PA L M S U N D AY 2 0 1 5
THREE CROSSES Vicar’s Blog
There was a bit of a eureka moment in the Abbey last week as the team was preparing for the late-night Garden Labyrinth (pictured on the front cover.) As the sun was setting, we placed a light near to the large wooden cross standing between the choir stalls. Just as we expected it cast an impressive shadow of a cross on the East Wall. But then we realised that if we carefully placed three lights in front of the cross that we would recreate the three crosses of Calvary: the cross of Christ and the crosses of the two criminals executed on either side of Christ. The result was breathtaking, immense, and made even more powerful as the night darkened. The shadows gave the crucifixion of Christ the context of the other two executions. One criminal, on his cross, hurling insults at Jesus and
ridiculing his claims to be the Son of God. The spirit that was within him is alive today, defeated but alive, and continues to mock Christ. But the other criminal responds quite differently; he confesses three things. He confesses that he is guilty as charged. He confesses that Christ is innocent. And he confesses his need for Christ. (You can read the account in Luke 23:39-43) My uncle moved to Malmesbury seven years ago. He was an atheist all his life. He loved seeing my name on the board outside the Abbey when he did his evening walks, he thought it was a good thing, but, without any animosity, he didn’t believe. Sadly, a few years ago he died of throat cancer and I visited him in his final days in hospital with my dad. He couldn’t speak by then, only squeeze my hand and shake his head. Two days before he
FRONT COVER: The Garden Labyrinth Photography, Robert Peel
A B B E Y D I A RY PALM SUNDAY: March 29th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Outdoor Holy Communion Preacher: Bishop Lee 4pm Café Service & Junior church
died I could tell that he wanted something. What followed was a slightly ludicrous series of exchanges, hand squeezes and nods. Do you want a nurse? No. Do you want us to go? No. Do you want a doctor? No. Do you need the toilet? No. Finally I tried… do you want to pray? Yes. Great timing Uncle John. A hand squeeze was enough for God. When I think of my uncle, I remember that there were three crosses at Calvary and I think of ‘the other criminal’ and his words shortly before he died: ‘Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And of course I remember the hope that Christ then spoke from his cross: ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’
SERVICES THIS WEEK MON 29th 9am Morning Prayer TUES 30th 9am Morning Prayer WED 31st 9am Morning Prayer 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Glory! MAUNDY THUSDAY 9am Holy Communion 10pm Service of the Garden GOOD FRIDAY 9am Morning Prayer 10.30am Service of the Cross 12 noon March of Witness 6.30pm Devotional Concert 8pm Service of the Tomb EASTER EVE 7pm Easter from Malmesbury Abbey with BBC Wiltshire EASTER DAY 6am Dawn Service 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Easter Celebration 6.30pm Choral Evensong
JOHN 12:12-16 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the king of Israel!’ 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written: 15 ‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’ 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 12
Additional Reading: Psalm 118:19-29
DISCIPLESHIP 1.
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Jesus disciples went with him into Jerusalem. Using scriptural references wherever possible, describe the week that followed for Peter, Judas Iscariot and Mary Magdalene. On reflection where were their hearts on Palm Sunday? What changes for them? ‘Hosanna’ only occurs in the Old Testament in Psalm 118:25 where it is often translated ‘LORD save us.’ Read the whole psalm. Why does the crowd reference it altogether as Christ enters Jerusalem? Read Zechariah 9:9-10. Some scholars describe Palm Sunday as the ‘anti-Triumphal’ entry into Jerusalem. In what way does Jesus challenge the power of imperial Rome, and power in our own societies, by his entrance?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 41 Lamentations 1:1-12a Luke 22:1-23 Tuesday Psalm 27 Lamentations 3:1-18 Luke 22:24-53 Wednesday Psalm 102 Jeremiah 11:18-20 Luke 22:54-end Maundy Thursday Psalm 42, 43 Exodus 12:1-4,11-14 John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Good Friday Psalm 69 Genesis 22:1-18 Hebrews 10:1-10
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.
B B C W I LT S H I R E
GERRY MONK
For those interested, and awake early enough, Neill is to be Graham Rogers’ guest in the studio this Palm Sunday morning on BBC Radio Wiltshire. An interview about our Holy Week events, particularly Easter from Malmesbury Abbey, and also a thought for the day, sometime after 7.30am, on 103.5FM.
Our dear brother Gerry Monk passed away peacefully on Thursday morning. We give thanks to God for his life. Please remember Margaret, Jacqueline & Tim in your prayers. The funeral will be at Malmesbury Abbey on Thursday April 9th at 2.30pm.
P R AY E R
ABBEY GUILD
Pray for persecuted Christians around the world on Tuesday 7th April at 2.30pm at Eilmer House. This month we will continue to focus on those national leaders leading countries where it is most challenging to be a Christian. More information from Mike Langtree.
Revd David Post from Leicester is giving a presentation entitled ‘Spotlight on Baghdad’ at the next Abbey Guild meeting on Tuesday 14th April at 2.30pm in the King’s Church, Abbey Row. David has upto-date information about the Church in Baghdad and the Middle East. The organisation he represents is FRRME - Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East. Refreshments and a warm welcome awaits all those who can come.
12th CENTURY BEAUT Y 21st CENTURY CHURCH
NOTICEBOARD C A F É H E L P E R S F O R H O LY W E E K Clare is still in need of a few more helpers over the Holy Week and Easter period in the Abbey Café. If you can spare an hour or two please contact Clare directly on cafe@malmesburyabbey.com
ELEC TOR AL ROLL The Electoral Roll of Malmesbury Abbey is the formal list we keep of all those adults who consider the Abbey to be their normal place of worship. Those on the Electoral Roll can vote in our annual elections for churchwardens and church council members, and they are also eligible to stand for election themselves. We are currently updating the list, which is also useful communications data for us, and would really want to encourage everybody who isn’t on the Electoral Roll to fill in a cream form at the Abbey this Sunday. If you are reading this while away on holiday and would like to be added to the roll, please e-mail Sandie, office@malmesburyabbey.com, and we’ll make a note and catch up with the paperwork on your return. Many thanks.
RACHEL ROBERTSON Rachel Robertson, who has been selected for ordination by the Diocese of London, will be moving to Malmesbury this summer and joining us at the Abbey as she studies for her M.A. at Trinity College, Bristol for two years. Rachel is married to Dan, who will be studying at the University of Agriculture in Cirencester, and they have three children.
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
HOLY WEEK FESTIVAL 2015 MAR 23-28 THE GARDEN LABYRINTH MAR 25 & 27 LATE NIGHT LABYRINTH MAR 28 ART//STATIONS OF THE CROSS Meet the artists (10am) MAR 28 COMEDY & JAZZ //PAUL KERENSA with PETER JAMES & ROSIE ARCHER* MAR 29 THE KAIROS ENSEMBLE//REJOICING BLUES* MAR 30 PROFESSOR SIMON CONWAY MORRIS* ‘Does the Resurrection make scientific sense?’ MAR 31 THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1923)* with Anthony Hammond (organ) APR 1 GLORY! PRAYER APR 2 THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC* JS Bach & Messaien Quartet for the End of Time GOOD FRIDAY ALLEGRI, PURCELL & HANDEL (6.30pm) APR 4 BBC WILTSHIRE//EASTER FROM MALMESBURY ABBEY* (7pm) EASTER DAY SERVICES at 6am, 9am, 10.30am, 4pm & 6.30pm Events at 7.30p m unless otherwise stated Full brochure at issuu.com/malmesburyabbey *Tickets now available from the Abbey Bookshop or at www.ticketsource/malmesburyabbey