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‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice.’

20/07/2014 MALMESBURY ABBEY

HOSPITALITY THAT INVITES PEOPLE CLOSER STABILITY THAT DRAWS PEOPLE DEEPER CREATIVITY THAT LIFTS PEOPLE HIGHER

Vicar’s blog: Children & Youth Last Saturday your PCC (Parochial Church Council) met to scratch their heads.

Actually, and in slightly more detail, we prayed, we read a paper, we looked at budgets, we reviewed priorities and than after thoughtful discussion we unanimously agreed on three proposals which we hope will have a direct and very positive effect on children’s & youth ministry at Malmesbury Abbey.

We celebrated that we have a fantastic and hard working set of children’s and youth volunteers serving in the life of the Abbey. But with Revd Katie Windle departing last year from her Anglican chaplaincy at the primary school, and with both Sarah McGrory (volunteer Youth Minister) and Mary Barnes (Interim Children’s Minister) both stopping in 2014, (Mary at the end of this coming September), we felt that right now was the time to act to recruit a full time member of staff to be at the heart of the Children’s & Youth ministry and to oversee it’s development over the next few years. Obviously this is extremely important for our children and young people, but we also want to encourage and honour our volunteers and build on the great work that Mary, Pete & Katherine are overseeing currently. So, the three proposals? Briefly:

1. That if we say as a church that we really value Youth & Children’s Ministry then our budget should show that too.

Alan McAdam (our next Abbey Treasurer) and myself are going to prepare a budget for 2015, and for following years, which has this important post as a first line, rather than a vulnerable last line. We’ll let you know the details in November, and any small increase in congregational giving that is implied in 2015.

2. Myself and Doug Johnston (PCC Vice Chair) are going to form a small team to recruit, advertising nationally this September. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we will appoint immediately, we want to recruit well, not quickly, but we want to begin looking right away.

3. That we will offer a competitive fulltime salary plus the 1 bedroom flat on the top floor of Le Flambé (which the PCC recently refurbished anticipating this;) in the hope of attracting an excellent new minister to Malmesbury.

So a busy few months ahead, and we hope an exciting few years of development and imaginative discipleship in our youth and children’s departments.

Please pray for this process as it moves on, for wisdom in both budgeting and recruiting, and for the Holy Spirit to preparing even now the heart of the woman or man He is calling to join us at the Abbey. God is good.

www.malmesburyabbey.com

Abbey Diary THIS SUNDAY: July 20th 8am BCP Holy Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid 6pm The Mix//The Campbells EACH DAY MON 21st TUES 22nd WED 23rd

9am Morning Prayer 8pm Baptism Prep 3 9.30am Women Alive!

10.30am Holy Communion Please read back cover THURS 17th 10.30am Time for Chat 4pm Evening Prayer 7pm Choir Practice FRI 25th 10.30am Creative Response SAT 26th 10am Prayers for Janet Parke 10am The Meeting Place NEXT SUNDAY: July 27th 8am BCP Holy Communion 10.30am Morning Prayer & Healing Ministry 4pm All-age Communion July 28/29 July 31st Aug 3rd Aug 3rd Sep 9th Sep 13th Oct 7th Oct 17/18 Oct 31st Nov 18th Nov 30th

Holiday at Home Songs of Praise New Wine 6.30pm WWI service Glory! Prayer Meeting Archbishop in Malmesbury Confirmation at the Abbey BBC History Weekend glo in the dark Junior Church party Glory! Prayer Meeting Advent Sunday

Revelation 19:1-16 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.’

3

And again they shouted: ‘Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.’ 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: ‘Amen, Hallelujah!’

5

Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!’

6

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

9

Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.’ 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.’

11

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white

and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron sceptre.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Additional Reading: Matthew 22:1-14

small group resource + 1.

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What is the last word of the Book of Psalms in Hebrew? The last 5 Psalms all begin and end with he same word; what does this word mean? Who is it sung to?

In groups of 2 or 3 take one psalm (from 146-150) and summarise, in a sentence or two, what dimension of God’s nature or action of God the ‘hallelujahs’ at either end are pointing towards. i.e. ‘praise the LORD because He’s like this…’ or ‘praise the LORD because He’s done that.’ What dimension of salvation is revealed in your particular Psalm?

Can you find the only book of the New Testament with the word ‘hallelujah’ in it? Identify the hallelujahs and read out the appropriate verses. What parts of the salvation story or attributes of God are the cause of the hallelujahs? Who are the great multitude shouting to in Revelation 19?

