26TH JUNE 2016
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SHELTER Vicar’s Blog
God is a shelter and strength for us, a help in straits, readily found. Therefore we fear not when the earth breaks apart, when the mountains collapse in the heart of the seas. (Psalm 46:1-3) We lost. The Vicar’s XI to The Whole Hog XI. Their unimpressive 127 runs off 20 overs was unfortunately very slightly more than our quietly impressive and exquisitely crafted 121 runs. We were a glorious band of sweaty and bloodied brothers, whom the scorer nicknamed The Divine Intervention. (I nearly pointed out that with divine intervention we’d have scored 128.) Anyway, as we were drinking energy drinks after the game, Bruce, the barman from the Whole Hog came around and asked us individually which way we had voted during the
day. After an evening of polling his inebriated customers, by 9.30pm he was confidently predicting a decent majority in favour of leaving the EU. His accuracy, and of course the result itself, gave a surprising quality to Friday morning, and has left some of our brothers and sisters feeling joyous and relieved, and some rather saddened and concerned. My guess is that the national split is reflected in our congregations. And with our different perspectives we will receive the bread and wine of Holy Communion together this Sunday, a body of both diversity and love. And whether our nation is fixing itself or breaking itself over the next few years it won’t hurt is to look back and remember the words of Israel in Psalm 46, which begin this blog. There is something way beyond politics and government. In fact there is someone beyond both.
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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: June 26th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm All-age Communion 6.30pm Choral Evensong
Lifepath is also looking back in the Abbey on Monday & Tuesday next week. Hardworking volunteers from both the Abbey and Scripture Union sharing something of our monastic past. The creativity of the calligraphy and plainsong of the monastery. The imagination of Brother Eilmer as he dared to fly; nearly. Arts and crafts in abundance. But also the substance of prayer, worship, scripture. Hopefully the hundreds of young people that spend a day with us will be blessed by the day itself, and also by the 1300 year testimony of our abbey, that God is our shelter, God is our strength, and God is with us. Always.
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer (Monday & Tuesday in Eilmer House) MON 27th Lifepath TUES 28th Lifepath WED 29th 10.30am Communion THUR 30th 10.30am Time for Chat 2pm Thanksgiving for Peter Greenhill 6.45pm Choir Practice FRI 1st 12pm Funeral, Gerard Jordan nd SAT 2 10am The Meeting Place
NEXT SUNDAY: July 3rd 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church ADVANCE DIARY July 12th Glory! prayer meeting July 13th Refresh! July 19th WOMAD at the Abbey July 25th Holiday at Home (URC) & 26th
LU K E 9 : 5 1 - 6 2 51
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’ 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village. 57
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ 58 Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ 59
He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ 60 Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ 61
Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’ 62 Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’
Additional Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Reflect together as to what you learnt and experienced in our worship and teaching last weekend? 2. Read Luke 9:51-56. What is it that the disciples get so wrong that draws a rebuke from Jesus? When did you last feel helpfully rebuked in your journey with God? And how did it happen? 3. Read Luke 9:57-58. What is Jesus preparing his potential new disciple for? ‘These two verses are completely irrelevant to the contemporary western church.’ Discuss. 4. Read Luke 9:59-60. Why does Jesus pick something so honourable and holy as burying your father to make his point? And what on earth does ‘let the dead bury their own dead’ mean? Is Jesus being over the top? 5. If you are ploughing and you look back then the line in front of you won’t be straight. What point about Christian discipleship is Christ making in verses 61-62?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 98 1 Samuel 1:1-20 Luke 19:28-40 Tuesday Psalm 106 1 Samuel 1:21-2:11 Luke 19:41-end St Peter & St Paul Psalm 125 Acts 12:1-11 Matthew 16:13-19 Thursday Psalm 115 1 Samuel 2:27-end Luke 20:9-19 Friday Psalm139 1 Samuel 3:1-4:1a Luke 20:20-26
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
PERSECUTED CHURCH
REFRESH!
On Tuesday 2nd July at 2.30pm, at Mollie's (4 Mill Lane), there will be a meeting to pray for persecuted Christians. This date coincides with the last day of Ramadan (the previous prayer meeting in June coincided with the first day of Ramadan) so we'll be focusing on areas around the world where Christians live challenging lives among Muslims. More details from Mike Langtree.
Join us at our next event on Wednesday 13th July at 7.30pm in the Abbey. Is this truly what I believe‌.that I am forgiven? There will be a talk followed by a time of discussion, quiet reflection and prayer. A great opportunity for women to get together and encounter God. Refreshments will be served on arrival. Please phone Sandie on 01666 826666 for more information.
CHORAL EVENSONG
PETER GREENHILL
On Sunday 26th June at 6.30pm we will be welcoming the Malmesbury Town Council to the Abbey for Choral Evensong with prayers for the new Mayor of Malmesbury, Mr Wayne Jones. Please support this important service, as we pray for our town and her leaders, and as the choir leads us in worship with music by Wesley, Dove and Balfour Gardiner.
Our dear brother Peter Greenhill passed away peacefully, aged 69. Peter farmed Bottom Farm in Rodbourne and was the churchwarden of our sister church, Holy Rood, Rodbourne for many years. After a private burial in the morning there will be a Service of Thanksgiving in the Abbey at 2pm this Thursday, 30th June, to which all are invited. Please remember Jackie, the family and the community at Rodbourne in your prayers.
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NOTICEBOARD L I T T L E F I S H E S ( A G E S 2 ½- 5 ) We are looking for a new team leader as Gill Shaw is stepping down at the end of this term. Gill has created a very happy group and we are looking for someone to continue this ministry. Gill and her team welcome 3 to 5 children each week. There are also a number of other opportunities to serve our children and young people during the 4pm service. Please contact Andrew Beebee to find out how you could make a difference to young lives. andrew@malmesburyabbey.com/07784333361
TH ANK YO U! Vicky Newman and son Bobby-Joe would like to thank everybody who has helped them over the past month or so, in particular for helping them move into their new home and for the wonderful Baptism Service in the Abbey on 5th June, as well as other generous acts of kindness shown. Vicky has really appreciated all the support that has been given and would like all involved to accept this note as a personal thank you. Thank You!
LUKE’S GO SPEL Our teaching series at the Abbey, continues in the gospel of Luke across the summer months: June 26th July 3rd July 10th July 17th July 24th July 31st Aug 7th Aug 14th
The Cost of Discipleship (Luke 9:51-end) The Seventy-two (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20) The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) Mary & Martha (Luke 10:38-end) The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-13) The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) Treasures in Heaven (Luke 12:32-40) Not peace, but division (Luke 12:49-56)
CONTAC T
ABBEY OFFICE
ABBEY KITCHEN
Monday 9.30am-12pm Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-3pm
Monday- Saturday (normal) 9.30am-4pm
01666 826666 sandie@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
Happy hour (drinks £1) from 9.30am-10.30am. dan@malmesburyabbey.com
Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
MalmesburyAbbeyCafe
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