Hugh Latimer: Gospel Ploughman
Posted on December 6, 2022
Filed under Encouragement, History, People
For preaching of the gospel is one of God’s plough-works,
and the preacher is one of God’s ploughmen
“So proclaimed Hugh Latimer (c. 1485-1555) on a rainy eighteenth day of January during the winter of 1548. This sermon – the famous ‘Sermon on the Ploughers’ – was preached at Paul’s Cross in London, where renowned preachers drew huge crowds and prophetically proclaimed the word of God to the hearts of the hearers. Latimer had Romans 15:4 as his scriptural text, and having preached in the previous weeks on the subject of the seed which is sown in God’s field, he turned to the subject of the sower of the seed, the humble ploughman. …”
– The Australian Church Record has published a most informative and encouraging short biography of Hugh Latimer – written by Dr Mark Earngey.
The war zone of the Pastor’s Heart – with Peter Orr
Posted on December 5, 2022
Filed under Resources
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Peter Orr says there is a crisis among pastors. He says a fight is on for our hearts, ministry and joy.
Pastoral work will only be a joy and sustainable if the congregation self consciously reciprocates the love and encouragement that is extended by the pastor to the congregation.
Peter Orr, who lectures in New Testament at Sydney’s Moore Theological College, is the author of a new book ‘Fight for your Pastor’…”
The Mothers’ Union & the ministry of lay women
Posted on December 4, 2022
Filed under Sydney Diocese
At an event at Moore College last week, Jane Tooher shared something of the history of Mothers’ Union and its gospel service in 84 countries.
Great to learn about this quiet but important ministry which is growing today. Most encouraging,
Time to Rethink your Church Website?
Posted on December 4, 2022
Filed under Opinion
“Our website is our most easily accessed 24/7 communication face to the world. Are we being wise in our use of it?…”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Peter Adam has some thoughts on the plusses and minuses of church websites. Worth pondering.
Totalitarianism vs. Human Dignity
Posted on December 3, 2022
Filed under Opinion, Theology
In his The Briefing for Thursday 1st December 2022, Dr Albert Mohler looks at current examples of Totalitarianism. What do they have in common?
And he explores what makes modern totalitarian states more totalitarian than their predecessors.
Yarning the Bible in the bush
Posted on December 3, 2022
Filed under Encouragement, People, Sydney Diocese
“There was no sandstone, either of cathedral or parish church, but ghost gums and a rainbow looking over the twilight ordination service for the Reverend Michael Duckett.
The unique service took place at the Indigenous Ministry centre at Wedderburn in South West Sydney, home of the Macarthur Indigenous Church. …”
– A really encouraging report from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
(See the report for a lovely photo of a heavenly reminder of God’s promises.)
Fight For Your Pastor
Posted on December 3, 2022
Filed under Encouragement, Resources
“Sometimes a preposition makes all the difference. We do not need to look far to find examples of Christians who fight with their pastor. If you speak to just about any one of them I expect he will be able to tell you of people who have fought him tooth and nail over some peeve, some cause, some perceived slight. But much rarer are those who fight for their pastor, those who honor him and his position by battling for his success, for his joy, for his encouragement. …”
– Tim Challies reviews Peter Orr’s book “Fight for your Pastor”.
Archbishop of Perth continues with Ordinations in the face of large objection
Posted on December 2, 2022
Filed under Anglican Church of Australia, Australian dioceses, Culture wars
“The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, chose on Wednesday evening to continue with and preside over the ordination to the priesthood of a man living with his civil union partner despite receiving a formal objection from a large number of members of the diocese, both clergy and lay.
The letter of objection, forwarded to davidould.net, is signed by 25 clergy, 12 wardens, 18 parish councillors and 64 other church members. It asks the Archbishop to not proceed with ordaining the candidate …
The clergy objecting represent more than 15% of clergy in the diocese (based on 2022 General Synod delegate numbers). The laity represent a variety of the largest parishes and the overwhelming majority of financial contributions for the diocese from the parishes.”
– David Ould draws attention to events in Perth.
Are We Really A Communion?
Posted on December 2, 2022
Filed under Anglican Communion, Global South, Opinion
“Over the decades, and on many occasions, we Anglicans gave thanks to God for the ‘gift of the Anglican Communion’. Yes, we saw the Communion as ‘a gift’ because we enjoyed being a family of churches. A global family of Anglican churches of diverse nations, living in different countries, speaking a variety of languages and yet we are in full communion with each other.
…
I am deeply saddened to say that the Anglican Communion we have loved, though it has kept its name, yet has lost its heart; which is the interdependence. Provinces taking unilateral decisions without consideration ‘how it might harm the mission of other Provinces’, or how it might cause divisions, or disruption of fraternal relations with other provinces.
