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GENERATIONS Vicar’s Blog

The broadcaster Adrian Chiles revealed recently that he’d been to church every day in Lent. He is a Catholic Christian so he resolved to go to mass each day wherever he was working. Writing honestly he said that he found it a rich and rewarding experience not a penance, that some of the priests were grumpy to the point of malevolence, that he liked the brevity of a service without lengthy orations, and that the average age of communicants was about 70. Clearly this is not just an issue that the Catholic community is facing – the age profile of membership that is, not the malevolence of the vicar.

Here are some words from the Bishop of Bristol recently: ’50 years ago churches largely reflected the demographics of their context, today they are markedly different. Put simply, churches have not successfully retained young people as they move

into adulthood.’ He added: ‘The low numbers of people between the ages of 10 to 40 who are part of our churches means that the future strength of the church is in doubt.’

With that context in the back of my mind, I look at the present life in the Abbey and celebrate that the Spirit is bringing life and growth, not just to Methuselahs like me.

Andrew Beebee and his amazing team currently work with 40-45 young people on a Sunday. That’s OK we feel, but the PCC are working to resource Andrew’s vision in the next 18-24 months so that that figure will creep far closer to three figures. More from Andrew shortly about great developments this autumn, but pray for a season of fruitfulness and growth in our Junior Church & Youth Ministries. We’re interested in what people do when they get off a skateboard too.

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A B B E Y D I A RY THIS SUNDAY: MAY 31st 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Café Service with Junior Church

Additionally the last year has also seen an encouraging influx of people in their 20s and 30s, mainly centred around our 4pm service.

Our challenge is to develop leadership and worship that reflects that changing demographic. Look out for six emerging leaders (aged 20-40) exploring what it means to lead and preach in our context: Rachel Robertson, joining us from London shortly, plus Annie Davis, Sarah Doyley, Tom Hunton, Dave Richards & Jen Richards; three of them preaching this Sunday.

Psalm 89 begins: ‘I will sing of the LORD’s great love for ever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.’ All generations; yes, let’s do that.

THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer TUES 2nd 9.30am Women Alive!

2.30pm Prayer for Persecuted Christians in Eilmer House rd WED 3 10.30am Communion th THURS 4 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice th SAT 6 10am The Meeting Place

NEXT SUNDAY: June 7th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Baptisms ADVANCE June 19th Riding Lights Roughshod June 23rd Glory!

June 29th Lifepath project June 30th Lifepath project July 5th Ordination as priest of Revd Linda Sullivan

AC T S 2 : 3 8 - 4 7 38

Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.’ 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ 41 Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

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They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Additional Reading: Matthew 19:16-24

DISCIPLESHIP 1. Read verse 42. Who are ‘they’?

What is their ethnicity, faith background, demographic?

Would they have been naturally receptive to Peter’s message?

2. Read the entire passage. Peter offered the 3000 salvation from a corrupt generation and the gift of the Holy Spirit. What did this new church offer to God in return?

3. See verse 43. Has God decided that the 21st century church should no longer be ‘filled with awe’? What is manifestly awesome in our Christian journey, when were you last filled with awe? How might we reconfigure church and Christian life to become more awe-full?

4. See verse 46. Every day? Has the Western church (i.e. us) just got the whole concept of church wrong? Should we be defined by daily breaking of bread and meeting together rather than weekly attendance? What role might the Abbey Café play in the re-imagination of church?

D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday Psalm 2 2 Chronicles 26 Romans 4:1-12 Tuesday Psalm 5 2 Chronicles 28 Romans 4:13-end Wednesday Psalm 119:1-32 2 Chronicles 29:1-19 Romans 5:1-11 Thursday Psalm 15 2 Chronicles 29:20-end Romans 5:12-end Friday Psalm 19 2 Chronicles 30 Romans 6:1-14

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

L I F E PAT H H O S T S

PERSECUTED CHURCH

We are still looking for a number of overnight hosts for our Lifepath project with Scripture Union. If you might have a spare bed and a bowl of cornflakes going on June 28th & 29th could you speak to Alice Langtree after the 10.30am Service, or Sarah Doyley after the 4pm Service this Sunday.

Alternatively please contact them or the Parish Office directly.

Join the Open Doors group as we pray for individuals facing persecution around the world and h ear encouraging testimony regarding answered prayer. This coming Tuesday, Eilmer House at 2.30pm.

M I N I S T R Y A S S I S TA N T

C A F É U P D AT E

We are exploring appointing a Ministry Assistant this September to work alongside Andrew in our Children’s and Youth ministry. This is a one-year training opportunity, serving, developing gifts and deepening discipleship. We would like a member of our church family to host them during this important year. If you have a spare room and you would like to find out more about being a host please speak to Andrew on 07784 3333361.

With the Cork family shortly moving to Bristol, we’re sad to announce that Clare Cork will be stepping down as manager of the Abbey Café from Friday June 19th.

Please pray for Clare and the family at a time of great change, and for Neill and the café directors as they make preparations for transition and a new appointment.

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NOTICEBOARD CAKE This Sunday at 4pm we will be reconfiguring the furniture at the Abbey and setting up for informal Café Church. (Volunteers are welcome at 12.30pm Sunday for the set-up.) After our children leave for Junior Church we will have sung worship, three speakers (Sarah, Jen & Tom) and plenty of dicussion, prayer and even a quiz around our tables. And to accompany the coffee and tea you are invited to bring cakes, sandwiches, essentially bring anything you’d like to share with others. All the remains at 5.30pm will no doubt be Dyson-ed up by the returning members of Junior Church. ‘They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’

B A P T I S M & C O N F I R M AT I O N If anybody would like to be baptised this summer we are planning that our 4pm service on July 19th will be outdoors with the portable baptistry, (one previous owner, the Archbishop of Canterbury.) If you think that God might be calling you to be baptised or to renew an earlier baptism please speak to Neill or Andrew in the next two weeks.

Also, our annual confirmation service will be at the Abbey on November 4th with Bishop Mike. This is an opportunity for people to affirm their faith in Christ, to be prayed for to be filled afresh with the Spirit and to commit to the mission of their local church. Again speak to Neill or Andrew at some point this summer if interested.

Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey

breathe May 3rd The Spirit & the Word of God (Acts 8:26-40) May 10th Receiving the Spirit (Acts 10:44-48) May 17th The Spirit & the World (Acts 1:1-11) May 24th The Power of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-21) May 31st The Community of the Spirit (Acts 2:38-47) June 7th The Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-13) June 14th The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26) June 21st Worship in Spirit & in Truth (John 4:19-26) June 28th The Work of the Spirit (Acts 13:1-12) Talks available online shortly.