Revelation is an unveiling of Jesus. Find something in each verses 916 that is unveiled of Christ and how you explain this in simple terms to a non-believing neighbour?

daily readings MONDAY Psalm 122 Isaiah 61 Rev 21:15-21

TUESDAY Psalm 36 Isaiah 60 Rev 21:22-27

WEDNESDAY Psalm 46 Ez 47:1-12 Rev 22:1-7

THURSDAY Psalm 101 Daniel 12 Rev 22:8-15

FRIDAY Psalm 42,43 Isaiah 55 Rev 22:16-21

New Wine 2014 Only 3-weeks left until we pack our bags and head off to the Royal Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet for another unforgettable week of laughter and friendship, passionate worship and inspiring teaching. It’s not too late to book and come with us. You can camp or commute, come for the whole week or just for a day. Go to www.new-wine.org/summer for more details, and speak to Revd John Monaghan to let him know you are coming!

Songs of Praise After our wonderful Holiday at Home at the end of this month, come and sing with us and listen to wonderful testimonies as we ‘Celebrate God’s Joy’ on Thursday 31st July at 3pm in Malmesbury Abbey. All will be welcomed and traditional English Tea will be served after the service. For more information please contact Revd Mandy Churcher on 824416 or contact the Parish Office.

Running for their lives...

Bob Hyatt is; will you? Join a team from Malmesbury Abbey to run in the Malmesbury Carnival 10K on 30th August or sponsor the runners? With special T-shirts we will publicise and raise money for the KDWSP - Kigezi Diocese Water & Sanitation Programme. It is transforming the lives of mountain villagers in Uganda. At present the village children - mostly the girls - spend 4 hours each day lugging heavy water containers up to their homes and the people defecate in the fields. KDWSP provides funds and trains villagers to build and use hygienic latrines and to gather, store and distribute clean water in each village. This improves health, aids agriculture, leaves time for the children's education and opens the hearts of the people to receive Him who is the Water of Life. For more info contact Bob Hyatt on bobnhelen@dsl.pipex.com Websites for reference: On the villages: www.tearfund.org/mountain On the team: www.justgiving.com/teams/malmesbury On entering: www.dmax.co.uk/events On giving: www.justgiving.com/Robert-Hyatt1

Noticeboard Children’s Teas at 4pm There will be no children's teas during the school summer holidays. This is a vital part of our hospitality to young children so If you would like to help provide teas in the Autumn please contact alice@malmesburyabbey.com

Prayers for Janet Parke Our next meeting to pray for Janet will be on SATURDAY JULY 26th from 10am -12noon at Le Flambe. This will be a significant occasion, because Janet will be able to join us there. She will soon be going back to Zambia, so this will be our chance to discover her plans and to pray with her and for her as she prepares for her return to Mukinge. More information from Peter & Gillian Yacomeni.

100th Anniversary of WWI On Monday August 4th 2014 the nation marks the 100th anniversary of commencement of World War 1. On Sunday 3rd August at 6.30pm there will be a special Evensong with Act of Commemoration at the Abbey, as we work with the local British Legion at this very significant time.

June 29th July 6th July 13th July 20th July 27th

Revelation 11 Revelation 12 Revelation 15 Revelation 19 Revelation 21

The Last Word on Witness The Last Word on Politics The Last Word on Judgement The Last Word on Salvation The Last Word on Heaven

The Last Word Revelation at Malmesbury Abbey

Contact ABBEY OFFICE Mon &Tues (9.30am-12noon) Weds, Thurs ,Fri, (9.30am-2.30pm) 01666 826666 www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey sandie@malmesburyabbey.com Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com NEW CAFÉ HOURS (From July 13th) Tuesday—Saturday : 9am-4.30pm Sunday & Monday: Closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com

Parish Office Holiday Closure Due to staff holidays the Parish Office will close Sat 26th July and re-open at 9.30am on Monday 4th August.

School Leavers service this Wednesday The Malmesbury CE Primary School Leavers service takes place in the Abbey this coming Wednesday at 9.30am (a change to the time previously announced.) Because of this , our 9am Morning Prayer will take place in Le Flambé. Our 10.30am Wednesday Holy Communion service will still happen in the Abbey as normal but we will have coffee at 10.30am followed by Communion to allow time for the school to leave and the service to be prepared for. Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.

12th CENTURY BEAUTY 21st CENTURY CHURCH