Special message from the Bishop of Armidale Rick Lewers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFPUK4gf-Xw&feature=youtu.be

Bishop Rick Lewers in Armidale has recorded this message about the COVID-19 challenge.

He says it is not a time for Christians to suspend their fellowship, even if they cannot meet in person.

He reminds everyone that the diocesan vision is to introduce people to Jesus, and to help them home to heaven. That saving message can speak into people’s anxiety and insecurity.

Also, Bishop Lewers has begun a series of sermons on The Lord’s Prayer. Pray that they will be widely viewed, and will be a great blessing and encouragement.

See also the Diocese of Armidale website.

Tighter restrictions on home gatherings push fellowship online

“A number of new restrictions on gatherings mean that home groups are no longer possible according to government COVID-19 guidelines.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday night, that visits to homes, even with family, ‘should be kept to a minimum and with very small numbers of guests’. …”

– The latest from SydneyAnglicans.net.

(Photo: An almost deserted Sydney shopping mall yesterday.)

Archbishop Glenn Davies speaks about the COVID-19 crisis at The Pastor’s Heart

Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies joined Dominic Steele to answer questions on how we can lead our churches through the COVID-19 crisis – at The Pastor’s Heart.

33 minutes, well worth watching.

Culture shock: Why everyone’s feeling it, and how to cope, with Margie and Simon Gillham

“Culture shock is what happens when you move from one culture to another, and all your ways of dealing with the world become compromised by the changes you’re going through… That’s complicated and it’s exhausting. And that’s what everyone is going through right now. We have new ways of greeting people, we have new languages, new modes of communication…”

Simon and Margie Gillham are former missionaries with the Church Missionary Society. Simon is now the head of the Department of Mission at Moore College, and Margie is a Mission Development Facilitator for the Church Missionary Society. They have a great deal of experience in helping missionaries adjust to culture shock. They shared with me their thoughts and experiences, with many practical tips for how to adjust to the “new normal” that has been brought about by measures to contain the Covid-19 virus.

– Yet another very helpful resource from Lionel Windsor at Moore College.

Archbishop Glenn Davies’ term extended to March 2021

“Archbishop Glenn Davies will continue to lead the Sydney Diocese until March next year, after his term was extended in the emergency circumstances of the Coronavirus.

Archbishops must retire at age 70. Dr Davies turns 70 in September and in order to allow a smooth transition had given notice that he would retire two months early, in July. This would have allowed an election Synod in August and the new Archbishop to chair the next Synod in October. The COVID-19 emergency means that the election synod will now not be held as scheduled.

The Standing Committee of the Diocese met on Monday night and voted unanimously to ask Dr Davies to withdraw his resignation to allow him to continue until March 2021.

Several Standing Committee members spoke strongly in favour of the move, saying it would allow stability of leadership through troubled times and help the Episcopal team remain at full strength to care for their regions.

Dr Davies absented himself during the debate and returned to applause as the decision was announced.

‘My wife and I have served Christ together in ministry for many years and are happy to continue to serve wherever we are needed,’ Dr Davies said. ‘I am humbled and grateful for the support of the Standing Committee. More than ever, I am thankful for the many people who uphold us in prayer.’ ”

– With thanks to Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Please continue to pray for Archbishop Davies and the members of his team as they preach Christ, and encourage churches to continue to be faithful in these trying times.

Emotional wellbeing in crazy times, with Paul Grimmond @ Moore College

“We’re living in crazy, tumultuous times. Covid-19 is forcing us to make radical changes in our lives, changes which inevitably take an emotional toll on us.

I had a chat to Paul Grimmond, Dean of Students at Moore College, about what he has been doing over the last few weeks here at Moore to help students & staff identify and process our feelings in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the reality of our ever-changing situation. Paul has a great depth of pastoral wisdom; the insights he shares here are valuable for all of us.”

– Another very helpful resource from Lionel Windsor.

My Coronavirus Meltdown Moment

“The virus is called a coronavirus because of the crown-like spikes on the surface of the cell. It’s wearing a crown. This virus is a wannabe king. It has the power to make people fear it, to have it rule over their lives.”

– A profound insight from Jocelyn Loane at The Australian Church Record.

How the world worshipped on one of the most unusual Sundays in Church history

“Would it be an exaggeration to say that Sunday, March 22, 2020 was one of the most unusual Sundays in the history of Christianity? I don’t think it would be, because on this day the majority of Christians across the world were either not permitted to gather to worship or considered it inadvisable to do so. …

I was eager to document this unusual Sunday, so opened up my address book and got in touch with people all across the world to ask if they would record their experience by taking photographs.”

– Tim Challies has a pictorial overview.

