‘All scripture is God-breathed.’
27/10/13 MALMESBURY ABBEY
In October, together we raised £2,485.31 for the African Children’s Choir and £2,770.62 for the Kigezi Water Project. Thank you.
Vicar’s blog: that blue book It was 1990, I’d been singing professionally for a number of years, and working with some decent companies like English and Welsh National Opera. But now the big boys had come knocking and I was on the London Underground, on my way to one of my first performances as a soloist at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden—Beethoven’s Fidelio—the big time. However something much bigger was going on, without costume, make-up or orchestra— I had recently become a Christian. I had grown up in a typical, local C of E church, but nothing had taken root, nothing had grown and a few years at university had left my new found atheism in robust health. But then in 1990, as Marilyn and I took our first daughter for a Christening (hey, I was an atheist without integrity), at that point I heard it. The good news, the voice that eluded my soul for year after year in my childhood suddenly took hold of me, and the doctrines and creeds all seemed unproblematically true. One day I mocked the virgin birth, the next day I believed it—go figure. And so I found myself sitting on a tube, on the way to Covent Garden station, a shiny new Christian with a problem—I didn’t have a Bible. The people I’d met at
church seemed to mention the Bible and even pay attention to the readings and the sermon; weird. So I figured that if I was going to be a proper Christian I should have a copy of the Bible. I dashed into Waterstones, ran to the spirituality section and was horrified to find that there was more than one Bible. I picked the blue one, because Leicester City play in blue, and later discovered that whereas the NRSV was a good choice, Leicester City wasn’t. But then I hit another problem as a went through security at the stage door; sure I had my pass, but maybe just this once they’d search my bag, maybe they’d find my new blue book. In truth it was my identity I thought they might discover. That they might see a man who had decided that to sit with that ancient book was to sit with the voice of God, and to live by that ancient book was to walk the path of God. Well they didn’t search me, and over time the blue book made it out from my bag and onto my dressing room table next to a strong cup of tea, an opera score and some extra strong mints—all essential ingredients for a good performance. And eventually my colleagues would come off the stage, sit down and ask me to pray with them, because they too thought there was something about that blue book; as Eugene Peterson once said, ‘it doesn’t inform us about God, it involves us in God.’
neillarcher.blogspot.co.uk
Abbey Diary SERVICES TODAY: BIBLE SUNDAY 8am 10.30am 4pm
6.30pm
BCP Communion HC & Commissioning of Small Group Pastors All-age Communion & Commissioning of Small Group Pastors Service of thanksgiving for the Faithful Departed
EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 29th 7.30pm Confirmation WED 30th 10.30am Holy Communion NO PIPELINE NO ALPHA THUR 31st 10.30am Pop-In, Le Flambé 12.15pm Regimental Homecoming Service 4pm Evening Prayer 7pm Choir Practice 8pm Men’s Basketball FRI 1st 10.30am Creative Response SAT 2nd ABBEY CLOSED ALL DAY 10am Healing in the Streets NEXT SUNDAY 8am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship, Junior Church & Trax ADVANCE ABBEY DIARY NOV 19th 7.30pm Glory! DEC 1st 6.30pm Advent Carol Service DEC 7th Handel’s Messiah DEC 10th Wiltshire Carol Service DEC 13th Sir James Galway DEC 21-24 The Malmesbury Nativity
2 Timothy 3:10-17 10
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
daily readings MONDAY Psalm 116 Luke 6:12-16
TUESDAY Psalm 36 John 19:1-30
WEDNESDAY Psalm 34 John 19:31-42
THURSDAY Psalm 37 John 20:1-10
FRIDAY Psalm 149 Luke 6:20-31
NB The daily readings above are not thematically linked to our current teaching series, but simply the set Psalm and Gospel passage allocated for Morning Prayer each day in the Church of England. Every day at 9am, in St Aldhelm's Chapel, you are welcome to join a group of 5-10 of us for Morning Prayer, where these passages will be accompanied by an OT reading, a hymn, liturgy and informal prayer. This lasts 25 minutes and is often followed by coffee in the Abbey CafĂŠ.
