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Abbey News Sheet 16th Nov
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16TH NOVEMBER 2014
‘Christians feed on Scripture. Holy
Scripture nurtures the holy commun-
ion as food nurtures the human body.
Christians don’t simply learn or study
or use Scripture; we assimilate it, take
it into our lives.’
So writes Eugene Peterson in his
book ‘Eat this book’, a phrase based
on the words of an angel in Revela-
tion 10:9. Peterson’s heart, like
mine, is that the local church
should be gathered around a book,
share bread and wine, and be lifted
up in worship of God. Transforma-
tion, not information.
This year has been a good year in
the book together as we’ve drunk
deeply from John’s writing and per-
severed gladly through the book of
Revelation. I loved it. But you may
have noticed that we’ve left John
behind as Advent approaches. So
this is a guide to what lies ahead for
us as we eat that book.
One thing you may not know is that
up and down the nation the Church
of England has a set of Bible read-
ings for use in church on a Sunday.
(In fact it provides the daily read-
ings that you find each week in this
News Sheet too.) At a number of
times of the year we go with the
flow, or at least a modified flow,
particularly around the major Chris-
tian festivals. At other times we will
run wild and free as a church (OK, a
bit over the top) and tackle a par-
ticular book or theme. See if you
can guess which is which.
As we prepare for Advent Sunday
on November 30th we find our-
selves in Matthew 24 & 25; parables
and signs of the end of the age.
Then this year in Advent we’re actu-
ally going to look at Matthew’s ac-
count of the Nativity for three
weeks. A chance for our preaching
team to teach on the significance of
EAT THIS BOOK Vicar’s Blog
Christmas before St Luke takes over
and we are knee deep in sprouts
and turkey. Bliss.
In the New Year we normally study
a New Testament letter for a couple
of months, a season of reorienta-
tion for the year ahead. In 2015
we’ll begin with a series on the let-
ter to the Hebrews, which takes a
profound look at the nature of the
Son of God and a long hard look at
some very real discipleship issues.
In Lent our series from the gospels,
Community of the Cross, will help us
reflect on the suffering and sacrifice
at the very heart of our faith. After
Easter our series from the book of
Acts, Community of the Resurrection,
will unsurprisingly ask what it
means to be a church empowered
and transformed by the resurrec-
tion of Jesus Christ. And if I had
more space I’d tell you about the
summer series on the Wisdom lit-
THIS SUNDAY: November 16th
8am BCP Holy Communion
10.30am Holy Communion
4pm Informal Worship,
Junior Church & The Grid
6pm The Mix
ABBEY DIARY
THIS WEEK
EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer
TUES 18th 7.30pm Glory!
WED 19th 10.30am Communion
7.30pm Alpha
THUR 20th 10.30am Time for Chat
7pm Choir Practice
SAT 22nd 10am The Meeting Place
NEXT SUNDAY: November 23rd
8am BCP Holy Communion
10.30am Holy Communion
4pm Informal Worship,
Junior Church & The Grid
ADVANCE
Nov 25th Refresh!
Nov 30th Advent Carol Service
Advent & Christmas diary on the back
page and in the brochure.
Jan 4th Baptisms at the pool
Jan 20th Glory! Prayer meeting
14 ‘Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and
entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two
bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his
journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his
money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of
gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a
hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 ‘After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts
with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other
five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have
gained five more.” 21 ‘His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness!” 22 ‘The man with two bags of gold
also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two bags of gold: see, I
have gained two more.” 23 ‘His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful ser-
vant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
24 ‘Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. “Master,” he said, “I
knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gather-
ing where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid
your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” 26 ‘His master replied,
“You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and
gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my
money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have re-
ceived it back with interest. 28 ‘“So take the bag of gold from him and give it to
the one who has ten bags.29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will
have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken
from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Additional Reading: Zephaniah 1:7,12-end
MATTHEW 25 :14-30
DA I LY READ INGS 1. For 5 minutes remind yourselves
as to what was being said about
the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mt
25:1-13)
2. Now read this week’s passage
from Matthew 25, the Parable of
the Talents and remind each
other of last Sunday’s teaching.
3. What can we learn from the dif-
ferent amounts of gold given to
the three servants?
4. What do the different responses
from the three men reveal about
their relationship with a) gold,
and b) the master?
5. What do verses 28 and 29 reveal
about God?
6. Some commentators believe that
although Matthew places this
parable in his chapter 25 it is not
really about the ‘coming of the
Son of Man’ (see Mt 24:37). How
does the parable work without
that connection made?
