Contacting the Abbey...The Abbey Office 12 Kingston Buildings Bath BA1 1LT

The office number is (01225) 422462 (Monday to Friday: 9.00 am - 4.00 pm). Answerphone service outside those hours. The office is normally open to visitors in the morning.

Email office@bathabbey.org Website www.bathabbey.org Facebook / Twitter @bathabbey Fax (01225) 429990

Office Staff Mrs Cheri Bragg, Mrs Annette Smith, Mrs Lyndie Sugden, Mrs Miranda Edwards

Clergy Prebendary Edward Mason, Rector (01225) 318267; Revd Claire Robson, Abbey Vicar (01225) 422462; Revd Stephen Girling, Abbey Missioner (01225) 287514 Revd Evelyn Lee-Barber, Curate (01225) 422462

Clergy Availability The clergy welcome communication on any matters by letter, email or telephone. Please contact the Abbey Office.

Services and Preachers...

Morning Prayer on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8.30 amHoly Communion on Thursdays at 11.00 am and Fridays at 8.30 am

Evening Prayer from Mondays to Fridays at 5.30 pm

September 2015

Abbey News

6 The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity 8.00 am Holy Communion The Reverend Prebendary

Edward Mason 9.30 am Parish Communion The Reverend Evelyn

Lee-Barber & Young People 11.15 am Matins The Reverend Prebendary

Edward Mason Collegium Regale Howells And I saw a new heaven Bainton 3.30 pm Choral Evensong O come ye servants of the Lord Tye Noble in B minor Insanae et vanae curae Haydn 6.30 pm By the Way

Evening Service Stephen Girling

13 The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity 8.00 am Holy Communion Mr Colin Maggs 9.30 am Parish Communion Canon Graham Dodds 11.15 am Sung Eucharist Canon Graham Dodds 3.30 pm Choral Evensong O hearken thou Elgar Collegium Regale Wood O Lord, make thy

servant Elizabeth Byrd 6.30 pm By the Way

Evening Service Catherine Sourbut

20 The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity 8.00 am Holy Communion The Reverend Prebendary

Edward Mason 9.30 am Parish Communion The Revd Jon Hoffmann 11.15 am Choral Matins The Revd Jon Hoffmann Festival Te Deum Britten Beati quorum via Stanford 3.30 pm Choral Evensong Cantate Domino Pitoni Murrill in E For lo, I raise up Stanford 6.30 pm By the Way

Evening Service Richard Wilson

27 The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity 8.00 am Holy Communion Mrs Anne Dowling 9.30 am Parish Communion Mrs Katy Garner 11.15 am Choral Matins Mrs Katy Garner Ireland in F O thou, the central orb Wood 3.30 pm Choral Evensong View me Lord Lloyd Collegium Regale Howells Geistliches Lied Brahms 6.30 pm By the Way

Evening Service Anne Dowling

Foam parties and soul searchingA gang of six intrepid ‘Bath Abbeyites’ joined 10,000 teenagers under canvass in a field for five days. Why? Soul Survivor of course!

We joined together from all over the UK to learn and to hear about Jesus, to worship him and to experience his presence through the Holy Spirit. Alongside that incredible gathering there were UV parties, silent discos, foam parties and bonfires. On the last night we all dressed up and went to the big top as characters from the nativity. You may think we were just there having a lot of fun, which of course is true; however alongside that we were challenged to think about

how we live out our faith with our character, how we can make a real difference in the world around us and be carriers of hope to others.

So if you think that the church is dying on its feet then you are wrong! Come and see for yourself. Being in a place with so many young people is lively, vibrant, challenging and just plain fun. So we survived Soul Survivor, so much so that we are going again next year.

Visit www.soulsurvivor.com put the dates in your diary, get yourself there and expect to be met by Jesus.

Revd Evelyn Lee-Barber, Self Supporting Curate

Getting to know…Bill Girdieski, Bath Abbey shop volunteer

How and when did you start volunteering at the Abbey?I started as a volunteer in the Abbey shop around three years ago. I saw a request for help in the news sheet and after a little gentle prompting from my wife decided to apply, the rest as they say is history.

Describe what your role typically involves.My role primarily consists of selling merchandise in the shop, but covers much else, for example giving people directions, explaining about the various functions of the Abbey.

People often wish to talk when making a purchase so a listening ear is a good thing.

What do you enjoy about Abbey life?I was surprised initially at how many different roles there are in order to ensure the smooth running of this magnificent Abbey.

It has been to get to know people and learn more about their various jobs. I particularly enjoy rehearsals for the many musical events as being in the shop I get to hear them. Everyone is friendly and helpful so it is good to feel part of the team.

What character trait do you most enjoy in your fellow colleagues and why?This is hard to answer, there are so many different people but I guess the common thread is the desire to help others and demonstrate ones faith in a practical way.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one book, one piece of music and one luxury item, what would they be?My book would be The Prophet by Kahlil. Music would be Adagietto from the Fifth Symphony by Gustav Mahler. And my luxury would be a good radio to listen to the BBC World Service.

