12T H F EB R UA RY 2017
NEW BEGINNINGS Vicar s Blog You stand in the rain for an hour or so waiting for a bus, and then two come along together, keeping each other company. Typical. Last week it was announced that change is coming across our diocese as Rt Revd Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol, retires this autumn. And this weekend we are announcing that change is coming right here in the Malmesbury & Upper Avon Group as, after nearly 13 years here, I move on to a new area of ministry from Monday 13 th March. I have been working for a while with Bishop Mike on this development and a pastoral message from the Bishop and the Archdeacon is included at the back of this News Sheet. Serving as vicar of Malmesbury Abbey, and in the villages of Brokenborough, Corston and Rodbourne, has been of course an immense privilege. It has involved a lot of hard work and has demanded the consumption of unwise amounts of coffee. However, I have felt for quite some time that now is the time for me to step back from frontline leadership of a group of churches, to experience a private life once again and to transition to full-time ministry as an NHS hospital chaplain. So from Monday 13 th March I will be on fulltime attachment to the North Bristol NHS Trust, working at Southmead Hospital with Revd Brenda Dowie and her chaplaincy team. Here in the Malmesbury & Upper Avon Group, during this transitional period, the oversight of our churches will be led by the Venerable Hedley Ringrose, an experienced, retired Archdeacon of Cheltenham, and one time vicar of Cirencester. And then at a point a little later this year, when my chaplain s L-plates have carefully been removed, I hope to take
a post as a chaplain at another hospital in the South West. Then the search for the next vicar of the Malmesbury & Upper Avon Group will formally begin. So this Sunday I will have the opportunity, as I preach on Ecclesiastes 3, to reflect on the new chapter ahead for both myself and Malmesbury Abbey. On Sunday February 26 th at 6.30pm I will lead my final Choral Evensong at the Abbey. On Sunday March 5 th I will be leading my final services in the villages. Then on Sunday March 12 th, my final day in ministry in the group, I will be preaching at 10.30am and 4pm at the Abbey. You are welcome to come to everything. My blog, over the next month, will allow me to give thanks for the rich and varied dimensions of ministry that we have shared together. But can I just say it has been an honour to walk in the footsteps of St Aldhelm and serve as your vicar for the last 13 years. You will see genuine excitement on my face as I begin a new chapter in ministry, but is far, far exceeded by my gratitude to God for the opportunity to work with both Him and yourselves in North Wiltshire. You will be missed. ABBEY DIARY THIS SUNDAY: February 12 th 10.30am Festival Communion (All Abbey congregations) 12.30pm Picnic Lunch 1.30pm MAS 2017 Set Up THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer in Eilmer House MON 13 th Little Stars Soft Play TUES 14 th Little Stars Soft Play WED 15 th MAS 2017 10.30am Communion in Eilmer House THUR 16 th MAS 2017 FRI 17 th MAS 2017 NEXT SUNDAY: February 19 th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Skate Celebration ADVANCE DIARY 26 th Feb 6.30pm Choral Evensong 1 st March Ash Wednesday Holy Communion at 10.30pm & 7pm 14 th March Glory! prayer meeting.
ECCLESIASTES 3:1-13 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil this is the gift of God. Additional Reading: Matthew 9:9-13
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Take some time together to discuss the Vicar s Blog and the content of Sunday s sermon. 2. Read reflectively, and with silence afterwards, the formal poetry of Ecclesiastes 3:2-8, where the writer offers seven (a sacred number) paired lines. 3. Which 2 or 3 lines resonate with you personally, and which 2 or 3 feel fitting for us as a Christian community? Which season are we in? 4. Explore the riches and challenges of verse 11 together. 5. Actually, we don t agree with verses 12 & 13, do we? Or do we? DAILY READINGS Monday Psalm 44 Ecclesiastes 1 John 17:1-5 Tuesday Psalm 48 Ecclesiastes 2 John 17:6-19 Wednesday Psalm 119:57-80 Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 John 17:20-end Thursday Psalm 57 Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:end John 18:1-11 Friday Psalm 51 Ecclesiastes 5 John 18:12-27 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.
ASH WEDNESDAY Ash Wednesday is the reflective and penitential day that marks the beginning of the church s holy season of Lent 40 days of fasting and prayer. At the Abbey there will be two services of Holy Communion with the Imposition of Ashes, on March 1 st at 10.30am and 7pm, led by the Rev Mandy Churcher. CHRISTIAN AID SOUP Christian Aid is holding a Soup Lunch at the Upper Room in the URC on Friday 24 th February from 12.30pm onwards. The cost of 3 includes soup and cake. All monies raised will go toward supporting the work of Christian Aid in all parts of the world, supporting people in poverty and fighting against the causes of poverty. For more information please contact Dick Gray on 823979. CHORAL EVENSONG The next Choral Evensong at Malmesbury Abbey will be on Sunday February 26 th at 6.30pm; led by Neill with a sermon from Mandy. The choir will be singing O bone Jesu by Ingegneri, the Gibbons Short Service and Lotti s Crucifixus. BAPTISM On Easter Day at the 4pm Service there will be an opportunity for children, young people and adults to be baptized at the Abbey. This is in anticipation of the PCCs wish that baptised children over 6 years of age, be offered the opportunity to receive Holy Communion starting on Sunday 25 th June 2017. Please speak to Andrew Beebee to register an interest and find out more. 12th CENTURY BEAUTY 21st CENTURY CHURCH
NOTICEBOARD BISHOP & ARCHDEACON S MESSAGE Following Neill s recent family issues he has been prayerfully reflecting on the future direction of his ministry with the support of myself and the Archdeacon. In the light of this reflection Neill feels his future ministry may lie within hospital chaplaincy. We have subsequently agreed with Neill that in order to get some experience in this field we are permitting him to be relieved of his duties at the Abbey in order to serve as a voluntary Chaplain at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, on a full-time basis to test his calling. This will be with effect from 13 th March 2017. It is not envisaged that Neill will return to his duties at the Abbey after this date. Marilyn will remain in the Vicarage until alternative arrangements can be made for her accommodation. During this time the Archdeacon has asked the Ven. Hedley Ringrose, former Archdeacon of Cheltenham to oversee the staff team and ministry in the Abbey. Together with you, we pray for Neill and Marilyn and their family and for the ongoing life and ministry of the Abbey. +Michael Bristol Archdeacon Christine Froude
CONTACT ABBEY OFFICE Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-3pm 01666 826666 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey Staff members can be contacted by name@malmesburyabbey.com A BBEY CAFÉ Monday- Friday (normal) 9.30am-4pm Happy hour (drinks 1) from 9.30am-10.30am. café@malmesburyabbey.com MalmesburyAbbeyKitchen 12th CENTURY BEAUTY 21st CENTURY CHURCH