22ND NOVEMBER 2015
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INVITATION Vicar’s Blog
There is profound, arresting mystery at the beginning of John’s gospel.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Each year this text is proclaimed at the heart of our Christmas worship together. We go to Bethlehem together, we wait for the birth, the angels and the shepherds; and then we look beyond. Way beyond. But John 1 doesn’t stop with mystery, darkness and light. There are a lot of feet on the ground, there is a lot of energy and there are a lot
of people speaking about Christ. First, John the Baptist proclaims, to all that would hear, that the Holy Spirit of God rested upon Jesus as he was baptized in the Jordan, and that this Jesus ‘is the Son of God.’ (John 1:34) But then others join in. John points out Jesus, Andrew sees him, follows him and then gets his brother Simon Peter. Then Jesus finds Philip who gets Nathanael who’d been doing something under a fig tree. I like it that these men were prepared to be interrupted, inconvenienced, to make space in their lives for something different, and to risk key friendships and relationships in their willingness to introduce others to Christ. Now I don’t mind it at all if you go about your business in the next few days introducing all your friends and neighbours and relatives to Christ. By all means ring their doorbell and take
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: November 22nd 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion & Baptism 4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church. it from there. But another option is available. Invite people. Invite as many people as possible to come to every single Advent & Christmas event at the Abbey. Then pray, really pray, that in the midst of the fun, the beauty, the readings and the music, the Spirit of God will introduce many to the Mystery of God that we proclaim.
Advent Carol Service by Candlelight. Saturday 28th November & Sunday 29th November at 6.30pm. Free tickets still available; or admission on the door.
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 24th 7.30pm Glory! WED 25th 10.30am Communion THUR 26th 10.30am Time for Chat 1.30pm Prayers for Janet Parke in Eilmer House 7pm Choir Practice th FRI 27 10.30am Creative Resp. th SAT 28 10am The Meeting Place 6.30pm Advent Carol Service 1 ADVENT SUNDAY: November 29th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm All-age Communion 6.30pm Advent Carol Service 2 ADVANCE Dec 6th 7.30pm James McVinnnie Organ Recital th Dec 9 7.30pm The Nativity in Art – Dean David Hoyle
R E V E L AT I O N 1: 4 b - 8 Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7
‘Look, he is coming with the clouds,’ and ‘every eye will see him, even those who pierced him’; and all peoples on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’ So shall it be! Amen. 8
‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’ Additional Reading: John 18:33-37 33
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ 34 ‘Is that your own idea,’ Jesus asked, ‘or did others talk to you about me?’ 35 ‘Am I a Jew?’ Pilate replied. ‘Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?’ 36 Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ 37 ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’
DISCIPLESHIP 1. A reflective approach to Revelation 1:4b-8. Welcome God’s holy presence, then read the passage slowly and then keep a minute or two in silence. 2. Read the passage again and then share together which word or phrase the Holy Spirit has highlighted to you. 3. Read the passage again, and then ask God to reveal to you a deeper personal application or revelation relating to your earlier word or passage. Take 5-10 minutes in stillness for this.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 80 Isaiah 14:3-20 Matthew 9:18-34 Tuesday Psalm 89:1-18 Isaiah 17 Matthew 9:35-10:15 Wednesday Psalm 112 Isaiah 19 Matthew 10:16-33
4. In twos or threes share how the Spirit has been speaking and then pray for each other.
Thursday Psalm 92 Isaiah 21:1-12 Matthew 10:34-11:1
5. Join together and pray for the reign of Christ, Alpha & Omega, to come in areas of need in our lives and the world.
Friday Psalm 88 Isaiah 22:1-14 Matthew 11:2-19
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
GLORY !
O R G A N R E C I TA L
At 7.30pm this Tuesday, 24th November, we join together for an extended time of worship and prayer finishing at approximately 9pm. Please come, and come as small groups together as we continue to prioritise corporate prayer in the life of the Abbey. This is our last Glory! prayer meeting in 2015.
Don’t miss James McVinnie’s Organ Recital on Sunday 6th December at 7.30pm. The programme includes JS Bach’s Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor; the local premiere of Nico Muhly’s Seven O Antiphon Preludes; and movements from Olivier Messaien’s La Nativité du Seigneur. Tickets (£5) now available. jamesmcvinnie.co.uk
J A N E T PA R K E
FOOD VOUCHERS
Please join us as we prayer for Janet Parke, our SIMS Missionary working in Zambia. Our next meeting will be on Thursday 26th November at 1.30pm in Eilmer House.
Thank you very much for generously contributing so far towards the food voucher scheme that helps local families on a low income celebrate Christmas. This is the last week to make a donation and more envelopes are available at the back of the church if you have left it at home or need another one! Your envelope can be placed in the collection during the service. Thank you for helping to make sure this event continues to be a success.
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NOTICEBOARD A S S I S TA N T M A N A G E R As Nicole Hitchings prepares to leave us, Malmesbury Abbey Kitchen is looking to appoint a part-time Assistant Manager. You will be an energetic, flexible and enthusiastic person with great people skills. We are looking for someone who is committed to the ethos and community of the Abbey. Key to this role will be cafĂŠ/hospitality experience as the job entails managing and supporting volunteers, food preparation to a high standard, stock ordering and a massive smile for our regulars and visitors. Approximately 26 hours a week, working shifts 5 days on, 2 days off. (12:30-4:30pm Tuesday-Friday, 8:30am-4: 30pm Saturday.) Please e-mail your C.V to dan@malmesburyabbey.com or call Dan on 07817594007 to arrange an interview.
Malmesbury Abbey Skate are delighted to be supported by Waitrose Community Matters for the whole month of November, so please collect your green tokens when you visit, and put them in the Abbey Skate Charity Box on your way out when you shop! The more tokens we collect, the more we raise for purchasing soft-play equipment for our big launch of Abbey Soft-play on 15th/16th February. We aim to run a weekly soft-play session in the Abbey commencing from this date.
ABBEY ADVEN T & CH RI STMAS D IARY 201 5 Sat 28th Nov Sun 29th Nov
Fri 4th Dec Sat 5th Dec Sun 6th Dec
Wed 9th Dec Thu 10th Dec Sat 12th Dec Sun 13th Dec
Wed 16th Dec Sat 19th Dec Sun 20th Dec
Wed 23rd Dec
6.30pm Advent Carols by Candlelight 1 ADVENT SUNDAY 9am & 10.30am Advent Holy Communion 4pm All-age Advent Communion 6.30pm Advent Carols by Candlelight 2 7pm Youth Action Wiltshire Carol Service 7.30pm Malmesbury Community Choir Christmas Concert ADVENT II 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 7.30pm Organ Recital – James McVinnie (Bach, Muhly & Messiaen) 7.30pm The Nativity in Art – talk by Dean David Hoyle 10am Malmesbury CE Primary School Christmas Service 7.30pm Malmesbury Singers Christmas Concert ADVENT III 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 7.30pm Malmesbury School Carol Service 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 1 ADVENT IV 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 3pm The Puppet Nativity for younger children 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 2 7pm The Malmesbury Nativity
Thurs 24th Dec
CHRISTMAS EVE 1pm, 3pm & 5pm The Malmesbury Nativity 11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11.15pm)
Fri 25th Dec
CHRISTMAS DAY 9am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration 12 noon Coffee & Champagne (bring a bottle)