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CREATIVIT Y Vicar’s Blog
Another time, another church. After an informal service I invited a few people to come forward and share with the congregation how they had become followers of Christ. We’ve all heard testimonies before, we all have our own stories in fact, and I thought I knew what to expect. A big bloke with a beard walked up. ‘I was out hiking’ he said, ‘and I walked into a perfect village church for a breather. Inside the building was completely full of floral displays as part of a flower festival. It was just as if I had walked into the smile of God. I was totally overwhelmed by the beauty and love and gave my life to God.’ I later had a quiet corrective word with God about using something I was allergic to to bring salvation. I also specifically asked him to never, ever use decaffeinated coffee or the music of John Rutter for similar purposes.
Next, a quiet lady came and shared with tender intimacy that she had lost both her husband and her mother in the same month. And that it was there, in the midst of her profound grief, that she met with God. Finally, another lady came forward and said: ‘I was listening to Chopin piano music over a number of weeks, and the more I listened to the music the more I heard the pain of the cross of Jesus, and that Easter I gave my life to Christ.’ I didn’t expect any of these; I had forgotten how creative God is. As Creation was birthed, the breath of God, the wind of the Spirit, swept across the face of the waters. And the Creator Spirit is still bringing life, beauty and salvation right around us. We’re dull, and we miss it, but we should really only be surprised if the
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: October 25th 9am BCP Communion in Eilmer House 10.30am Holy Communion with Springs Dance Co. 4pm All-age Communion with Springs Dance Co.
Holy Spirit isn’t speaking to us through nature, art, craft, dance, music, song, story. This Sunday at the Abbey we focus on our second core value as a church: Creativity. Springs Dance Company are joining us (see front cover), the choir are singing Russian Orthodox music, and Creative Response have created a display at the back of the Abbey. We simply need to turn up, and perhaps pray this 9th century prayer:
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, and in our hearts take up Thy rest; come with Thy grace and heavenly aid, to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer WED 28th 10.30am Communion THUR 29th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice FRI 30th 10.30am Creative Response st SAT 31 10am The Meeting Place 6.30pm Light Party
NEXT SUNDAY: November 1st 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church & Wave 6.30pm Service of Thanksgiving for the Faithful Departed ADVANCE Nov 4th 7.30pm Confirmation Nov 24th 7.30pm Glory! Nov 28th 6.30pm Advent Carols I Nov 29th 6.30pm Advent Carols II
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Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
Revelation 18:21-24 21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: ‘With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again. 22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No worker of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again. 23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world’s important people. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. 24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.’ NEXT SUNDAY: Colossians 3:12-17; The Community of St Aldhelm.
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Reflect on our learning and our worship together last Sunday. What was being said? How did you meet with God through dance and music, or not? How did the Holy Spirit particularly speak or inspire you? 2. Read Genesis 4:17-22. In this passage what appears to be emerging at the heart of early human life? 3. Read (or shout) Psalm 150. How far is our experience of worship and music from this text? What are the four main things that keep us from personal and corporate exuberance in worship, and how might this be rectified? 4. Read the Revelation passage. What characterises the fall of Babylon? What is it saying to us about the new heaven and the new earth? 5. Read Colossians 3:16. What does the text mean? How might it inform our small group life? 6. Praise God.
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 1 Ecclesiastes 1 John 17:1-5 Tuesday Psalm 5 Ecclesiastes 2 John 17:6-19 Wednesday Psalm 11 Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 John 17:20-end Thursday Psalm 15 Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16 John 18:1-11 Friday Psalm 19 Ecclesiastes 5 John 18:12-27
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
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N E W HE A DTE AC HE R
Join us as we pray for persecuted Christians in Iraq and Syria; and hear what God is doing amongst all the suffering and turmoil. We meet at 2.30pm on Tuesday 3 November in the Deanery Office. (Please note the new venue, immediately next to the Parish Office). Further details from Mike Langtree.
After an interview process before half-term, the foundation governors are delighted to announce that, from January 1st 2016, Mr Stephen Heal is to be the new Head Teacher of Malmesbury CE Primary School. Stephen is currently head of Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Calne. Please pray for Stephen and all our staff at the Primary School in this time of transition, and for Mr Jeff Staton as he prepares for retirement.
KIGEZI
C O N F I R M AT I O N
Many thanks to all who very generously contributed to our Harvest offering which, as in future years, is going via Tearfund to the Kigezi Diocese Water & Sanitation Project in Southern Uganda. ÂŁ1,832 was collected this year, including gift-aid recovery, which will transform the lives of many over the coming months.
The Rt Revd Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol, is with us on Wednesday 4th November at 7.30pm for a service of Holy Communion with Confirmation. 14 people, of all ages, from across the North Wilts Deanery, are being confirmed. Please make every effort to come and support them and hear an inspirational word from Bishop Mike. Please be seated by 7.20pm if possible.
Malmesbury Abbey is a Tearfund Connected Church.
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NOTICEBOARD L I G H T PA R T Y Everyone aged 4 to 11 is welcome to our Light Party on Saturday 31st October, 6:30pm to 8:30pm in Malmesbury Abbey. There will be scalextric racing, a bouncy castle, inflatable obstacle course, goodie bags, hotdogs, cake, nail bar, glow sticks and so much more! Tickets are only available in advance - don't miss out! Tickets cost ÂŁ3 and can be purchased from Malmesbury Abbey Bookshop. Please spread the word and invite your friends!
L I G H T PA R T Y V O L U N T E E R S We are expecting over 100 primary aged children this year for our Light Party. Please join the team to make this event even more fun than last year, if that's possible! We need help setting up on Saturday morning (9am to 12pm) as well as during the event (6pm to 8:30pm) and with pack down (8:30pm to 10pm). Please email Andrew Beebee a.s.a.p. if you are available to help: andrew@malmesburyabbey.com.
CAROL SERVICES BY CANDLELIGHT Advance notice that because of the incredible popularity of our Abbey Advent Carol Service and our Nine Lessons & Carols at Christmas we will be having two of each this year. Advent Carols on 28th & 29th November at 6.30pm, and the Nine Lessons on 19th & 20th December at 6.30pm. Please work out which you’ll be coming too and pick up free tickets, which will be available from Sunday November 1st.
CONTAC T
ABBEY OFFICE
ABBEY KITCHEN
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