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BROADLY Vicar’s Blog

It was really good to have Revd James Pettit with us on May 25th for the launch of the Community of St Aldhelm (see front cover). James was on the staff of the Abbey before his ordination, and because of his passion for Benedictine spirituality, and the fact that he is an immense amount of fun, we have invited James to be ‘Visitor’ to the Community. A visitor, in this context, comes from the outside and asks simple questions like ‘are you doing what you set out to do?’ and ‘is the life of the Holy Spirit at the heart of this?’ Corporate accountability.

We have about 300 adult members at the Abbey at the moment, and a tenth have signed up for CoStA. 30 people adopting a Rule of Life that prioritises prayer, Bible study, Christian community and using our holy imagination in mission. No bad thing at all; I’m in. A number are also

considering joining us as the year progresses, and, for your diary, on September 29th there will be a further opportunity to join the community at a Sung Eucharist at 7.30pm. (There is also now quite a bit about CoStA on the Abbey website.)

It was also good to hear Catherine Price preach as Lay Prior. (The role of Lay Prior is essentially Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act.) Anyway, Catherine described the Abbey as an ecclesiastical tardis – you come in through the doors and there is an awful lot more going on on the inside than seems possible from the outside.

Now, I have been mocked mercilessly by my ‘friends’ who tell me that I use the word ‘broadly’ rather too frequently. But, actually, the Spirit of God seems to be building the Abbey broadly at the moment. Little Stars, Lighthouse, Abbey Arts, really positive links with the Primary School, Advent

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A B B E Y D I A RY SUNDAY MAY 29th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion & Baptisms 4pm All-age Communion & Thanksgiving

Motets by Nico Muhly from New York City, a new roof, the Abbey Kitchen, increased financial giving, women with guns, new ministries and a broader staff and leadership team emerging, and of course CoStA. Not just one new thing, but interesting foundations being placed; broadly.

So the Community of St Aldhelm may not be your sort of thing at all.

That’s absolutely fine, no big deal.

But each of us has a critical part to play in the broader new thing of Spirit in our community. Where do I serve? How do I fit in to the team?

How do I roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty with God?

Neill is on annual leave from May 30th until June 7th, with Marilyn and 40,000 chickens.

WEEK BEGINNING MAY 30th EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer WED 1st 10.30am Communion THUR 2nd 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 3rd 10am The Meeting Place SUNDAY JUNE 5th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Baptisms WEEK BEGINNING JUNE 6th EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 6th 10am Little Stars TUES 7th 2.30pm Prayer for the Persecuted Church WED 8th 10.30am Communion THUR 9th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice FRI 10th 10.30am Creative Response th SAT 11 10am The Meeting Place

LU K E 7 : 1 - 1 7 Luke 7:1-10 (May 29th) When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was ill and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, ‘This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.’ 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: ‘Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, “Go”, and he goes; and that one, “Come”, and he comes. I say to my servant, “Do this”, and he does it.’ 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.’ 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Luke 7:11-17 (June 5th) 11 Soon afterwards, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out – the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’ 14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help his people.’ 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

DA I LY R E A D I N G S F R O M M AY 3 0 T H

FROM JUNE 6TH

Monday Psalm 30 Joshua 14 Luke 12:1-12

Monday Psalm 44 Judges 2 Luke 13:1-9

Tuesday (Mary & Elizabeth) Psalm 113 Zephaniah 3:14-18 Luke 1:39-56

Tuesday Psalm 48 Judges 4:1-23 Luke 13:10-21

Wednesday Psalm 34 Joshua 22:9-end Luke 12:22-31

Wednesday Psalm 119:57-80 Judges 5 Luke 13:22-end

Thursday Psalm 37 Joshua 23 Luke 12:32-40

Thursday Psalm 57 Judges 6:1-24 Luke 14:1-11

Friday Psalm 31 Joshua 24:1-28 Luke 12:41-48

Friday Psalm 51 Judges 6:25-end Luke 14:12-24

E-MAIL If you would like to receive the weekly Abbey e-mail and a link to this News Sheet online please contact Sandie Brown at sandie@malmesburyabbey.com

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

FOOD!

M.I.C.C.

Vicki and Bobby-Jo, who have been worshipping with us at the Abbey for over a year, are being baptised into the Christian family on Sunday 5th June, at 4pm. Please can all bring food so that we can welcome Vicki and Bobby-Jo with a bring and share tea to have after the 4pm service.

Becky Saunders, the Abbey Arts Manager, would like to thank everyone involved in the Music In Country Churches weekend and the visit of HRH The Prince of Wales to the Abbey. Everybody worked so hard and as is usual, the organisers were very impressed with the way everything came together. Many thanks to all – you know who you are! M.I.C.C. were raising money for both Tytherton Kellaways Church and the Abbey.

OPEN DOORS

CHORAL EVENSONGS

Join us to pray for persecuted Christians at 2.30pm on Tuesday 7th June at Mollie's home, 4 Mill Lane.

This meeting coincides with the start of Ramadan, so we will be praying for the opportunities and challenges for Christians living under Sharia Law, and for peaceful relationships between people of all faiths.

A visiting choir, In Ecclesia, are singing Choral Evensong in the Abbey on Saturday 28th May at 6.30pm. All are very welcome to a service led by the vicar.

The next Choral Evensong led by the Abbey Choir is on Sunday June 26th at 6.30pm. Music by Dove, Wesley and Tchesnokov.

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NOTICEBOARD CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2016 Many thanks to all who gave to a really good Christians Aid Week in Malmesbury; we’re getting close to last years’ record total! So far we have a counted total £7,207, including a record Market Cross stall figure of £1,578.

Many thanks to all who made a cake, brought plants and supported the stall on a not very inviting Saturday morning.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN On Sunday 12th June at 10.30am there will be a special service of Holy Communion with Prayers for Her Majesty the Queen, to celebrate Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday. The Town Council and Warden & Freemen are also joining us for a service which will include specially written prayers alongside anthems sung at Her Majesty’s Coronation in June 1953; and of course the National Anthem.

LUKE’S GO SPEL Our teaching series at the Abbey, after moving around a bit for the major Christian Festivals of Easter, Ascension, Pentecost & Trinity, now returns to the gospel of Luke for the summer: May 29th June 5th June 12th June 19th June 26th July 3rd July 10th July 17th July 24th

The Faith of the Centurion (Luke 7:1-10) The Widow’s Son (Luke 7:11-17) The Woman and the Alabaster Jar (Luke 7:36-50) Daughters of God (Luke 8:40-56) 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)

CONTAC T

ABBEY OFFICE

ABBEY KITCHEN

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 ÂŁ1) from 9.30am-10.30am. dan@malmesburyabbey.com

Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com

The Abbey Kitchen

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