Easter day 160417

E A S T E R S U N D AY 1 6 t h A P R I L 2 0 1 7

DON’ T BE AFRAID! HE IS RISEN! Rev’d Linda Sullivan - Curate

We are so ready to shout Allelluia! on Easter Day that it is sometimes difficult to remember that sadness and fear gripped the first women to arrive at the empty tomb.

They had seen Jesus die on the cross; they had seen him taken down and lain him in the tomb; they had seen it with their own eyes – they knew he was dead. Grief-laden they came to the tomb after the Sabbath and it was empty. The angel told them “Do not be afraid – He is not here – He is risen, just as He said”.

That is when they got excited. We are told they were “still afraid, yet full of joy” They ran – they told the other disciples – who then came to see for themselves.

It is different for us, because we know the rest of the story. Because of God’s

word, we know that Jesus appeared to his disciples many times, so we hear this historical fact differently. We probably haven’t been afraid during this past Holy Week, because we know that Jesus is alive.

So do we miss out on the excitement?

I don’t think so. Lent, like Advent is a time of waiting, watching for Jesus, watching the way He copes with times of testing and adversity. Standing a little way away, just like the disciples, yet being aware of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane; being aware of the crowds baying for Jesus to be crucified; being aware of the jeers of the people in the narrow streets as he carried his cross.

Standing a little further away, but seeing Mary and John waiting at the foot of the cross in despair. Seeing

them walk with Jesus’s body to the grave and then back again on this Easter Morning.

ABBEY DIARY

Now, we can let go of all the emotion that we carry through this difficult week, and we can be joyful because we know that Jesus is alive! He is risen!

THIS EASTER DAY: April 16th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm All Age Communion 6.30pm BCP Choral Evensong

Everything He told his disciples was true. We know he did not leave his disciples comfortless, we wait again for the Holy Spirit to come in power. We know he has prepared a place in his Father’s house for those who believe in him. We know that, as we believe, we will live, in this world and the next, in eternity with Jesus.

THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer WED 10.30am Communion THUR 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 1pm Wedding 7.30pm The Gentlemen Of St John’s College, Cambridge in Concert

So we can say in joy and in strength

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

He is risen indeed.

ALLELUIA!

NEXT SUNDAY: April 23rd 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal worship & Junior Church

Wishing you much joy this Eastertide, With love

Linda

ADVANCE DIARY Apr 29 7.30pm Wessex Concert Orchestra Apr 30 AGM – more info to follow May 3 Prayers for M’bury CofE School in Eilmer House 8pm May 6 7.30pm Bath Male Choir May 9 7.30pm Glory!

May 16 7.30pm Refresh!

M AT T H E W 2 8 : 1 - 1 0 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

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There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

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The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.” Now I have told you.’

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So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them.

‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

Additional Reading: Acts 10:34-43

DISCIPLESHIP 1. ‘If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile’ (1 Cor 15:17). Why is the resurrection so important for Christians?

2. Read Matthew 28:1-10. Share one thing that strikes you about this passage as you’ve just read it.

3. What is Matthew trying to convey in verses 2-3?

4. Perhaps using a commentary – can you share some of the evidence supporting the case for the resurrection of Jesus (hints: number of appearances; what type of change happened to those who witnessed Jesus’ resurrected body?, the testimony of the worldwide church today…).

5. Read 1 Peter 3:15. A friend of yours asks you the question next week, ‘what’s the big deal about Easter?’ Spend five minutes writing down a paragraph or two on what you might say to them and read out your answers to encourage and share ideas.

D A I LY R E A D I N G S Monday

Psalm 111 Solomon 1:9 – 2:7 Mark 16:1-8

Tuesday

Psalm 112 Solomon 2:8-end Luke 24:1-12

Wednesday Psalm 113 Solomon 3 Matthew 28:16-end Thursday

Psalm 114 Solomon 5:2 – 6:3 Luke 7:11-17

Friday

Psalm 115 Solomon 7:10 – 8:4 Luke 8:41-end

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

R E T R E AT

ABBEY BOOKSHOP

Please speak or email Catherine Price on catherine@malmesburyabbey.com if you are interested in attending the retreat that is being organised by the Community of St Aldhelm, at Harnhill Centre on 22 April 10am4pm. ‘Darkness to Light’ will include guided sessions and space for personal reflection and is open to any member of the Abbey congregations. Cost £5.50 per person to cover room hire.

The Abbey Bookshop is looking for two new directors. It’s a great opportunity if you have an interest in Christian Books and have the time to attend two meetings a year. If you are interested please email Jo Lawrence-Mills at jolm@btinternet.com

SMALL GROUPS

P R AY E R M I N I S T R Y

If you would like to explore being a part of a small group at the Abbey, please contact Brian Whitehead through the Parish Office. We have a network of groups meeting on most days of the week that offer an opportunity for friendship, prayer and Bible study that compliments our Sunday services.

There will be envisioning and training for Prayer Ministry and the Healing on the Streets Team on Tuesday 25th April 8-9.30pm. This is for everyone who has been involved in the4se ministries in the past or would like to test whether this is something God is asking them to do in the future. Please let alice@malmesburyabbey.com know if you would like to attend.

12th CEN TU RY BE AU T Y 21st CEN TU RY CHU R CH

NOTICEBOARD MALMESUBRY & BROKENBOROUGH AGM The APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) or AGM will take place on Sunday 30th April at 1.30pm. Come to the Festival tival Holy Communion at 11am and at 12noon we will break for a picnic icnic lunch followed by the AGM. There will be provision made for children for part of the 11am service, service and unsupervised outdoor oor (weather permitting) activities for children during the actual AGM. The nomination forms for the election of Churchwardens, Deanery Synod members and PCC members are at the rear of the Abbey. Please return all completed nomination forms to Geoff Canning (PCC Secretary) via his pigeon hole post box at the back of the Abbey. Thank you

C HU RC HES TOGE THE R IN MA LMES BURY (C TiM) We are looking for 2 people to be e the Abbey representatives for CTiM. There are two main "qualifications" for being a church representative on CTIM .The more important one is to be enthusiastic about Christians working together in the town. This means investing in finding out what other churches in town are doing, and getting to meet and know fellow Christians with whom the representative wouldn't normally worship. The other is being committed to attending just four meetings each year to pray together and consider what practical activities the churches can do together, such as to enable the Christian community in the town to grow closer together, to be a witness to the town and, to be involved in promoting and attending such activities.

Being a CTiM representative is not an onerous task but a really valuable one. If you would like to become a CTiM representative please leave your name and contact telephone number in Geoff Canning’s pigeon hole at the back of the Abbey by Friday 28th April at the latest.

CONTAC T

ABBEY OFFICE Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-3pm 01666 826666 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey Abbey Office closed for Easter Weekend and re-opens on Tues 18th

Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com

ABBEY CAFÉ Usual hours: Monday – Friday 9.30am – 4pm Happy Hour (drinks £1) From 9.30am – 10.30am Abbey café closed for Easter Weekend and re--opens on Tues 18th

café@malmesburyabbey.com malmesburyabbey.com MalmesburyAbbeyKitchen

12th CEN TU RY BE AU T Y 21st CEN TU RY CHU R CH