The Execution of Lady Jane Grey: 460 years ago

“Lady Jane Grey… is a daughter of the Reformation whose story of faithfulness and grace deserves to be better known.”

– Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds remembers Lady Jane Grey, who was executed on this day in 1554.

UK Girl Guide troop which refused to drop ‘God’ from their oath win their fight

“Girl Guides who were told to adopt a new promise which omits God or face being axed from the organisation have won a reprieve after they were told no further action would be taken. …

The group, which meets at Jesmond Parish Church, received a letter from the Girl Guide’s chief commissioner in the North East saying their membership to the organisation would end on December 31 last year unless they used the new promise.”

– story from Mail Online. (h/t SydneyAnglicans.net.)

Girlguiding’s New Direction – Is It Really Wanted? – David Holloway, Jesmond Parish Church.
The Religion of the Self – David Holloway, Jesmond Parish Church.

‘Riding the waves to help the poor’

“Two Illawarra men have plunged into a hectic surf tour – 100 beaches in 10 days – to raise $1 million to help alleviate world poverty.

Starting at Bawley Point yesterday morning, Wombarra’s Reverend David Mansfield and Helensburgh’s Ron Balderston joined three others from Anglican Aid in the 100 Beaches Challenge…”

– Story and photo from The Illawarra Mercury.

For more info and how you can help, see Anglican Aid.

Primate of West Africa’s funeral to be broadcast on the web

“Members of the global Anglican Communion have been invited to watch the funeral of Primate of the Church of the Province of West Africa Archbishop S. Tilewa Johnson, online.

Anyone with access to the Internet will be able to watch the funeral and requiem mass which is being streamed live on Friday 21 February.”

– from the Anglican Communion News Service.

Archbishop of Canterbury on BBC HardTalk

Aired a fortnight ago, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury was interviewed on the BBC’s HardTalk. In a wide-ranging interview, he is asked about human sexuality from 13:27.

The American Anglican Council has a link to the video and a partial transcript. (Image: BBC.)

J. I. Packer on Personal Holiness

“At the age of 87, Dr. Packer is not travelling to lecture much these days, but a few weeks ago (January 16th, 2014) he spoke at the Trinity School for Ministries on a subject of his choice.

He says that his desire in his remaining days is to ‘campaign for a renewal of personal holiness, as a project, as a focus of interest, as a reality – which our churches need, which our country needs, which the world needs at this time in its history’.”

– Justin Taylor has the link. 51 minutes. Well worth watching and contemplating.

Moore College Graduation 2014

The Moore College Graduation 2014 (Into All The World) is set for Thursday 13th March at the City Recital Hall in Angel Place.

The Rev. Mark Dickson, Principal of George Whitefield College in South Africa, is the guest speaker.

Church of Uganda to build martyrs’ museum

“The Church of Uganda will soon start building a Shs 36bn museum over the grave of the 23 Anglican martyrs at Namugongo, it was announced on Monday.

‘Not only will tourists be able to understand our rich culture but also understand the power of the Gospel to bring hope and transformation to people’s lives because of the testimony and legacy of the early martyrs,’ said Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, as he unveiled the plans at his office in Namirembe.”

– Story from The Observer, Uganda.

Adultery: When ‘love’ is a ‘tragedy’

“…So common has it become to describe an extra-marital affair as ‘loving’ that even the dictionaries now define a ‘love affair’ as ‘a romantic or sexual relationship between two people who are not married to each other.’ We know words evolve over time; and the journalist and barrister may just be reflecting the now common meaning of the word.

However, if that is true, our Bible translators and we Christians need to find a different word to describe God’s character, his disposition towards us and his actions on our behalf.”

– Phillip Jensen writes about true love.

Honorary Oxford degree for TEC PB

“Six leading figures from the worlds of science, the arts and religion are set to receive honorary degrees from the University of Oxford this year… on Wednesday 25 June 2014.”

– Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, is one of them. (h/t Anglican Mainstream.)

Things we’ll never say once we’re in Heaven

Here’s a thought-provoking reflection on Romans 8:18. (h/t Steve Kryger and many others.)

The power of The Search

The Diocese of Sydney’s Department of Evangelism and New Churches has released a couple of videos on how to use The Search – the special edition of the Gospel of Luke produced for the ‘Jesus Brings’ mission.

See them here.

Mary Andrews College Graduation 7th March

Mary Andrews College’s 2014 Graduation is set for 7:30pm on Friday 7th March, at Village Church Annandale. Archbishop Dr Glenn Davies is giving the graduation address.