21ST DECEMBER 2014
BETHLEHEM? Vicar’s Blog
Why on earth Bethlehem? Why an animal feeding trough, in a cave, in a rural Judean backwater, with a disgraced teenager as a mother, a few shepherds singing songs and King Herod trying to murder every child in an unstable world? If the divine is omniscient, omnipotent, then why not Jerusalem, why not Rome, why not Athens, and why not a palace, why not a feast, why not a midwife? The birth of every single person you know was probably a lot more impressive than the one at Bethlehem. Why? The answer is simple really. God was not trying to do something impressive or extraordinary. He already made the sun, moon and the stars. Look at your hand, he made that, and the eyes that are looking at it. Impressing us in Bethlehem wasn’t really a priority. In Bethlehem, God was doing something really, really ordinary (with a few
angels, a guiding star and a virgin birth thrown in.) At Bethlehem God becomes ordinary, and God needs us to know this. He needs us to know that ‘he came down to earth from heaven’. This is the moment in human history when each of us can give up trying to get to heaven from earth – the Christian faith simply works the other way round. God made the first move at Bethlehem. Emmanuel, God with us, salvation arriving. Salvation has nothing to do with the colour of your skin or the opulence of your birth. It has nothing to do with how sorted out or messed up your relationships are. It has nothing to do with your career, the size of your house, your pay, your grades at school or your popularity. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, western or Asian. And, oddly, it really doesn’t even matter if every
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: December 21st 8am 10.30am 3pm 6.30pm fibre of your being denies his very existence; God’s affection for you is undiminished. Bethlehem says there is nothing you can do to make God love you less; there is nothing you can do to make God love you more. God made the first move; He came down. Love was born. ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the Only Begotten, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.’ (John 1:14) In Bethlehem God made the first move. Now we make ours.
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion The Christmas Story for Young Children Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight
THIS WEEK MON 22nd 9am Morning Prayer TUES 23rd 9am Morning Prayer 4pm Malmesbury Nativity CHRISTMAS 10.30am No Communion EVE 4pm Malmesbury Nativity 6pm Malmesbury Nativity 11.30pm Midnight Communion CHRISTMAS 8am BCP Communion 9.30am Communion 10.30am Coffee 11am Family Celebration 12pm Champagne Dec 28th 11am
Simple Communion
January 4th 2015 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Service at the Activity Zone & Pool Party
LU K E 1 : 2 6 - 3 8 26
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ 29
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants for ever; his kingdom will never end.’ 34
‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’
35
The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.’
38
‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her. Additional Reading:
2 Samuel 7:1-11,16
DISCIPLESHIP 1.
Read back in Luke 1 to discover more about Elizabeth and her pregnancy.
2.
In what way was Elizabeth’s pregnancy helpful to Mary?
3.
Who is Elizabeth’s son? How does he relate to Jesus a) in the womb, b) as a teenager, and c) in ministry?
4. 5.
6.
Is Mary’s free will violated in this passage? See v37. What word’s do you feel that God has spoken over your life? How do you relate to them as 2015 begins? What is at the heart of verse 38?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday 22nd Psalm 113 1 Sam 1 Luke 1:46-56 Tuesday Psalm 25 Malachi 4 Luke 1:57-66 Christmas Eve Psalm 89 2 Sam 7 Luke 1:67-79 Christmas Day Psalm 96 Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:1-20 Boxing Day (St Stephen) Psalm 119:161-168 Acts 7:51-end Matthew 10:1722
TEXT GIVING You can now give to the ministry and mission of Malmesbury Abbey, and gift aid it, via text. Text 70070 and enter the code MALM12 when requested.
PERSECUTED CHURCH
CTIM VOUCHERS
Starting in the New Year we will be meeting at Eilmer House on the first Tuesday of every month at 2.30pm. So the first one will be on Tuesday 6 January. Hope you can come along and support our fellow Christians who face a lot of challenges for following Christ. More information from Mike Langtree or the Parish Office.
Thanks to everyone who very generously contributed towards the Christmas Vouchers this year in whatever way – together we raised over £2,000 and have been able to help 60 local families again. A great example of the church in action in our community!
8AM BCP CHANGE
N E W Y E A R ’ S D AY
From Sunday 4th January 2015 our 8am BCP Communion at the Abbey will be moving one hour later to 9am. Exactly the same service, quiet, 17th century English, with a short sermon, but at a new time to encourage a few more faces. The vicar and churchwardens will review this new time in the summer of 2015 so please give us any feedback as this new time settles in.
All are welcome at the Vicarage on New Years Day at 2pm to walk the Malmesbury River Walk together and then return to the Vicarage for an open fire, cake and hot drinks, or even something stronger. Bring wellies and suitable clothing and of course bring your cake etc to share. Keep an eye on the weather, if it’s really atrocious the walk may be cancelled, but the cake and the fire won’t be.
HEBREWS FOR EVERYONE To accompany our January & February series from the letter to the Hebrews we are recommending Tom Wright’s book Hebrews for Everyone; available at the Abbey Bookshop for £8.50 (rrp £9.99). An ideal Christmas present.
THANK YOU & HAPPY CHRISTMAS Neill & Marilyn and all the leadership and staff of the Abbey would like to thank you for your cards, gifts and prayers this Christmas; it is a joy to celebrate the birth of our Saviour together. Our love and prayers for a fruitful 2015 in His service. Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
2 0 1 4 A D VE N T & C HR I S T MA S D I A RY Nov 30th
Advent Sunday, 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm All-age Communion
Dec 5th
6.30pm Advent Carol Service by Candlelight 7.30pm Acoustic Nine Lessons—Gareth Davies-Jones
Dec 6th Dec 7th
7.30pm Malmesbury Community Choir Concert 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion
Dec 12th Dec 13th
4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church Malmesbury CE Primary School Christmas Service at 10.30am 6-9pm Late Night Shopping—open for mince pies etc Malmesbury Singers Concert at 7.30pm
Dec 14th
8am & 10.30am Holy Communion, 4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church
Dec 17th Dec 20th Dec 21st
Malmesbury School Carol Service at 7.30pm The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm & 7pm) 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion 3pm The Christmas Story for Young Children 6.30pm Service of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm) The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm & 6pm) 11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11.15pm) 8am BCP Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration 12 noon Coffee & Champagne (bring a bottle!)
Dec 23rd Christmas Eve Christmas Day