‘Lord’s Prayer should remain a part of opening parliament’
Here’s a media release from The Australian Christian Lobby –
“The Australian Christian Lobby believes the support of mainstream politics for the Lords’ Prayer in Parliament means the latest Greens’ push to remove it will fail.
ACL Managing Director Lyle Shelton said Labor and the Coalition have consistently told ACL, through its election questionnaires over the past three federal elections, that they support parliament opening with prayer and will not change this…”
A Canterbury Tale
“The archbishop of Canterbury means well and there is no doubt that his heart is with GAFCON in many ways. He told the delegates that he wants its aims to be those of the Communion as a whole and there is no reason not to believe him. But if he is going to occupy the place that the Anglican Communion assigns to him and exercise the kind of influence for good that he undoubtedly wants to, he will have to get with the programme, as the Americans say.
GAFCON is not just one more Anglican organisation, like the Mothers’ Union, that can be flattered and pacified by an occasional nod from the hierarchy. It is a renewal movement that wants to make its agenda that of the church as a whole, and it will expect Justin Welby to nail his colours to the mast. It is a wonderful opportunity for him to assume the leadership of the Communion and use the GAFCON base to bring about the kinds of changes that he wants to see, but will he take it?”
– In the Editorial of the latest issue of Churchman, Gerald Bray writes about GAFCON, the Anglican Communion and the Archbishop of Canterbury. PDF file – direct link.
Being Moore
Moore College has a new section on its website about growing the College.
See it at being.moore.edu.au
‘Downton Abbey’ and the Modern Age — What are we really watching?
“Americans by the millions tuned in to watch the premier of Downton Abbey’s fourth season, eager to enjoy the continuation of the saga of the Earl and Countess of Grantham and their household. …
And yet, most viewers are likely unaware of what they are actually seeing. They are not merely watching an historical drama, they are witnessing the passing of a world. And that larger story, inadequately portrayed within Downton Abbey, is a story that should not be missed. That story is part of our own story as well.”
– Albert Mohler writes.
Youthworks mourns lecturer’s sudden death
“The Sydney Anglican youth arm, Youthworks, and the wider church community, is mourning the sudden loss of College lecturer Andy Stirrup, who collapsed suddenly on Thursday night. …”
– Sad news from SydneyAnglicans.net.
World Watch List 2014
Open Doors has published its World Watch List for 2014, highlighting the countries where Christians are most persecuted. Available here.
Mark Dever on church numbers and growth
Some encouragement from Mark Dever during a visit to Brisbane in 2011.
Moving Pictures and Gospel Motivation
“‘Emotional appeals at missionary conventions fill the mission field with emotional missionaries.’ Such was the warning that a senior missionary gave me as she encouraged me to call upon people to give up their small ambitions and go overseas with the gospel. While many messages may move us to volunteer, only the gospel will move us to respond appropriately. …”
– Phillip Jensen looks at our motivation for mission.
Anglican Aid South Sudan Emergency Appeal
The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has launched an emergency appeal for South Sudan.
Donations can be made online at this link.
Here’s the text of a letter released by Anglican Aid and sent to all Sydney parishes –
Anglican Aid Supporting South Sudan
Anglican Aid has launched an emergency appeal for the victims of the violence that has caused so much death and suffering in South Sudan in the last two months.
Media reports have put the death toll from the violence at 1,000. The Archbishop of The Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS), Daniel Deng, estimates the number dead to be many more than that. Read more
Marie Robinson — Awaiting the Resurrection
Members of the ACL are saddened to hear of the death of Marie Robinson, beloved wife of our former Archbishop, Donald Robinson. Yet in the midst of sadness we rejoice that, with all who have trusted in Christ, she is awaiting the Resurrection.
We note that her funeral will be held at St Swithun’s Pymble, on Saturday January 11 at 11:00am, and assure the Robinson family of our prayers.
Slavery’s Abolition and History’s Truth
“Memories shape us powerfully. For all of us there are defining events, the memories of which stay with us and determine how we view the world. Not only individuals, but communities and nations have landmark memories. The Gettysburg Address of Abraham Lincoln is one such. …
Nowadays it is taken for granted that equality is a value which everyone respects, but we should never forget that it was not always so.”
– Dr Mark Durie, Vicar of St Mary’s Caulfield in Melbourne, writes in Quadrant about the cultural amnesia afflicting so many today.
(Longer, original version, at his blog.)
R.C. Sproul Commentary on John — free eBook
“During the month of January, Reformation Trust is giving away the eBook edition of R.C. Sproul’s commentary on the Gospel of John.
In John, the second volume in the St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary series, Dr. Sproul deals with major themes in his easily understandable style.”
– Sign up for this free eBook from Ligonier Ministries.
‘Cross’ student missions conference
The Cross student missions conference was held in the US in late December. Courtesy of Desiring God, video files of the talks (plus some selected quotes) are now available.
Be encouraged to check them out and pass on the links.
An Alternative Baptismal Liturgy
John Richardson in the UK proposes an alternative Baptismal liturgy for the Church of England. It has a bit more substance.
‘Is the Church of England ashamed to preach Christ crucified?’
“It must be the ultimate irony in liturgical development that the Church of England becomes ashamed of the exhortation not to be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified …”
– UK blogger ‘Archbishop Cranmer’ on the CofE trial Baptism service.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…