23RD NOVEMBER 2014
BUDGERIGAR Vicar’s Blog
I was going to call this blog Budget, but I had a hunch that a blog purporting to be about a Budgie might get a wider readership. So some thoughts about our 2015 Budgie. Stability is one of our core values at the Abbey, and finances that honour God are part of that stability. Last weekend our Church Council approved a balanced budget for 2015 based on our income and expenditure from 2014. We prayed about this, prepared thoroughly for our decision making and we were unanimous and particularly pleased that this new budget included the additional cost of our new Children’s & Youth Minister, Andrew Beebee, arriving this January. This Sunday at both 10.30am and 4pm, Alan McAdam, our new Abbey Treasurer, and myself will take 10 minutes to brief you on this and then I’ll lead us in prayer. It will give
you a chance to see broadly where our money comes from and where it goes. And although talking and praying about money can feel awkward in a worship context, it’s certainly a discipleship issue and one the Bible is not silent on. You’ll probably know that Jesus and his disciples were supported financially in their ministry: ‘These women were helping to support them out of their own means.’ (See Luke 8:1-3) The gift of gold from one of the Magi in Matthew 2 also looks like provision for Christ’s early years in exile in Egypt. You’ll also remember that Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ for 30 silver coins (Mt 27:1-5) and served as the money keeper for the disciples (John 12:1-6.) So bringing our budget into our worship is healthy, and a corporate discipleship moment.
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: Christ the King 8am 10.30am 4pm
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid
THIS WEEK Another core value at the Abbey is Creativity. (We try and keep that word disconnected from the word ‘accounting’.) The reason I mention this is I’ve been imagining with Alan what we might do in addition to our anticipated ministry in 2015, if our regular giving went up by 5%. I think we would be looking to bring in a Youth Intern in September 2015 to grow in ministry for a year or two and work alongside our new Children’s & Youth Minister. I think we would be commissioning a new anthem for the choir for next Advent from a composer based in Oslo. I think we’d be looking to put a screen and speaker in the North Aisle to bring the service to the sofas. I think...you probably get the point. Thank you for your attention, prayer and sacrifice around these issues. It honours God.
EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 25th 7.30pm Refresh! WED 26th 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Alpha THUR 27th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice FRI 28th 10.30am Creative Response in Eilmer House SAT 29th 10am The Meeting Place NEXT SUNDAY: Advent Sunday 8am 10.30am 4pm 6.30pm
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion All-age Communion Advent Carol Service by Candlelight
ADVANCE Advent & Christmas diary on the back page and in the brochure. Jan 4th Jan 20th Feb 18th -20th
Baptisms at the pool Glory! Prayer meeting Malmesbury Abbey Skate
MAT T H E W 2 5 : 3 1 - 4 6 31
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34
‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” 37 ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?” 40 ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” 41
‘Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was ill and in prison and you did not look after me.” 44 ‘They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or ill or in prison, and did not help you?” 45 ‘He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” 46 ‘Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’
Additional Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
DISCIPLESHIP 1. In order to catch the context of Matthew 25:31-46, read 24:1-9; 24:36 and the whole of chapter 25. 2. What's the link between the 'Sheep & Goats' and the two preceding stories? 3. 'When the Son of Man comes in glory' (v31). Explore what this means. 4. 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me' (v40). Who is Jesus talking about? (see Mat 10:40-42; 12:48-50).
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 101 Isaiah 17 Matthew 9:35-10:15 Wednesday Psalm 122 Isaiah 19 Matthew 10:16-33
5. What are the implications of this for how we interpret this passage?
Thursday Psalm 133 Isaiah 21:1-12 Matthew 10:34-11:1
6. Jesus' Kingdom is, amongst other things, about reaching the lost, the least and the last. Pray about this together.
Friday Psalm 146 Isaiah 22:1-14 Matthew 11:2-19
GIVING To regularly support the mission and worship of the Abbey with your Christian giving please contact Alan McAdam at alan@malmesburyabbey.com
FOODBANK
BROCHURES
As part of the Abbey’s support of the recently opened Malmesbury Foodbank, located at the URC, there is now a box by the Stewards Desk, and anyone who has a contribution can leave it in the box. For further details please go to malmesburydistrict.foodbank. org.uk or speak to Chris Jager.
Our Advent & Christmas Brochure is now available to view online at issuu.com/malmesburyabbey. As part of our commitment to hospitality and welcome we will also be delivering a print copy to every household in Malmesbury, inviting the entire community to join us and celebrate the birth of Christ. This Sunday can you please take a bundle of brochures and deliver them in the following 48 hours if possible.
IMMERSION
ADVENT CAROLS
On Sunday 4th January at 4pm there will be a service at the Activity Zone followed by baptisms in the pool and a Junior Church pool party. If you would like to be baptised or reaffirm an earlier baptism, or would like a conversation about it, please contact Revd John Monaghan.
Two early events this Advent & Christmas to invite your neighbours and colleagues to. The Abbey Advent Carol Service on Sunday 30th November at 6.30pm is a truly wonderful candlelit act of worship with Bible readings and inspiring music. Very much something you could invite anybody too. And for those for whom choral music isn’t their thing, Friday 5th December at 7.30pm will be a wonderful acoustic evening with Gareth Davies-Jones on guitar and a glass of mulled wine.
NOTICEBOARD REFRESH! Our next Refresh! event takes place in the Abbey this coming Tuesday 25th November @ 7.30pm. We will be finding Inspiration In The Psalms. Sarah Doyley will give a short talk from the Psalms followed by an opportunity to make a scrapbook page using your favourite Psalm led Jane Gray-Willis (no previous experience required!). Jane will be bringing kits and tools to help us but maybe you could think of a favourite Psalm or verse from the Psalms and bring any pictures or photos that might tie in with it. Mulled wine and nibbles will be provided, with a suggested donation of ÂŁ3. Please contact Sandie on office@malmesburyabbey.com or 01666 826666 to book your place. See you there.
CHRISTMAS VOUCHER SCHEME 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.
ABBEY SKATE & NEW WINE 2015 For your diary the dates for Malmesbury Abbey Skate 2015 are February 18th20th and the dates we are attending New Wine (Week 2) are August 2nd-8th.
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