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PRAY Vicar’s Blog
At Malmesbury Abbey Skate 2013, I stood in the porch as a man and his girlfriend talked with (launched at) me at some length about the desecration of our ancient Abbey by families and children and skateboards and scooters and noise. And that is absolutely fine, this duck’s back has no water on it, there is a serious debate to be had about the use of church buildings, (how many empty buildings does God need for His mission?), and I really don’t mind it when people disagree with me on the details of the mission of the church. With 2 billion Christians on the planet it would be a tad surprising if we agreed all the time; we are one in Christ, not one in mind. What was interesting about this chap was his post later on his blog. There I was the ‘Reverend’ - in inverted commas. There the music at MAS2013 was like ‘demons being released from hell’ - how did he know? There MAS2013 was about
the ‘destruction of Christianity in Britain.’ Seriously? Don’t understate your case. God bless this guy; he is a professional astrologer. I relate this, and publish the simply awesome picture of Revd John Monaghan flying on the front cover, to illustrate the point that many will perceive a clash of culture at Malmesbury Abbey Skate, and many will narrate the event as either the church losing the plot or the church finally finding the plot. But the far more significant clash is not cultural, it is between the Kingdom of God and the dominion of darkness. So, I think we pray. On Facebook last week a debate kicked off about whether it was OK to hold MAS2015 in the Abbey. Nothing wrong with that at all. What was particularly interesting to many of us was that although there were indeed a couple of negative
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comments, by and large all the comments were very positive, and not made by us. The town came out and defended the mission of the church. So if God has caused the town to defend the mission of the church, what might He want us to do? Pray, I think. Pray for our community, pray for MAS2015, for our Children’s & Youth ministries, for our schools, and for Andrew & Jude Beebee as they join us in ministry next Sunday. Speaking on prayer, the Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon once said: ’Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom.’ So, I think we pray.
THIS SUNDAY: January 25th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Morning Prayer & Healing Ministry 4pm All-age Communion 6.30pm Evensong & Informal Concert by the Gentlemen of Bristol Cathedral Choir THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 27th 9.30am Women Alive! WED 28th 10.30am Communion THUR 29th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 31st 10am The Meeting Place
NEXT SUNDAY: February 1st 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Celebration & Commissioning of Andrew Beebee with the Bishop of Bristol and Junior Church 5.30pm Party! ADVANCE Feb 18th Ash Wednesday Feb 18th Malmesbury Abbey Skate -20th 2015
HEBREWS 5:11-6:12 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
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Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 4
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case – the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
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Additional Reading: John 17:6-19
DISCIPLESHIP 1.
Without reading the passage, share together what you think might be the six ‘elementary teachings about Christ’, the six ‘foundations’ that the writer lists in Hebrews 6:1-3’
2.
Now read Hebrews 6:1-3. What do these six actually mean, and which might you change if you were writing the list today? Why?
3.
Read Hebrews 5:11—14. ‘The writer is addressing new Christians hungry to learn.’ Use the passage to say why you agree or disagree with this statement.
4.
Which word in 6:12 supports your conclusion?
5.
How might verses 4-8 affect our attitude to those inside the church? How might it affect our own discipleship?
6.
Read verses 9-12. What do you think the words ‘work’ and ‘diligence’ relate to? How might this relate to you?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 108 Hosea 2:18-3:5 Hebrews 7:1-10 Tuesday Psalm 36 Hosea 4:1-16 Hebrews 7:11-28 Wednesday Psalm 46 Hosea 5:1-7 Hebrews 8 Thursday Psalm 47 Hosea 5:8-6:6 Hebrews 9:1-10 Friday Psalm 65 Hosea 6:7-7:2 Hebrews 9:11-28
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.
BRISTOL CATHEDRAL CHOIR
P I LG R I M
The gentlemen of Bristol Cathedral Choir are singing an additional Choral Evensong on Sunday 25th January at 6.30pm. This is followed by refreshments and then a short informal concert by the gentlemen. All are very welcome.
Pilgrim, a course for the Christian journey, is starting on Monday 26th January, 2.15pm, at the home of Peter & Gillian Yacomeni (19 Townsend Court, Malmesbury). For more information please contact Revd Mandy Churcher on 01666 824416 or mandy@malmesburyabbey.com
A S H W E D N E S D AY
PRAYER x 2
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which for many is a reflective season of prayer, renewal and fasting before the celebrations of Easter. In the Malmesbury & Upper Avon Group there are two penitential services of Holy Communion with Ashing on Ash Wednesday: 10.30am at Eilmer House, and 7pm at All Saints, Corston. (The morning service is moved to Eilmer House because of the Skate Park.)
About 50 people joined together for our Glory! Prayer meeting last week, where we particularly prayed for children and young people’s ministries and MAS 2015. Two more prayer meetings coming soon: Pray for Persecuted Christians in Eilmer House on Tuesday 3rd February at 2.30pm. And Prayers for Janet Parke, praying for her work in Zambia, Thursday 5th February in Eilmer House at 2pm.
NOTICEBOARD
With only 3 weeks to go, we are super excited about launching our Abbey Skate 2015, which takes place Wed 18th - Fri 20th February. This three day event runs all day from 10am to 9pm and is open to all ages and all abilities! Invite your friends and family, get out your scooter, your skateboard or your roller skates and come and join with us! Book your tickets on-line before they sell out: www.malmesburyabbey.com/skate Volunteers needed - This event, which is an extraordinary opportunity to share God’s love with people in our town, is dependent on your support. To combat ‘someone-else-can-do-it’ syndrome (!), please pray about what help you can offer and pop the dates in your diary so that prayer can turn into action! If you’ve got a pulse (even with the help of a pacemaker!), you can help. We need people to offer accommodation to the lovely Christian Skaters UK team, people to welcome at the door, people to help out with admin, sound, set-up, prayer and catering (even if it’s making just one meal). Please contact john@malmesburyabbey.com for more information or to sign up, or write your name on the sign up sheet on the welcome desk in the Abbey. Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
CONTAC T ABBEY OFFICE Monday (10am-12noon) Tuesday-Friday (9.30am– 3pm) Tel: 01666 826666 sandie@malmesburyabbey.com
CAFÉ HOURS Tuesday-Saturday (normal) 9am– 3.30pm Sunday & Monday closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com
www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
12th CENTURY BEAUT Y 21st CENTURY CHURCH