Tips on living in lockdown from Christians in Italy

Tim Challies writes, “I’ll begin with some general tips I compiled from common themes. The first and biggest is this: Don’t panic and don’t be anxious. The Bible reminds us that God is in control, not the virus! God has a perfect plan even in this dramatic situation. We can rest in his sovereignty.”

– Read it all.

Churches challenged to continue care as they move online

“The first Sunday of Australian Christianity’s new normal has seen hundreds of Sydney Anglican Parishes go online, reminding members of the love of Jesus amid the pressures of COVID-19. …

‘I thank God for Sydney Anglicans who rose to the occasion today and met the challenges of not meeting in churches as they have done all their lives,’ said Archbishop Glenn Davies. …”

– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.

Photo: Dean of Sydney Kanishka Raffel, during the Cathedral’s livestream.

Women’s health advocate Catherine Hamlin dedicated her life to preventing birth trauma and maintaining dignity and hope

“At a time when the world is facing uncertainty and fear, the remarkable compassion of this selfless Australian woman’s life shines a light into the darkness.

Gynaecologist and obstetrician Catherine Hamlin dedicated more than 60 years of her life to the care of vulnerable and marginalised Ethiopian women suffering horrific birthing injuries. …”

– Jennifer King writes at ABC News.

God Be with Us till We Meet Again

“Can Christians and Christian churches remain faithful by not meeting together and all that is involved in congregational worship? Can Christians be faithful in this context?

The answer is yes – yes for some time with adequate justification.

Throughout church history, there are very rare instances where the people of God did not gather together regularly. These moments represented specific, overarching cultural situations that made it advisable for people in groups of any size to not gather together. COVID-19 is another example of a culturally singular moment that necessitates the decision for Christians not to hold their weekly church services and to do so knowing that they are not being unfaithful to the commands of Christ. …”

– Albert Mohler thinks through some of the challenges facing churches at this present moment.

Pastoral video from Bishop Mark Calder

Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has released this short video as an encouragement to trust in Jesus in these uncertain days.

GAFCON Bishops Conference postponed – and other news

GAFCON General Secretary Archbishop Ben Kwashi writes:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:32-33

Sober greetings in Lent!

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to escalate, we are seeing international travel being drastically reduced and severe restrictions being placed on people gathering, especially in large numbers.

In the light of these developments, the Gafcon Primates Council has reviewed plans for our Bishops Conference in Kigali 2020 and with much regret have decided to postpone the conference until such time as it becomes possible to reconvene.

We also have in mind the need to act responsibly and not risk adding to infections in our host nation, Rwanda, nor risk delegates to the conference becoming infected and spreading the disease in their home countries.

We realise this news will be deeply disappointing, but as a globally connected movement, our life together will continue as we encourage and pray for one another through the daily prayer diary and our many other online resources.

Around the world churches are mobilizing and adapting to continue being the church as we make our way trusting God through this crisis. We have provided two pages on the Gafcon webpage that we hope will help provide ideas, tips and encouragement in ways ministry is going forward from different regions of the world. One page will focus on technology tips and ideas as many churches are moving to mediums such as livestreaming. The other page focuses on sharing ideas and ministry that churches are acting on as they continue to faithfully proclaim Christ in word and deed.

In addition, Archbishop Foley and I have issued a call to prayer and fasting for this Sunday, 22 March, interceding against the spread of COVID-19 across the globe, swarming locusts in East Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and famine and hunger in regions of Africa. Please join us.

So let us be confident that God’s purposes will not be thwarted and let us dedicate ourselves afresh to the great task of proclaiming Christ faithfully which lies at the heart of the Gafcon vision. More than ever, our world in its fear and vulnerability needs to know the comfort of God’s mercy and the promise of eternal life to all who repent and believe. Out of all this, God has not lost his plan nor abandoned his work. God continues to work his purposes out, until the Word of the Lord covers the earth as the waters covers the sea!

We will proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations!!!

The Lord be with you.
Archbishop Ben Kwashi

Dr Catherine Hamlin: A Beautiful Life

“In all the media turmoil surrounding COVID-19, you may have missed the passing of Dr. Catherine Hamlin, aged ninety-six.

Dr. Hamlin’s gynaecological work in treating Ethiopian women suffering from obstetric fistula was so remarkable that even The Sydney Morning Herald referred to her as ‘the saint of Addis Ababa’.”

– Mark Powell gives thanks for Dr Catherine Hamlin.

Further:

“In 1959, Drs Reg and Catherine Hamlin arrived in Ethiopia, intending to spend three years there, helping in any way they could.

In May 2019 Dr Catherine celebrated 60 years in that country as a pioneering surgeon and humanitarian, who has seen the scourge of obstetric fistula significantly reduced, and the lives of thousands of women and their families changed for the better.”

– from the Christmas 2019 newsletter of Hamlin Fistula Australia. (PDF file).

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