Message from the MissionerThis month sees the Rugby world cup coming to our shores. Whatever you think of the game, it's going to be big news, with high expectations of the home nations.Rugby is big in Bath, just a stone's throw from the Abbey, with the club celebrating 150yrs this year. The England rugby anthem is 'Swing low, sweet chariot',

a Negro Spiritual expressing longing that just as a chariot swept the prophet Elijah from earth to heaven, so the same might happen to those oppressed by the scourge of slavery, a longing that 'the Lord might take me right now' because heaven is better than earth.The verdict is open as to why this caught on as a rugby anthem, the lyrics certainly having nothing to do with the game. It's often the way in popular culture; a sentiment, a tone, an image, catches the public imagination in a way that transcends origins. I doubt it's the ball wanting to be 'carried home' to the try-line or the trophy to be 'carried home' by the winning team. It's more likely the sentiment of victory over adversity, of triumph against the odds, which is carried by the strong, hopeful melody of the chorus.Speaking as the Abbey Missioner, however forgotten its origins, I'm delighted that this sacred song enshrines such sentiment. It may even awaken something in us that recollects where our true home is. As a new term begins in the life of the Abbey, may our worship, our life together, our celebration of all that's good in Christ, reflect something of where our true hope lies and put the trials and vanities of this world in a proper perspective. And, may we see a home nation win!

Stephen Girling, Abbey Missioner

‘Ain’t no mountain high enough’In last month’s Abbey News the Tower Tour team announced they would be taking on the equivalent of the National Three Peaks by speed climbing the Abbey tower. On Wednesday 12th August, the team of nine tour guides led by Holly Doughty, absolutely smashed that original target scaling instead the equivalent of Mont Blanc. They climbed up and down the Abbey’s 212 steep steps an incredible 98 times in four hours. Thank you to all of those who supported the team. Due to your great generosity the endurance challenge has raised over £2000 for the Abbey’s Footprint Project. It was a fantastic sunny day. Crowds of well-wishers including Deputy Mayor Shaun McGall turned up to cheer on the tower guides as they conquered lap after lap of gruelling thigh splitting climbing. And the Abbey bells rang out ‘Climb Every Mountain’ every hour. As the team completed the final lap to hit the top of Mont Blanc, Holly Doughty, Tower Tour Team Leader, announced the good news: “I am so proud of all of us. Although our knees may be numb and legs a little bit shaky, we can say with great pride that we have put in our best effort for Bath Abbey’s Footprint project. We were greatly inspired by Edward Mason and his band of Footprint walkers who recently completed a 140 mile walk from Bath Abbey to Lambeth Palace. We wanted to do something just as challenging and we can now safely say we’ve done that.”

Calling all bakers!Great Bath Bake Sale Saturday 3 October, 11am – 3pmBath Abbey will once again be opening its doors to the city’s bakers and lining the aisles with cakes, bakes and treats in aid of local food charities and the Abbey’s fundraising appeal Footprint. We're looking for groups to book a table and bake for a good cause! This fun, family friendly event includes a ‘Best of Bath’ table where local food producers can donate their own samples and ‘show stoppers’, a coffee & tea station and free breadmaking workshops for children.Fancy getting involved? Baking and raising money for a local cause - colleagues, friends, school groups are all welcome!To reserve a table or find out more, please contact Katie McGill on 01225 303314 / KMcgill@bathabbey.org Welcome

This month we welcome Tom, Mim and Beth as student youth workers, working with Abbey young people generally and in the choirs and Monday evening 'Anchor' group. They will be supporting them in their life at the Abbey and helping them explore faith. Joel will be joining them as part of his Theology and Mission degree with Bath City Church. We are blessed to have four cracking, faithful, enthusiastic youth workers, please give them a warm Abbey welcome as they start with us on 6th September.

Dates for your diaryBTW: 'Begin The Week' - Sunday evenings at 6.30pm for an hour. An informal service with time and space set aside to put the previous week 'to bed', to reflect on some aspect of Christian faith and to be refreshed for the coming week. Do join us and invite a friend. This term we will be reflecting on the 10 Commandments and how they help us to be more 'fully alive'.Harvest: Saturday 17th October, 10.45 am-12.45pm a 'Food & Faith' families event aimed at families with children up to Year

Six. Craft, story, singing, food - as part of the 'Great Bath Feast', come along have fun and get creative. Harvest Supper: in the beautiful, atmospheric space of the Abbey, join us for a two course sit down meal provided by the Surplus Supper Club. The meal will be followed by a presentation by Ruth Valerio from the Christian Conservation Charity, AROCHA UK who will talk about ‘Food and Faith’. Tickets £11, from the office: 01225 422462 or office@bathabbey.orgLife on the Frontline: Six weeks to consider how nowhere is ‘ordinary’ when seen through the eyes of faith. Whether it be our home, our place of work or leisure; this course will help us see how God can influence us and we can influence others – making a real difference. St Michael’s without (beside Waitrose), Wednesdays from 7th October, 7.30-9pm. To register please contact: missioner@bathabbey.org or 01225 303318