20TH SEPTEMBER 2015
1 2
ALL GENERATIONS Vicar’s Blog
One of the urgent priorities of the Church of England is to engage meaningfully and culturally with the 20-40s generations. Last week, our commissioning of Dave & Jen as Under-30s Coordinators and Rachel & Dan as our Family Pastors at 4pm was part of our own commitment to that. But the Holy Spirit is of course at work across all generations. Church isn’t just one demographic. Last July I was welcomed very warmly to the Holiday at Home by a great and hard-working team. I was given a cup of strong tea, (more tea vicar?) and then gently ushered to a table where I was seated with three incredible ladies aged over 100 years. This made me very, very happy until I realised that I was clearly considered to be approaching 100 myself, so this apparently was to be my table for future years too; a bit of helpful forward planning. Anyway, I asked
one of my new companions ‘what’s it like being over 100?’ And she replied ‘every day another bit of me stops working;’ adding, ‘people keep telling me to ‘take care;’ I don’t want to take care, I’m over 100, why should I take care?’ Fair enough. I love Revd Mandy Churcher. She is our unbelievably awesome Associate Minister who oversees the Abbey’s work with the older generation, and this Sunday she is going to be talking to us about the biblical heart of this ministry. Her work is the fruit of the hard work and prayers of this present generation, but also due to the vision and commitment to the gospel of a lady called May Moore. May was a daughter of a manager of The Old Bell Hotel in the 20th century, and on her death she left her medium-sized estate for ‘the care, spiritual instruction and comfort of lonely elderly inhabitants of the town of
3
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: September 20th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church
Malmesbury.’ When you hear Mandy described as the May Moore Chaplain, that’s why. We honour her legacy. And what is exciting to me is the bigger picture. We can place Mandy’s work with the older generation, alongside Andrew’s work with the younger generation, alongside Dave, Jen, Rachel & Dan’s work with the 20s40s, and see that God is at work across all our generations. I think we knew it really, but it seems that God doesn’t have blind spots.
Front Cover Photo: Betty Richards & Josie Newman at Holiday at Home 2015
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer 21st & 22nd Abbey Closed for Organ Tuning during day TUES 22nd 7.30pm Glory! WED 23rd 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Small Group Pastors in Parish Office th THUR 24 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice th FRI 25 10.30am MacMillan Coffee Morning SAT 26th 9.45am Safeguarding training at URC 10am The Meeting Place 12noon John Hughes Organ Recital
NEXT SUNDAY: September 27th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion & Baptism 4pm All-age Communion
LU K E 2 : 2 5 - 3 8 25
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29
‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’ 33
The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’ 36
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Additional Reading: Isaiah 61:1-6
DISCIPLESHIP 1. No matter your age, what does growing older mean to you? (Be honest!) Notice the balance between the positive and the negative - share your thoughts together. 2. Simeon it seems was an older man (from the phrases ‘see death’ and ‘departing in peace.') What had his focus been throughout his life, and what might we learn from this? 3. Simeon’s prayer reveals an attitude of anticipation and a sense of 'mission completed.' How might we follow in his footsteps?(See Hebrews 12:1-2) 4. Widows at this time were often despised and destitute; yet Anna is 84 (plus) and 'still going strong'. What was her secret? 5. What do you notice in both Simeon and Anna that you would like to emulate? Are there any older people that you regard as role models? 6. How do you think Mary and Joseph found the ministry of these two older people? Which older people speak into your life?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday (St Matthew) Psalm 119:65-72 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 Matthew 9:9-13 Tuesday Psalm 48 Ezekiel 1:1-2:2 Mark 12:35-end Wednesday Psalm 119:73-80 Ezekiel 2:3-3:11 Mark 13:1-13 Thursday Psalm 57 Ezekiel 3:12-end Mark 13:14-23 Friday Psalm 51 Ezekiel 8 Mark 13:24-31
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
K I T C H E N S U N D AY
C O N F I R M AT I O N
Slow braised beef, roasted potatoes, seasonal veg, pudding, vegetarian, dairy and gluten free options. If you worship at the 10.30am this is your lunch on October 18th; the whole congregation in the Abbey eating together. If you worship at 4pm this is your supper; all of us, together. A day celebrating our ministry of hospitality and the work of Abbey Kitchen. Bring your own drinks; donations for food. Oh, we love Dan & Holly.
The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill, will be with us on Wednesday Nov 4th at 7.30pm for a service of Confirmation. This joyous occasion is an opportunity to confess your faith and be prayed for by the Bishop to be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit. Candidates are normally younger people who were baptized as infants, and also adults, making the Abbey their spiritual home. Please contact Neill or Andrew this month for an informal chat.
REFRESH!
J A N E T PA R K E
Join us for this café style Refresh! with cakes and nibbles, music, quiz and craft, and Mary Barnes from Holy Trinity, Hotwells sharing on ‘Thankfulness’ from the book of Psalms. This particular event will provide an ideal opportunity to invite along your friends who may not be used to a church environment. Invitations will be available this week at the back of the Abbey. It would be really helpful if you email Sandie to let her know if you’re coming.
Janet Parke would like to say thank you for the love and hospitality she has been shown during her stay in the UK, as well as for prayer and financial support for her work as a missionary in Zambia. She now has medical clearance to go back to Zambia for one more year before retirement to Malmesbury. She will fly from Gatwick on Monday 21st September at 21:20 to Lusaka, via Dubai, arriving on Tuesday at 14:35. Keep praying!
12t h CE N TU RY B E AU T Y 2 1st CE NTU RY CHU R CH
NOTICEBOARD SA FE G UA RDI NG T RA IN IN G As a church we are committed to ensuring children, young people and vulnerable adults are safe from abuse and their wellbeing is enhanced. A team from the Bristol Diocese will be coming to deliver the SG1 Foundation Safeguarding Training to our Children’s and Youth Teams along with those involved with caring for vulnerable adults in our community. The training will run from 9:45am to 12:30pm on Saturday 26th September in the URC Church. Everyone is welcome to attend because Safeguarding is the responsibility of the whole church family not just a few individuals. If you would like to attend or find out more please contact Andrew Beebee: andrew@malmesburyabbey.com.
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING Come and join us at the Abbey, next Friday 25th September from 10:30am – 12pm, for the Abbey Kitchen’s debut Macmillan Coffee Morning. This is an opportunity to meet together, drink tea, eat delicious cake, have a natter and play some games to raise money in support of Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan provide an indispensible service to individuals and families who are battling cancer, and they need people like us to help them continue their work. Do your bit: come and eat cake with Holly & the team!
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
Music for Autism at the Abbey with very special guest
Derek Paravicini (Jazz Piano) Featured on Channel 5’s Extraordinary People and Radio 3’s Music and Autism Series
Ben Holder (Jazz Violin) Hannah Davey (Jazz Soprano) Ollie Howell (Drums)
Thursday 8th October at 7.30pm A gala charity concert to fund free concerts earlier in the day for young people with autism (11am) and people living with dementia and their carers (2pm)
Tickets £10 (or more) from the Abbey Bookshop or on the door