28TH SEPTEMBER 2014
HOSPITALIT Y Vicars Blog
There is a paradox in the Christian faith that I particularly enjoy. The teacher says in Ecclesiastes 1:9, ‘There is nothing new under the sun.’ Got it? That’s simple enough; nothing new. But the prophet says in Isaiah 43:19 ’See, I am doing a new thing.’ OK. Nothing new, and a new thing. God won’t surprise us; God will always surprise us. Solomon and Isaiah should get their act together. In light of that Jeremiah is helpful when he proclaims: ‘This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ (Jeremiah 6:16) The people of God often look backwards to move forwards. You find God in both directions. If we look back through the 1300 year history of Malmesbury Abbey
we find the three core values we’ve got up and running in the 21st century: Hospitality, Stability and Creativity. There is nothing new under the sun. The reason is that if we look at the nature of God we’ll find those same values. The God who invites and breaks bread, the God who is our Rock from everlasting to everlasting, the God that breathes life and energises all of creation. So how do we do hospitality? Benedict wrote to the monastic communities following his Rule ‘Let all guests be received like Christ...let fitting honour be shown to all.’ The kitchen was always close to the altar. Hospitality, for us, is an attitude that allows people to experience the love of Christ in us, and then potentially belong to His community and know the life-changing forgiveness found in Him alone.
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: September 28th 8am 10.30am 4pm 6.30pm
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion with Baptisms All-age Communion Corston Harvest Festival
THIS WEEK An open Abbey helps. A cafĂŠ with astonishing cakes and bacon rolls, Clare and the team offering a smile and pastoral care, and Pam and her faithful team of stewards opening the doors to 60,000 visitors each year. Open homes matter too. With congregations totalling around 350 people we perpetually encourage everybody to get involved in midweek small community life of some sort; or Alpha and Pilgrim for people enquiring about faith. And our Sunday together is also hospitable by design. A deliberately diverse, multi-congregational culture of worship and ministry that helps people of all shapes and sizes meet and draw near to God. You will find worship that inspires you, and most probably worship that irritates you. Stability and Creativity coming in future blogs.
EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 30th 7.30pm Healing Ministry Training WEDS 1st 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Alpha THURS 2nd 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice FRI 3rd 10.30am Creative Response SAT 4th 10am The Meeting Place NEXT SUNDAY: October 5th 8am 10.30am 4pm
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid 6pm The Mix//the Campbells also elsewhere 3.30pm Neill’s Installation as Honorary Canon at Bristol Cathedral 6.30pm Brokenborough Harvest Festival
JOHN 4:46-54 46
Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay ill at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
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‘Unless you people see signs and wonders,’ Jesus told him, ‘you will never believe.’ 49
The royal official said, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ 50
‘Go,’ Jesus replied, ‘your son will live.’
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he enquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, ‘Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.’ 53
Then the father realised that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he and his whole household believed. 54
This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee. Additional Reading: Acts 16:25-34 Next Sunday: John 5:1-15
DISCIPLESHIP 1.
What can you gather from John 2:11, 4:54, 7:31 and 20:30?
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Share together some experiences of God that have felt like significant signs to you and to others; no matter how small. What had been the impact of Jesus turning the water into wine in the community of Cana? Which verse in John 2:1-11 particularly relates to John 4:50b? What mechanisms in your life assist this dimension of Christian discipleship? Read verse 53 and Acts 16:29-34. ‘In our individualistic society, the concept of a household of faith has been lost, even within the church.’ Discuss. Read the John 4 passage again. How is the Spirit asking you to pray?
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D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 150 Daniel 12:1-4 Acts 12:1-11 Tuesday Psalm 36 1 Kings 8:63-9:9 Acts 16:25-end Wednesday Psalm 34 1 Kings 10:1-25 Acts 17:1-15 Thursday Psalm 37 1 Kings 11:1-13 Acts 17:16-end Friday Psalm 31 1 Kings 11:26-end Acts 18:1-21
GIVING To regularly support the mission and worship of the Abbey with your Christian giving please contact Alan McAdam at alan@malmesburyabbey.com
P I LG R I M
G LO I N T H E D A R K
‘A course for the Christian Journey’ Monday 29th September at 2.15pm in Malmesbury Abbey (St Aldhelm’s Chapel). An opportunity to explore and deepen your Christian faith. The first six sessions will be looking at how Christians know and worship God through the Lord’s Prayer. The sessions will include a video clip, a talk and time for discussion. Please contact Revd Peter Yacomeni or Revd Mandy Churcher to let them know if you are interested.
Whatever your age you can be part of this new exciting event on Oct 31st aimed at primary school age children! Before the event we need people to pray, make fairy cakes and sew simple drawstring goody bags (material provided). At the event we need helpers to move chairs, supervise bouncy castles, serve hot dogs and run side shows. If you are able to offer your support for this great community outreach event please contact Gill Shaw (on 825647) or Sandie in the Parish Office.
S U N D AY S T E WA R D S
MAGAZINE THANKS
2 Sunday stewards are urgently required to join the team and keep the Abbey open on the third Sunday of every month between 2pm to 4pm. You will take over from another steward and will be there for the set up of the 4pm service, leaving you just enough time for you to find a seat and join in. If you are interested please talk to either Diana Crowe, Lesley Wilson or Linda Weston or contact the Parish Office.
Many thanks from the Vicar, Churchwardens and the Abbey PCC to David & Janet Barton who produced the Abbey Magazine over many years, and also to the willing volunteers who delivered it. Your hard work and commitment is greatly appreciated. We’d particularly like to encourage our wonderful team that visit the elderly and isolated to take a large print Abbey News Sheet with them as they visit to keep people in touch and to provide regular spiritual input. .
NOTICEBOARD BBC HISTORY Clare Cork needs volunteers to help in the café for the BBC History Weekend. Please contact Clare on cafe@malmesburyabbey.com or 07920793594 if you are ready and willing and don’t mind hearing some outstanding history lectures for free. Thursday 16th October, 4 volunteers needed from 1pm until 7.30pm; Friday 17th October, 4 volunteers needed from 12noon until 7.30pm; Saturday 18th October, 4 volunteers from 9am until 5pm. Thanks!
NEW SMALL GROUP Revd Linda & Chris Sullivan are launching a new small group for people new or new(ish) to our 10.30am congregation. Meeting Wednesdays at 2.30pm to look at the questions on the News Sheet. 01666 822281 for more details.
JANET PARKE IN ZAMBIA Please join us in prayer for Janet Parke, our missionary based in Mukinge, Zambia. We will be meeting on Saturday 4th October in Eilmer House at 10am for coffee followed by prayer. Please contact Jane Druett for details.
THIS HARVEST Dinner for Kigezi, Oct 12th
CONTAC T ABBEY OFFICE Monday (10am-12pm) Tuesday-Friday (9.30am– 3pm) Tel: 01666 826666 sandie@malmesburyabbey.com
CAFÉ HOURS Tuesday-Saturday 9am– 4.30pm 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