DISCIPLESHIP
Monday
Psalm 71
Isaiah 9:8-10:4
Matthew 7:1-12
Tuesday
Psalm 67
Isaiah 10:5-19
Matthew 7:13-end
Wednesday
Psalm 73
Isaiah 10:20-32
Matthew 8:1-13
Thursday
Psalm 76
Isaiah 10:33-11:9
Matthew 8:14-22
Friday
Psalm 77
Isaiah 11:10-12:6
Matthew 8:23-end
G IV ING
To regularly support the mis-
sion and worship of the Abbey
with your Christian giving
please contact Alan McAdam at
ADVENT CAROLS IMMERS ION
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.
Two early events this Advent &
Christmas to invite your neighbours
and colleagues to. The Abbey Ad-
vent Carol Service on Sunday 30th
November at 6.30pm is a truly won-
derful candlelit act of worship with
Bible readings and inspiring music.
Very much something you could in-
vite anybody too. And for those for
whom choral music isn’t their thing,
Friday 5th December at 7.30pm will
be a wonderful acoustic evening
with Gareth Davies-Jones on guitar
and a glass of mulled wine.
GLORY ! BROCHURES
This Tuesday at 7.30pm please pri-
oritise coming to the Abbey at
7.30pm for our Glory! prayer meet-
ing. A time of extended contempo-
rary worship and prayer together
including a time to seek God and to
intercede for our mission and wor-
ship this coming Advent & Christ-
mas.
Our Advent & Christmas Brochure is
now available to view online at
issuu.com/malmesburyabbey. As
part of our commitment to hospi-
tality and welcome we will also be
delivering a print copy to every
household in Malmesbury, inviting
the entire community to join us and
celebrate the birth of Christ. On
Sunday 23rd November could you
please take a bundle of brochures
and deliver them in the following
48 hours if possible.
We are delighted to announce that Andrew Beebee will be joining the staff
of Malmesbury Abbey, early next year, as our new Children’s & Youth Minis-
ter. Andrew (30) and his wife Jude, an artist, will be moving to Malmesbury in
the New Year, and Andrew will be commissioned for ministry at the 4pm ser-
vice on Sunday February 1st, where the preacher will be the Bishop of Bristol,
Rt Revd Mike Hill. After discipleship training with YWAM, Andrew read The-
ology at the University of Durham and then qualified as a teacher at the Uni-
versity of Reading. He is currently Children’s Minister at St James’ Church,
Muswell Hill, in London, overseeing their Promiseland ministry for Reception
to Year 6 children. He leads a team of 50 volunteers working with up to 150
children on a Sunday and mentors teenagers from the church as they grow
in ministry and leadership in his department. Please pray for Andrew & Jude
as they prepare for their move and a new chapter in life and ministry.
NOTICEBOARD
NEW CH I LDREN ’ S AND YOUTH M IN I STER
SERVICES OF THANKSGIVING
We give thanks to God for the lives of Michael Tombs and Joyce Mellowes
who have been called to be with their Lord. There will be a Service of
Thanksgiving at the Abbey for the life of Michael on Tuesday 18th Novem-
ber at 3pm led by Revd Neill Archer and for Joyce on Thursday 4th Decem-
ber at 2pm led by Revd Bob Hyatt. All are invited to attend.
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339
www.malmesburyabbey.com
issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
2014 ADVENT & CHRISTMAS DIARY
Nov 30th Advent Sunday, 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion
4pm All-age Communion
6.30pm Advent Carol Service by Candlelight
Dec 5th 7.30pm Acoustic Nine Lessons—Gareth Davies-Jones
Dec 6th 7.30pm Malmesbury Community Choir Concert
Dec 7th 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion
4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church
Dec 12th Malmesbury CE Primary School Christmas Service at 10.30am
6-9pm Late Night Shopping—open for mince pies etc
Dec 13th Malmesbury Singers Concert at 7.30pm
Dec 14th 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion,
4pm Informal Worship with Junior Church
Dec 17th Malmesbury School Carol Service at 7.30pm
Dec 20th The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm & 7pm)
Dec 21st 8am & 10.30am Holy Communion
3pm The Christmas Story for Young Children
6.30pm Service of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight
Dec 23rd The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm)
Christmas Eve The Malmesbury Nativity (4pm & 6pm)
11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11.15pm)
Christmas Day 8am BCP Holy Communion
9.30am Holy Communion
11am Family Celebration
12 noon Coffee & Champagne (bring a bottle!)
