey PCC (Parochial Church Council) met on 20th September. After Sam Saunders led us in prayer, we were encouraged to hear how God is growing our Abbey life together: Daily Morning Prayer at 9am is often well attended, HiTS is evolving into a fresh expression of church—The Meeting Place, our new Alpha Course has 40 attendees, and Glow in the Dark, a party for our younger members, is planned for Halloween. There has also been an encouraging number of enquiries and applications for our Children's & Youth Minister post. After coffee the PCC Focus was a presentation on Lifepath and a conversation with its leader, Lianne Smith, from Scripture Union. Next year we will be partnering with Scripture Union to run Lifepath in the Abbey from 29th June - 3rd July. Lifepath will use the monastic backdrop and Christian history of the Abbey to offer a unique RE day trip to Year 5 pupils from Swindon, Chippenham and the local area. Full PCC minutes are available from the Parish Office.
CONTAC T ABBEY OFFICE Monday (10am-12pm) Tuesday-Friday (9.30am– 3pm) Tel: 01666 826666 sandie@malmesburyabbey.com
CAFÉ HOURS Tuesday-Saturday (normal) 9am– 4.30pm Sunday & Monday closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com
www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
12th CENTURY BEAUT Y 21st CENTURY CHURCH