None of us forget the appeal made by the Anglican Primates during their meeting in 2003 in regard to the consecration of Gene Robinson in The Episcopal Church USA (TEC) [5]:
“If his consecration proceeds, we recognise that we have reached a crucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion and we have had to conclude that the future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy. …. This will tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level and may lead to further division ….”
When TEC ignored that appeal and went ahead with its unilateral decision to consecrate the practicing gay Gene Robinson as bishop, our mission here in Egypt within the Islamic world was badly affected in the following way …”
– The Global South Fellowship Of Anglican Churches has released this message from the Archbishop Emeritus Dr Mouneer Anis.
Another Bathurst ordination on Saturday 3rd December
Posted on December 2, 2022
Filed under Australian dioceses, People
Bishop Mark Calder, James Daymond, Jonny Lush, Steven Klouth, Tim Smith, Rev. Greg Harris (BCA)
Give thanks to the Lord for the good things happening in the Diocese of Bathurst, and please pray that the churches will be strengthened and encouraged.
From the diocesan Facebook page –
“Our candidates for Saturday’s ordination are on retreat with Bishop Mark and the Rev’d Greg Harris from BCA. Please pray for their preparation.”
and
“God willing Bishop Calder will, on 03 Dec at 11am, make Jonny Lush and Tim Smith deacons, and ordain James Daymond and Steven Klouth as priests.”
The service will be streamed liveon YouTube from shortly before 11:00amAEDT.
The U.S. Senate Subverts Marriage: The So-Called ‘Respect for Marriage’ Act Passes Senate Vote
Posted on December 1, 2022
Filed under Culture wars
“Yesterday is going to be one of those days we remember in American political history because I believe it represented a major turning point. And furthermore, it was a moral disaster. Yesterday, by a vote of 61 to 36, the United States Senate voted to codify same-sex marriage.
Now, technically what it did in adopting what is mis-characterized as the Respect for Marriage Bill, the central issue there is to require states to recognize legal, same-sex marriages performed in any other state. That effectively means coast to coast legalized same-sex marriage. Now, you might say, “I thought the Supreme Court had already granted a federal right to same-sex marriage in all 50 states.” And you would be right. That would be the Obergefell decision in 2015. But nonetheless, this is political grandstanding. But it is political grandstanding of a particularly dangerous sort. …”
– In his The Briefing broadcast for 30 November 2022, Dr Albert Mohler analyses what’s just happened in the USA.
‘Wokeness’ used to be amusingly eccentric – now it’s an authoritarian bid to re-write the history of Western civilisation
Posted on December 1, 2022
Filed under Culture wars, Resources
“That political use of the term ‘woke’ still has many Australians puzzled.
It’s probably the word I’m asked to explain more often than any other.
So, let’s see if I can give a definitive account of the word’s origins, history, development, and how it’s being used now.
It first appeared in print in America in 1891. …”
– Broadcaster and word expert Kel Richards introduces mystified Australians to the meaning of “woke”.
Mental health and the Pastor – with Keith and Sarah Condie
Posted on November 30, 2022
Filed under Resources
On The Pastor’s Heart this week:
“How is God’s power at work in human weakness? What does it mean to say ‘True health is about being in right relationship with God?’
How do we affirm human worth and recognise the complexity of functioning? What is the connection between our inner and outer life?
How do we distinguish between sickness and sin?
What difference does a Christian community make? And how can God’s compassion and care be expressed in the midst of difficulty? …
Sarah and Keith Condie are directors at the Mental Health & Pastoral Care Institute, which is part of Mary Andrew’s College in Sydney.”
On the Giving of Gifts
Posted on November 29, 2022
Filed under Resources
“Back in the 90s the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman came out. The ideas in that book are something I still hear people talk about today.
The premise is that people express and receive love in five key different ways. They include words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch.
I remember first reading this list and being a little bit repulsed by the receiving gifts one. It seemed to me such a selfish, materially focused way of wanting to be loved. Yet as I read the book and reflected on the ways that I have most felt loved, I was shocked to discover that receiving gifts actually was my primary love language. Yikes!
I think many of us feel a hint of this same repulsion at the gift giving that goes on at Christmas …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Jocelyn Loane explains why she is seeking to embrace gift giving this Christmas.
Remembering Bishop John Rodgers
Posted on November 28, 2022
Filed under ACNA, People, TEC
“The Rt. Rev. Dr. John H. Rodgers, Jr., much beloved and respected Anglican theologian, seminary dean, bishop, father and grandfather died at UPMC Passavant Hospital, Pittsburgh on November 23, 2022 from natural causes. He was 92 years old. …”
– Dr. Stephen Noll gives thanks for Bishop John Rodgers – one the founders of the Anglican Mission in America.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…