25/05/2014 MALMESBURY ABBEY
NEILL WITH CANON STANLEY BYOMUGABE, 2010
Vicar’s blog: partnership In 2010 I had the great privilege to spend 2 weeks with the Anglican Church in Uganda and one week in Kabale, with the Diocese of Kigezi. My host was Canon Stanley Byomugabe (see above), and it was a wonderful chance to eat matoke, to pray and worship with the diocesan leadership each day, to visit schools and watch Canon Stanley dance—Archdeacons don’t tend to do that in the Diocese of Bristol—and to spend a day learning about the inspiring and transformational work of the Diocese of Kigezi Water & Sanitation Project (see cover). Through Tearfund our special harvest collection is given to this project each year. So, although I am sadly away on leave, it is a joy as a congregation to welcome the Bishop of Kigezi, the Rt Revd George Bagamuhunda, and the Revd Reuben Byomuhangi, Director of the Water & Sanitation project, to Malmesbury Abbey for our 10.30am service of Morning Prayer this Sunday, May 25th. We are honoured by their visit. Bishop George will be preaching and Revd Reuben will be interviewed about the project by Revd John Monagahan. During the service our offering will be for the Water & Sanitation Project and after the service we
will be sharing together the food we have brought and spending more time with our visitors. As we looked at Revelation 1, two weeks ago, there was very good and encouraging news, that Christ holds the seven stars, the churches, in his hand. When Christ said ‘I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20) I think our minds naturally travel to the ascended Christ, enthroned, who has sent His Spirit, the Comforter to breathe life into the dry bones of the church. God with us, by his Spirit. But the mysterious writing of Revelation 1 suggests that He is with us always because we are held in his hand. As you stand in Malmesbury Abbey look down and you’ll see a 12th century floor, keep looking and you will see the hand of Christ. And, unless Christ has many, many hands, by implication Kabale Cathedral and Malmesbury Abbey exist in that same hand. So the joining of the Diocese of Kigezi and the Deanery of North Wiltshire is not just the result of a link that has borne fruit over many years, it is the expression of a spiritual reality, the church is one. I pray that God will richly bless Bishop George and Revd Reuben on their visit, and that our link may be blessed by God for many years.
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Abbey Diary THIS SUNDAY: May 25th 8am BCP Holy Communion 10.30am Morning Prayer with Bishop George Bagamuhunda & Revd Reuben Byomuhangi 4pm All-age Communion EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer WED 28th 10.30am Holy Communion THURS 29th 10.30am Time for Chat 4pm Evening Prayer 7pm Choir Practice FRI 30th 10.30am Creative Response SAT 31st 10am Healing in the Streets NEXT SUNDAY: June 1st 8am BCP Holy Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship 6pm The Mix//The Campbells June 3rd June 9th June 20/22 July 2nd July 15th July 28/29 Aug 3rd Sep 13th Oct 7th Oct 17/18 Oct 31st Nov 18th Nov 30th
Glory! Prayer Meeting Small Group pastors training Church Weekend Away Music for Autism WOMAD at the Abbey Holiday at Home New Wine Archbishop in Malmesbury Confirmation at the Abbey BBC History Weekend glo in the dark Junior Church party Glory! Advent Sunday
Revelation 3:1-22 ‘To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 7
‘To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars – I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
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‘To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or
the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Additional Reading: Matthew 10:28-33
small group resource + 1. Pray for God to speak through the reading of his word, and for the inspira2. 3. 4.
