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Abbey News Sheet 23rd November
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I was going to call this blog Budget,
but I had a hunch that a blog pur-
porting to be about a Budgie might
get a wider readership. So some
thoughts about our 2015 Budgie.
Stability is one of our core values at
the Abbey, and finances that hon-
our God are part of that stability.
Last weekend our Church Council
approved a balanced budget for
2015 based on our income and ex-
penditure from 2014. We prayed
about this, prepared thoroughly for
our decision making and we were
unanimous and particularly pleased
that this new budget included the
additional cost of our new Chil-
dren’s & Youth Minister, Andrew
Beebee, arriving this January.
This Sunday at both 10.30am and
4pm, Alan McAdam, our new Ab-
bey Treasurer, and myself will take
10 minutes to brief you on this and
then I’ll lead us in prayer. It will give
you a chance to see broadly where
our money comes from and where
it goes. And although talking and
praying about money can feel awk-
ward in a worship context, it’s cer-
tainly a discipleship issue and one
the Bible is not silent on.
You’ll probably know that Jesus
and his disciples were supported
financially in their ministry: ‘These
women were helping to support
them out of their own means.’ (See
Luke 8:1-3) The gift of gold from
one of the Magi in Matthew 2 also
looks like provision for Christ’s early
years in exile in Egypt.
You’ll also remember that Judas
Iscariot betrayed Christ for 30 silver
coins (Mt 27:1-5) and served as the
money keeper for the disciples
(John 12:1-6.) So bringing our
budget into our worship is healthy,
and a corporate discipleship mo-
ment.
BUDGERIGAR Vicar’s Blog
Another core value at the Abbey is
Creativity. (We try and keep that
word disconnected from the word
‘accounting’.) The reason I mention
this is I’ve been imagining with
Alan what we might do in addition
to our anticipated ministry in 2015,
if our regular giving went up by 5%.
I think we would be looking to
bring in a Youth Intern in Septem-
ber 2015 to grow in ministry for a
year or two and work alongside our
new Children’s & Youth Minister. I
think we would be commissioning
a new anthem for the choir for next
Advent from a composer based in
Oslo. I think we’d be looking to put
a screen and speaker in the North
Aisle to bring the service to the so-
fas. I think...you probably get the
point. Thank you for your attention,
prayer and sacrifice around these
issues. It honours God.
NEXT SUNDAY: Advent Sunday
8am BCP Holy Communion
10.30am Holy Communion
4pm All-age Communion
6.30pm Advent Carol Service
by Candlelight
ABBEY DIARY
THIS WEEK
EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer
TUES 25th 7.30pm Refresh!
WED 26th 10.30am Communion
7.30pm Alpha
THUR 27th 10.30am Time for Chat
7pm Choir Practice
FRI 28th 10.30am Creative Response
in Eilmer House
SAT 29th 10am The Meeting Place
THIS SUNDAY: Christ the King
8am BCP Holy Communion
10.30am Holy Communion
4pm Informal Worship,
Junior Church & The Grid
ADVANCE
Advent & Christmas diary on the back
page and in the brochure.
Jan 4th Baptisms at the pool
Jan 20th Glory! Prayer meeting
Feb 18th Malmesbury Abbey Skate
-20th
31 ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with
him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gath-
ered before him, and he will separate the people one from another
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the
sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 ‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are
blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared
for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you
gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me some-
thing to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed
clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was
in prison and you came to visit me.” 37 ‘Then the righteous will an-
swer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or
thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a
stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe
you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?” 40 ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
41 ‘Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who
are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his an-
gels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was
thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and
you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe
me, I was ill and in prison and you did not look after me.” 44 ‘They
also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a
stranger or needing clothes or ill or in prison, and did not help
you?” 45 ‘He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for
one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” 46 ‘Then they will
go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’
Additional Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
MATTHEW 25 :31-46
DA I LY READ INGS 1. In order to catch the context of
Matthew 25:31-46, read 24:1-9;
24:36 and the whole of chapter
25.
2. What's the link between the
'Sheep & Goats' and the two pre-
ceding stories?
3. 'When the Son of Man comes in
glory' (v31). Explore what this
means.
4. 'Whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers and sisters
of mine, you did for me' (v40).
Who is Jesus talking about? (see
Mat 10:40-42; 12:48-50).
5. What are the implications of this
for how we interpret this pas-
sage?
6. Jesus' Kingdom is, amongst other
things, about reaching the lost,
the least and the last. Pray about
this together.
DISCIPLESHIP
Monday
Psalm 80
Isaiah 14:3-20
Matthew 9:18-34
Tuesday
Psalm 101
Isaiah 17
Matthew 9:35-10:15
Wednesday
Psalm 122
Isaiah 19
Matthew 10:16-33
Thursday
Psalm 133
Isaiah 21:1-12
Matthew 10:34-11:1
Friday
Psalm 146
Isaiah 22:1-14
Matthew 11:2-19
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.
FOODBANK BROCHURES
As part of the Abbey’s support of
the recently opened Malmesbury
Foodbank, located at the URC,
there is now a box by the Stewards
Desk, and anyone who has a contri-
bution can leave it in the box. For
further details please go to
malmesburydistrict.foodbank.
org.uk or speak to Chris Jager.
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. This
Sunday can you please take a bun-
dle of brochures and deliver them
in the following 48 hours if possi-
ble.
Our next Refresh! event takes place in the Abbey this coming Tuesday 25th
November @ 7.30pm. We will be finding Inspiration In The Psalms. Sarah
Doyley will give a short talk from the Psalms followed by an opportunity to
make a scrapbook page using your favourite Psalm led Jane Gray-Willis (no
previous experience required!). Jane will be bringing kits and tools to help us
but maybe you could think of a favourite Psalm or verse from the Psalms and
bring any pictures or photos that might tie in with it. Mulled wine and nib-
bles will be provided, with a suggested donation of £3. Please contact
Sandie on [email protected] or 01666 826666 to book your
place. See you there.
NOTICEBOARD
REFRESH !
CHRISTMAS VOUCHER SCHEME
ABBEY SKATE & NEW WINE 2015
Thank you very much for generously contributing so far towards the food
voucher scheme that helps local families on a low income celebrate Christ-
mas. This is the last week to make a donation and more envelopes are avail-
able at the back of the church if you have left it at home or need another
one! Your envelope can be placed in the collection during the service. Thank
you for helping to make sure this event continues to be a success.
Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339
www.malmesburyabbey.com
issuu.com/malmesburyabbey
For your diary the dates for Malmesbury Abbey Skate 2015 are February 18th-
20th and the dates we are attending New Wine (Week 2) are August 2nd-8th.
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!)