PA L M S U N D AY, 9 t h A P R I L 2 0 1 7
PALM SUNDAY Rev’d Mandy Churcher May Moore Chaplain & Associate Minister
Easter seems to be a growth opportunity for supermarkets. We get close to Shrove Tuesday and the sale of lemons escalates. Also, on the shelves, fighting for our attention, are the hot cross buns and Easter eggs. These are all mixed up and out of order for the events that they symbolise. Other symbols connected with Easter cannot be found, including Palm crosses. We will be holding these high in our services as we celebrate the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem and was proclaimed King: rather threatening for the religious and political rulers! The crowd went wild, cutting palm branches and waving them with a vigour and enthusiasm found at a football match or a royal wedding.
There was no red carpet there, but people throwing their cloaks, (most only had one) on the ground in front of Jesus. Noisy?..I think so. It's easy to forget the donkey, respected as a hard working and useful animal in the Middle East. The mother donkey following her colt, who, for the first time, is carrying a human being. Jesus has selected this pair well as we hear of no problems, no coaxing the young colt with carrots, no difficulty for the rider. The donkey was willing to do the job. I want to encourage you that I see within the Abbey community a real spirit of caring, loving and serving. You might think that this goes unnoticed, but actually it makes a real difference.
ABBEY DIARY k Just as the donkey in the Palm Sunday of story carried Christ, our call as t Christians is to love and serve each other.
THIS PALM SUNDAY: April 9th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm All-Age Service
As we enter Holy Week there are many opportunities to worship together in different ways; come to events and seek God’s presence, as we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
THIS WEEK – Holy Week EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 10th 7.30pm Phantom with Anthony Hammond on Organ th TUES 11 2pm Way of the Cross 7.30pm Glory! WED 12th 10.30am Communion 7.30pm Illusionist MAUNDY THURSDAY 7.30pm Holy Communion GOOD FRIDAY 10.30am Service of the Cross 11.50am CTiM March of Witness 6.30pm Devotional Concert 8pm Service of the Tomb
I look forward to seeing you.
NEXT SUNDAY: April 16th Easter Day 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm All-Age Service 6.30pm Choral Evensong For a full listing of Holy Week/Easter services and events taking place in Malmesbury Abbey please pick up a 2017 Holy Week Festival brochure at the back of the Abbey. Please also remember to purchase your tickets TODAY for the Phantom of the Opera and Illusionist events
MATTHEW 21:1-12
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.’ 4 This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet: 5 ‘Say to Daughter Zion, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”’ 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna] in the highest heaven!’ 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ 11 The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’ 12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves.
Additional Reading: Psalm 118:19-24
DISCIPLESHIP D A I LY R E A D I N G S 1. Read Psalm 118:19 -24. After a time of quiet read Matthew 21: 1-12. Pause for reflection and then look at Zechariah 9: 9. Discuss what you have read, and consider the context in which each passage was written. 2. Consider our present day situation. How would Jesus be received if he rode into Jerusalem or Malmesbury today? 3. Discuss what you heard in the sermons preached on Palm Sunday. Did they encourage you? Challenge you? Inspire you? Did the sermon say anything to you about your own situation? 4. We come to Holy Week – how does remembering Jesus’ last week affect you? Will you be able to reflect on Good Friday? 5. As you think back over this period of Lent, has anything you have read or taken part in, changed your thinking or grown your Faith in our Lord Jesus?
Monday Psalm 41 Lamentations 1:1-12a Luke 22:1-23 Tuesday Psalm 27 Lamentations 3:1-18 Luke 22:39-53 Wednesday Psalm 102 Jeremiah 11:18-20 Luke 22:54-end Maundy Thursday Psalm 42, 43 Leviticus 16:2-24 Luke 23:1-25 Good Friday Psalm 69 Genesis 22:1-18 John 18:28-19:16a
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
H O LY W E E K P R AY E R
U LLUSI O N IST
On Tues 11th Apr from 2pm there will be focal points for prayer around the Abbey based on The Way of The Cross. We hope you will find this a quiet reflective time during Holy Week and that prayer will provide a time for healing, reconciliation and for the hope that is found in the Risen Christ at Easter. There will be people available for confidential prayer if required. This event will be followed by our regular Glory! meeting which starts at 7.30pm.
Steve Price is one of the UK's most established magicians. He is a Gold Star Member of the Inner Magic Circle and has won The Magic Circle's Originality Prize. He is also a Christian and will be using his tricks and illusions to share the Gospel so this is a great event to bring friends along to. Wednesday 12th April, 7:30pm. Bar and Cafe from 7pm. Tickets ÂŁ5 (ÂŁ3 for U18s/Students). Purchase from Abbey Bookshop in advance.
ABBEY BOOKSHOP
P R AY E R M I N I S T R Y
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
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 these 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.
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NOTICEBOARD H O LY W E E K F E S T I VA L L E A F L E T S This year will be slightly different in that we are not asking you to do a massive postal drop of Holy Week Festival brochures around the town. However, leaflets designed by our own Events Co-Ordinator, Anne Cox are available at the back of the Abbey and can be used prayerfully to give to friends and neighbours inviting them to services and events in the Abbey during Holy Week and Easter. If you wish to deliver to your whole street then please ask Sandie in the office who will print you a bundle!
R E T R E AT : D A R K N E S S T O L I G H T The Community of St Aldhelm are organising a Retreat Day on Saturday 22 April, 10am-4pm at Harnhill Centre for Christian Healing. The Retreat, which will be run by members of the Community, is on the theme of “Darkness to Light” and will include guided sessions and space for personal reflection. It is open to any member of the Abbey congregations, not just Community members, at a cost of just £5.50 per person (to cover room hire). If you would like to come, please contact Catherine Price on catherine@malmesburyabbey.com or via the Parish Office.
WAT C H T H I S S PA C E !
CONTAC T
ABBEY OFFICE Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-3pm (office closed for Good Friday & Easter Monday)
01666 826666 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com
ABBEY CAFÉ Monday-Friday Friday (normal) 9.30am – 4pm Happy Hour (drinks £1) from 9.30-10.30am 10.30am café@malmesburyabbey.com MalmesburyAbbey MalmesburyAbbeyKitchen
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