Additional Reading: Matthew 5:17-20 17
‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practises and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
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Read the Timothy passage. How would you explain verse 15 to your next door neighbour or a colleague at work? What is salvation? According to Timothy what 4 things are the scriptures useful for, what do these 4 things mean, and in what way can a life be ordered to be open to each of these 4 things? What is the purpose of these 4? (see verse 17) What are the 3 key good works in your life the scripture needs applying to? 1st century Christians let the scripture edit their lives, 21st century Christians edit the scriptures to accommodate their lifestyles. Discuss. ‘The scriptures are a mixed blessing because the moment the words are written they are in danger of losing the living resonance of the spoken word and reduced to something that is looked at, studied, interpreted, but not heard personally.’ Discuss.
Abbey Closure The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill, is leading a retreat at the Abbey for churchwarden’s from across the diocese, on Saturday November 2nd. Because of this the Abbey will be closed to visitors all day.
Confirmation this Tuesday This coming Tuesday at 7.30pm the Abbey will be hosting our annual Deanery Confirmation service where 23 people of all ages, but many teenagers, are committing their life to Christ, being prayed for by a Bishop to be filled with God’s Spirit, being commissioned to serve God in the world, and will share the bread and wine of Holy Communion. 4 people are also being baptised, including our own Jessica Shaw; so please make every effort to be there and support Jessica, George, Ethan, Issi and Hannah as they are confirmed.
Foundation Governor With the recent departure of Revd Katie Windle to Oxfordshire the Abbey PCC is looking to appoint new Foundation Governor for Malmesbury CE Primary School, serving alongside Neill, John Jenkins and Tristan Cork. Key responsibilities of a Foundation Governor are ensuring the Christian distinctiveness of the school and good links with the Abbey, as well as the good governance of the school. If you are interested please e-mail neill@malmesburyabbey.com.
Refresh! REFRESH! Tuesday 12 November 7.30-9.30pm Shine Like Stars In The Universe. A creative evening looking at the passage Phil 2:12-18 and using our creative skills to make stars. Mulled cider, cheese & biscuits will be served. For more information and to book for this event contact 01666 826666 or office@malmesburyabbey.com
Noticeboard Scripture Union Today, on Bible Sunday, we welcome the Revd Tim HastieSmith as our guest preacher at both 10.30am and 4pm; Tim serves as the National Director of Scripture Union. Founded 140 years ago, Scripture Union works in over 120 countries making God’s good news known particularly to young people and families and also resources spiritual growth through daily Bible study, midweek groups and prayer. When our children go out to Bubbles, Splash and X-stream we didn’t make those names up—Scripture Union did! SU also work in schools, training and provide summer camps. Find out more at www.scriptureunion.org.uk
Handel’s Messiah The Orchestra of St John The Voices of St John John Lubbock (conductor) Alice Privett (soprano) Roderick Morris (counter-tenor) Christopher Turner (tenor) Bozidar Smiljanic (bass) Malmesbury Abbey Saturday 7th December at 7.30pm Tickets £30 & £25 (under 18s half price) from the Abbey Bookshop or 01666 824339
Contact ABBEY OFFICE Mon &Tues (9.30am-12noon) Weds, Thurs ,Fri, (9.30am-3pm) 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-3pm Wednesday and Sunday: Closed all day clare@malmesburyabbey.com
Thank you One of our three core values at the Abbey is Hospitality. So a big thank you to all those who helped in any way towards the successful visit of the African Children's Choir. To those who welcomed our visitors to their homes, cooked meals, took children to the dentist, sold tickets, welcomed and assisted with the concert - many, many thanks.
Giving at Malmesbury Abbey If you would like to give regularly to the ministry and mission of Malmesbury Abbey, please e-mail chrisjager@malmesburyabbey.com who will painlessly and confidentially guide you through the process.
12th CENTURY BEAUTY 21st CENTURY CHURCH