20TH DECEMBER 2015
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THE NATIVIT Y OF OUR LORD Vicar’s Blog
I have the best office. And by office I mean 12th century Abbey. And by 12th century Abbey I mean the area in Malmesbury Abbey that is no further than 3 metres from the coffee machine. Sometimes it just feels like I spend the entire day inside those ancient walls; the stones must get rather tired of me. But there are other times when I actually do move in, and next week is one of them. When I finally leave church on Christmas Day, at about 1.30pm, you will see me wandering the streets of Malmesbury asking complete strangers: ‘Excuse me, could you tell me where the Vicarage is please?’ But the coming week is a truly wonderful week for me. One of the absolute pleasures of my work is preparing and leading the Advent & Christmas Carol Services. And two come along this weekend. Bliss at
6.30 o’clock. And one of the greatest privileges of my ministry is to stand behind the communion table at our Midnight Communion and preside at the profound mystery of the ChristMass itself. God and sinners reconciled, at a table with bread and wine. And then only a few hours later Christmas Day fairly explodes with rejoicing at 11am. The Archbishop of Canterbury said outside our Abbey last year that the church should have fewer meetings and more parties. I think the 11am gets pretty close to a party with Emmanuel. But I most abide in the Abbey, keeping watch over the flock by night, as we make the final preparations for The Malmesbury Nativity. Young professional actors rehearsing and bringing the texts of Luke & Matthew to life, outstanding musicians and singers reinvigorating our traditional Christmas Carols, and people of all
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A B B E Y D I A RY Sunday December 20th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 3pm The Puppet Nativity 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 2
ages, some of great faith, and some of none, engaging afresh with the Nativity of our Lord in Bethlehem. You are very welcome to all our services, but this year I’d particularly encourage you to come to at least one performance of The Malmesbury Nativity. Welcome others, pray and rejoice, and then take tidings of wonder and joy with you into your Christmas celebrations. May the deep faith of Mary, the evangelistic joy of the shepherds and the holy generosity of the Magi, fill your hearts and your homes this Christmas.
This is our last News Sheet until Sunday January 10th as most of the Abbey leadership and staff have a break until January 4th.
EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer WED 23rd 10.30am Communion in St Aldhelm’s chapel 7pm The Nativity 1 Christmas Eve 9am Morning Prayer 1pm, 3pm The Malmesbury Nativity & 5pm 11.30pm Midnight Communion Christmas Day 9am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration Sunday December 27th 11am Holy Communion
No Communion on December 30th No Morning Prayer until January 4th Sunday January 3rd 9am BCP Holy Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Celebration at Activity Zone & Pool Party
MICAH 5:2-5 ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.’ 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labour bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And he will be our peace
Additional Reading: Luke 1:39-45 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!’
DISCIPLESHIP 1.This passage was written in the midst of problems in Israel both internally, injustice to the poor and a corrupt judicial and religious system, and externally, the threat of invasion by the Assyrians. How would this passage speak to you in these circumstances? 2. Bethlehem was an insignificant place and yet it became significant. See Isaiah 11:1-11 for the background to the lineage of Jesus and consider what was the significance of this to the Messiah? 3. The ruler (Messiah) over Israel is described as old and from ancient of times (v 2.) Look at Daniel 7, John 1:1-2 and John 8:58. In the light of these texts how do you see this description of the Messiah? 4. Ruler in Hebrew means ‘Shepherd.’ How does the shepherd image apply to the Messiah? (John 10:1-18) 5. Do you find that the promise of the Shepherd in v 4-5a is something you can apply to your own life?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 121 Malachi 1:1, 6-end Matthew 19:1-12 Tuesday Psalm 124 Malachi 2:1-16 Matthew 19:3-15 Wednesday Psalm 130 Malachi 2:17-3:12 Matthew 19:16-end Christmas Eve Psalm 45 Malachi 3:13-end of 4 Matthew 23:1-12 Christmas Day Psalm 110 Isaiah 62:1-5 Matthew 1:18-end
READINGS ONLINE Daily Prayer & Readings over Christmas can be found at: www.churchofengland.org/pra yer-worship/join-us-in-dailyprayer.aspx
N E W Y E A R ’ S D AY
E - M A I L M E LT D O W N
If the weather is fine, you are invited to arrive at 2pm at the Vicarage on New Year’s Day. Bring cake and wellies. We will do the Malmesbury River Walk together, at a pace suitable to a vicar, and then gather for beverages and cake around an open fire. DVD provided for children.
Sandie’s computer in the Parish Office sadly left us for a better place two weeks ago, taking with it her up-to-date e-mail list. If you didn’t get your usual Friday e-mail from her could you contact her at office@malmesburyabbey.com to get yourself reconnected. Many thanks.
If the weather is really lousy we’ll give it a miss.
CLO SUR ES
SIGNS
The Abbey Office is closed from Christmas Eve until Monday January 4th. In pastoral emergencies please phone the office (01666 826666) and find out who is on duty from the answerphone.
Our teaching series at the Abbey in January 2016 looks at Signs of God’s holy presence in the life and ministry Christ:
The Abbey itself also closes from Christmas Eve at 12noon until Saturday 2nd January. The Abbey Kitchen reopens on January 4th.
Jan 3rd Jan 10th Jan 17th Jan 24th Jan 31st
The Magi (Mt 2:1-12) The Dove (Lk 3:15-22) The Wine (Jn 2:1-11) The Scroll (Lk 4:14-21) The Prophecy (Lk 2:22-40)
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NOTICEBOARD C H A M PA G N E Arrive early for our 11am Family Celebration on Christmas Day if you want a seat. Don’t forget to wear Christmas clothing if possible and to bring along presents for John and Pete to meet. And don’t forget to bring a bottle of champagne for the party afterwards.
S U N D AY 2 7 t h D E C E M B E R On Sunday 27th December we will not be having our normal pattern of services at the Abbey. Instead there will be a simple service of Holy Communion at 11am, led by the Revd Peter Yacomeni. All are very welcome from all our congregations.
P O O L PA R T Y On Sunday 3rd January at 4pm our service will be a time of celebration and teaching in the Sports Hall at the Activity Zone followed by a Junior Church pool party from 5pm. Please bring tasty food and nibbles to share afterwards in a side room.
CHRSITMAS VOUCHERS Thanks to everyone who contributed towards the Christmas Vouchers this year in whatever way. CTiM raised over £2,300 and have been able to bless nearly 60 local families. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
Feliz
! d a d i Nav THE MALMESBURY NATIVITY !
Wednesday 23rd December at 7pm Christmas Eve at 1pm, 3pm & 5pm Children Free, Adults ÂŁ2.50 Malmesbury Abbey