5. 6.
tion to see our own lives and ministry together afresh. Ask three readers to read a church each. Take some time, working in three groups, to come up with a sentence that summarises each letter. Then share and explain your answers. Now your three groups are the church leaders in either Sardis, Philadelphia or Laodicea. You have received your letter. How would you practically respond on the ground? What would happen at your meetings? What might need to change individually? Find evidence to show that the church believes both Revelation 3:19 & 20? Pray for Malmesbury Abbey.
daily readings MONDAY Psalm 6 Gen 4:1-16 Rev 6:9-11
TUESDAY Psalm 46 Joel 2:28-32 Rev 6:12-17
WEDNESDAY Ps 119:121-136 Ezekiel 9:1-11 Rev 7:1-8
ASCENSION DAY Psalm 93 Dan 7:9-14 Acts 1:1-11
FRIDAY Psalm 118 Gen 15:1-5 Rev 7:9-17
Glory! On Tuesday June 3rd come to the Abbey at 7.30pm for our bi-monthly prayer meeting Glory! After a word of encouragement from Mandy Churcher, John Monaghan and a small worship team will be leading about 30 minutes of praise and worship; then a time of prayer together as we listen to the Holy Spirit to inspire us and give us voice.
Sermons online Malmesbury Abbey is currently in the middle of a significant project to give us a new image, identity and website design. In the meantime we have started posting our Revelation sermons online at www.malmesburyabbey.com/media
Thanks from Bishop Mike & Bishop Lee "Thank you for all your Church is doing to witness to Jesus Christ in your community: your prayer and worship, your commitment to developing as disciples ,your acts of service and love for each other. And thank you for your commitment to the mission of the Church beyond your parish through what you give in Parish Share. Your gift of ÂŁ80,000 in 2013 and what you have pledged to give in 2014 have enabled us to provide ministry across every area of the Diocese of Bristol".
Archbishop of Canterbury Approximately 20 candidates have so far signed up to be baptised in Malmesbury on Saturday 13th September at 4pm by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Weather permitting this will take place in the river and an outdoor celebration will follow in the Abbey grounds. For more details and to sign up please go to www.abcbaptisms.wordpress.com
Foundation Governors Both Malmesbury CE Primary School and Westonbirt School are looking for people to serve as Foundation Governors, with the particular brief to uphold the Christian distinctiveness of the school. If you would like more information please contact neill@malmesburyabbey.com
Noticeboard Ordinations On Saturday 28th June at 10.30am Linda Sullivan is being ordained Deacon in the Church of England. On Sunday 29th June at 3.30pm Revd John Monaghan is being ordained Priest in the Church of England (John is currently a Deacon.) Both these ordinations take place at Bristol Cathedral. All are very welcome to support Linda and John at these services. If you are intending to go could you let Sandie know by Friday 13th June so she can inform the Cathedral of our numbers. At the Abbey on June 29th there will be one Festival Communion at 11am; preacher, the Revd Linda Sullivan.
Vicar on Rapa Nui Neill is on Easter & annual leave for two weeks between Friday 23rd May and Friday 6th June. Please direct all pastoral enquiries thorough the Parish Office during this time.
May 4th May 11th May 18th May 25th June 1st June 8th June 15th
Revelation 1:1-8 Revelation 1:9-20 Revelation 2 Revelation 3 Revelation 4&5 Revelation 6&7 Revelation 8&9
The Last Word on Scripture The Last Word on Christ The Last Word on the Church (1) The Last Word on the Church (2) The Last Word on Worship The Last Word on Evil The Last Word on Prayer
The Last Word Revelation at Malmesbury Abbey
Contact ABBEY OFFICE Mon &Tues (9.30am-12noon) Weds, Thurs ,Fri, (9.30am-2.30pm) 01666 826666 www.malmesburyabbey.com sandie@malmesburyabbey.com Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com NORMAL CAFÉ HOURS Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 9am-4.30pm Wednesday: 12noon-4.30pm Sunday: Closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com
Hope 2014: Church Weekend Away Please read the flyer available at the back of the Abbey for more information about our programme on a farm in Grittleton. We want as many people to be able to attend as possible, either camping or commuting. It would be helpful if you could sign up as soon as possible by contacting the Parish Office, or on the sign-up sheet at the welcome desk in the Abbey. Come expecting, come to receive, come to worship...
Record! So far £6,308 has been raised locally for this year’s Christian Aid week. Thank you to all that gave and all who worked so hard to collect, bake, wash cars, serve soup, etc. A great team effort and a record collection by churches in Malmesbury
12th CENTURY BEAUTY 21st CENTURY CHURCH