A D V E N T S U N D AY 2 0 1 4
MESSIAH Vicar’s Blog
Advent is here. Christmas is still way off (so I tell myself), but the Abbey has now turned purple (the liturgical colour of penitence) and Advent is here. Christmas brings joy, new life, and the celebration of salvation birthed in history, not conceptual but incarnate (in flesh.) What does Advent bring? It’s longing, expectation, the hope for salvation, yearning for the coming of the Messiah, the confession of darkness and the prayer for light, or Light. It’s a rich few weeks. This Advent at the Abbey we’re in the first pages of Matthew’s gospel as he explains to his listeners that what they were longing for, the Messiah, had actually arrived. Luke’s nativity is very descriptive, they were abiding in the fields you know (no snow.) John begins mysteriously, Light, full of grace and truth. Mark is in such a rush he dives in with Christ's ministry com-
mencing. But Matthew wants to authenticate Jesus to his audience as Israel's Messiah, and ultimately the world’s Saviour. Ours. We’re skipping Matthew 1:1-16 in our short teaching series. It’s actually an extremely important passage but a bit of a nightmare to read out in church (look at it.) But Matthew is saying, look, the lineage of Jesus, Son of David, Son of Abraham authenticates him as Messiah. On Advent Sunday Matthew 1:1725 presents us with a crucial word from Isaiah 7:14: Immanuel (God with us). Matthew is bringing us Joseph's testimony, and pointing out that the fulfilment of prophecy authenticates Jesus as Messiah. On Dec 7th the Magi in Matthew 2 will arrive a few weeks early to seek the King of the Jews– we normally mark them at Epiphany on January 6th when the world is knee deep in
A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: Advent Sunday 8am 10.30am 4pm 6.30pm
sales and the bulk buying of Easter eggs. Matthew 2 is set in the context of a ferocious spiritual battle, read it with Ephesians 6 in the other hand. In Matthew 2:1-12 we see that the salvation birthed in Jesus is not just for Israel, as Magi from the east, gentiles, come to the Light (no camels by the way.) Jesus is Messiah because other nations are coming to him, and a rather large star says so.
THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 2nd WED 3rd THUR 4th
FRI 5th
SAT 6th Finally on Dec 14th, when we will all be able to smell Christmas pudding in the streets, Matthew 2:1323 paints for us the darkness, the evil, surrounding Christ's birth and his childhood in Egypt. The spiritual battle Matthew is bringing to us is not just about a child, it’s about a cross, and it’s about a Messiah.
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion All-age Communion Advent Carol Service by Candlelight
9.30am Women Alive! 10.30am Communion 10.30am Time for Chat 2pm Thanksgiving for Joyce Mellowes 7pm Choir Practice 9.30am Christmas Tree 7.30pm Gareth DaviesJones Concert 10am The Meeting Place
NEXT SUNDAY: December 7th 8am 10.30am 4pm
BCP Holy Communion Holy Communion Informal Worship, Junior Church & The Grid
ADVANCE Advent & Christmas diary on the back page and in the brochure.
MAT T H E W 1 : 1 7 - 2 5 17
There were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about:
His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ 22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’). 24
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Additional Reading: Isaiah 7:1-4
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Share together your reflections on our teaching and worship from Advent Sunday. 2. Read Matthew 1:1. What is Matthew emphasising and why? 3. Is Mary or Joseph the focus of Matthew’s nativity? In which verse does Mary give birth? Who is missing from Matthew 2:11? 4. How do these three Old Testament passages inform the passage before us: Deut 22:13-22, Deut 24:1, Isaiah 7:1-4 5. What passage at the end of Matthew links to the Immanuel revelation and definition in 1:23? 6. In a) our worship and b) our witness what do we mean when we say God is with us? How is He with us, and how is that manifest?
D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 87 Isaiah 25 Matthew 12:1-21 Tuesday Psalm 74 Isaiah 26:1-13 Matthew 12:22-37 Wednesday Psalm 77 Isaiah 28:1-13 Matthew 12:38-end Thursday Psalm 40 Isaiah 28:14-end Matthew 13:1-23 Friday Psalm 17 Isaiah 29:1-14 Matthew 13:24-43
GIVING To regularly support the mission and worship of the Abbey with your Christian giving please contact Alan McAdam at alan@malmesburyabbey.com
8AM BCP SERVICE
POLISH
From Sunday 4th January 2015 our 8am BCP Communion at the Abbey will be moving one hour later to 9am. Exactly the same service, quiet, 17th century English, but at a new time to encourage a few more faces. The vicar and churchwardens will review this new time in the summer of 2015 so please give us any feedback as this new time settles in.
Do you speak Polish? Do you know somebody who does? Or would you be prepared to learn? The Abbey Bookshop is looking for somebody to refresh our rather outdated Polish visitor leaflet. If you have a suggestion could you contact Rob Hitchings on 01666 824339 or malmesburyabbeybooks@btconnect.com.
IMMERSION
On Sunday 4th January at 4pm there will be a service at the Activity Zone followed by baptisms in the pool and a Junior Church pool party. If you would like to be baptised or reaffirm an earlier baptism, or would like a conversation about it, please contact Revd John Monaghan.
If you are on e-mail and part of our Abbey community we would really like you to be on Sandie’s e-mail circulation every Friday. All you will receive is a link to our weekly News Sheet on issuu and some occasional notices. Please e-mail Sandie at office@malmesburyabbey.com to get connected to this.
GARETH DAVIES-JONES The Nine Lessons Tour 5th Dec 7.30pm
£5 (Student £3) Café/Bar etc www.garethdavies-jones.com
PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS James Cole will inform us of his recent trip to Israel and the West Bank where he met with local Christians and learned about the situation in the Middle East. Join us at 18 West Street on Monday 8 December at 7.30pm to find out.
ABBEY SKATE & NEW WINE 2015 For your diary the dates for Malmesbury Abbey Skate 2015 are February 18th20th and the dates we are attending New Wine (Week 2) are August 2nd-8th.
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
2 0 1 4 A D VE N T & C HR I S T MA S D I A RY Nov 30th
Advent Sunday, 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm All-age Communion
Dec 5th
6.30pm Advent Carol Service by Candlelight 7.30pm Acoustic Nine Lessons—Gareth Davies-Jones
Dec 6th Dec 7th
7.30pm Malmesbury Community Choir Concert 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion
Dec 12th Dec 13th
4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church Malmesbury CE Primary School Christmas Service at 10.30am 6-9pm Late Night Shopping—open for mince pies etc Malmesbury Singers Concert at 7.30pm
Dec 14th
8am & 10.30am Holy Communion, 4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church
Dec 17th Dec 20th Dec 21st
Malmesbury School Carol Service at 7.30pm The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm & 7pm) 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion 3pm The Christmas Story for Young Children 6.30pm Service of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm) The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm & 6pm) 11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11.15pm) 8am BCP Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration 12 noon Coffee & Champagne (bring a bottle!)
Dec 23rd Christmas Eve Christmas Day