5TH MARCH 2017
NEW BOY Vicar s Blog I remember my first day at big school in Leicester. Polished shoes, new satchel, tie straight with a neat Windsor knot, a pressed clean rugby kit, ink pens ready, a geometry set in a still undented tin and a sharp new haircut brought into existence by one of Mum s very finest basins. Then on our very first day all the new boys were thrown unceremoniously down a muddy slope and, slightly tearyeyed and snotty-nosed, our education began with a silent vow to do precisely the same to the pristine new victims arriving the following autumn. The team of experienced chaplains at Southmead Hospital are all, of course, far too nice to do that sort of thing to me, they kindly bought the coffee last week. But I do feel like the newest of new boys, wanting to put my hand up and ask idiot questions all the time as my training continues. However, in my visits, conversations with NHS staff and study so far, I have already picked up a little bit, which I thought I d share with you so that you d have some idea as to where your vicar is off to and what he is going to be doing. The new Southmead Hospital building in North Bristol opened in May 2014 and feels closer to a spacious modern cathedral than an office block, with indoor trees, natural light, works of art, a grand piano, two Costas and a fleet of 1ft robot porters. I like them. The scale of Southmead is just a little breathtaking and makes the Church of England seem really quite small by comparison. The hospital has just under 9,000 staff serving a catchment area of 550,000 people with 1,105 beds, outpatients in six figures, and an income of over half a billion pounds. The Chaplaincy offices themselves are located on the ground floor behind a Sanctuary for worship, and the brief of
the team, both paid and voluntary, is to pay attention to the spiritual, religious and pastoral needs of the patients, their families and friends and also, very importantly, the staff. Office hours are 9am-5pm, but the Chaplaincy operates 24/7, and being called in during the night to pray with those at the very end of their lives is a frequent responsibility and privilege for the Chaplaincy. At the very heart of my job will be accompanying people through the most painful and critical transitions of life. Listening without judgement, agenda or clinical responsibility to the stories of patients and being willing to talk and pray as invited. Naturally, leading the liturgy and ritual of the church surrounding birth, marriage and death will also be an important part of my ministry, and imagination, creativity and flexibility will be required as one unique circumstance follows another. Stepping up from parochial ministry into hospital chaplaincy feels like both an immense challenge and an exciting new page. Please pray for myself and the family as transition begins for us all very shortly, and for my colleagues at Southmead as they get used to the new boy. ABBEY DIARY THIS SUNDAY: March 5 th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church THIS WEEK EACH DAY 9am Morning Prayer MON 6 th 10am Little Stars WED 8 th 10.30am Communion THUR 9 th 10.30am Time for Chat 7pm Choir Practice SAT 11 th 7.30pm Malmesbury Community Choir in concert NEXT SUNDAY: March 12 th 9am BCP Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal worship & Junior Church ADVANCE DIARY 14 th Mar Glory! prayer meeting 15 th Mar 7.30pm Malmesbury School Chamber Concert 25 th Mar 9.30am Refresh! Breakfast
MATTHEW 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. 4 Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the temple. 6 If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 7 Jesus answered him, It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test. 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 All this I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me. 10 Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Additional Reading: Romans 5:12-19
DISCIPLESHIP 1. Take some time together to discuss the Vicar s Blog and the content of last Sunday s sermon. 2. Read Matthew 4:1-11 and note particularly verse 1. It is quite unremarkable that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He was led by the Spirit in all that he did. Discuss. 3. The Spirit leads Jesus into temptation. Jesus teaches us to pray lead us not into temptation. Do we have a problem here? Explain your answer. 4. If tempter in this passage is actually Jesus inner life, his desires, his will, his imagination, his potential to sin, then these temptations are far harder, and something we can easily relate to. Discuss. 5. Jesus is tempted in three areas of his humanity. Which ones? Agree a one-word answer for each temptation. DAILY READINGS Monday Psalm 11 Jeremiah 4:19-end John 5:1-18 Tuesday Psalm 44 Jeremiah 5:1-19 John 5:19-29 Wednesday Psalm 6 Jeremiah 5:20-end John 5:30-end Thursday Psalm 42 Jeremiah 6:9-21 John 6:1-15 Friday Psalm 22 Jeremiah 6:22-end John 6:16-27 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.
CONTINUITY During the coming transitional period in the Malmesbury & Upper Avon Group the oversight of our churches will be led by the Venerable Hedley Ringrose. Initially all enquiries regarding leadership and pastoral matters should be directed towards to Sandie Brown in the Parish Office on 01666 826666 or at office@malmesburyabbey.com. Sandie will make sure your enquiries are attended to promptly. OPEN DOORS PRAYER Pray for persecuted Christians, on Tuesday 7 March, 2.30pm at Mollie's house (4 Mill Lane). With the launch of a new Open Doors World Watch List, we will focus on the places where living out the Christian life meets with the greatest opposition. More details from Mike Langtree. SMALL GROUPS 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. PHANTOM An advance date for your diary. On April 10 th, the Monday of Holy Week, the organist Anthony Hammond will be returning to the Abbey to improvise live to a classic black and white silent movie. This year the Abbey will be darkened for a reprise of Lon Chaney s The Phantom of the Opera. Bring your friends. Tickets 5, starts at 7.30pm. 12th CENTURY BEAUTY 21st CENTURY CHURCH
NOTICEBOARD NEILL AT SOUTHMEAD HOSPITAL After nearly 13 years at Malmesbury Abbey, the Revd Canon Neill Archer is moving on to a new area of ministry from Monday 13 th March. Initially Neill will be on be on full-time attachment to the North Bristol NHS Trust, working at Southmead Hospital with Revd Brenda Dowie and her chaplaincy team. And then at a point a little later this year he will be looking to take a post as a chaplain at another hospital in the South West. From mid-march Neill will be worshipping as a member of the congregation at Bristol Cathedral, where he already sings as a tenor deputy in the Cathedral Choir twice a week. This Sunday, March 5 th, Neill will be leading his final services in the village parishes, 10.30am Holy Communion at Rodbourne and 6.30pm Evensong at Brokenborough, followed by a drink in The Horseguards. You are very welcome to attend all. Then on Sunday March 12 th, his final day in ministry in the group, he will be preaching at 10.30am and 4pm at the Abbey. REVD ALICE PETTIT After completing her curacy in the Diocese of Canterbury, on Monday 6 th March the Revd Alice Petit will be licensed as Priest-in-Charge of St. Andrew's, Ham Common, Richmond. James will be looking after Caspar and Monty for now. Alice and James send their love and best wishes to all at the Abbey, particularly in the next two weeks, and would welcome visitors to the new home.
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