Facebook apparently terminates a leading cultural commentator
“If you live outside of Australia, you might not be familiar with the name Bill Muehlenberg. But he is undoubtedly one of the most prolific, learned, insightful, and theologically grounded cultural commentators in the world. And now it appears he has been terminated by Facebook.
As he wrote on May 27, ‘I am now persona non grata in the eyes of Facebook,’ although, he explains, ‘my actual crimes are still a mystery to me.’
What he does know is this: ‘Over 15 years’ worth of work with hundreds of thousands of posts, comments and articles completely erased – in an instant! Nearly 5000 contacts all stolen away from me! Stalin would be so very envious! Hitler would be jealous!’…”
– Michael Brown at The Christian Post highlights another apparent cancelling – this time of Bill Muehlenberg (pictured) in Melbourne.
Ordinary Time
Ordinary:
adjective
with no special or distinctive features; normal; ”he sets out to depict ordinary people”.
Similar: usual, normal, standard, typical, stock, common, customary, habitual, accustomed, everyday, regular, routine.
example of usage:
not interesting or exceptional; commonplace.”he seemed very ordinary”
noun
what is commonplace or standard; ”their clichés were vested with enough emotion to elevate them above the ordinary”
I don’t know how may parishes in my beloved Armidale diocese observe the Church Calendar and so I know even less if there are parishes in the Sydney diocese that observe it, (my guess is about ten?). But for those of you who have a vague curiosity about it or foggy recollection of it, we are once again about to enter in what the church calendar refers to as Ordinary Time.
Taken as a unit, the season of Ordinary Time is the longest season of the liturgical year and is composed of 33 or 34 weeks (June to November).
Although it is long, and the liturgical colour is green (which I do not see the same way as everyone else thanks to being colour blind), it is far from ordinary, for it is the time where we strive to grow together as the Body of Christ and His witnesses in the world, to grow in our Love for God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The means to our growth is being grounded in the Word of God, being people of prayer, being nourished spiritually by the sacraments and being encouraged by others and encouraging each other.
So if you are one of those Anglican Christians who observes the church calendar, how are you going to spend the time, the ‘ordinary time’?
Here are some tips:
1. Remember that you follow the risen and ascended Lord of the Universe, the Lord Jesus! Who ascended into Heaven, not to rest, not to relax but to reign!
2. Be consistent in your time with God. This is why I find the Daily Office such a helpful thing. It gives me the rhythm and routine that I am made for and at the same time makes prayer and the word part of that rhythm and routine. (The Daily Office), is to put it simply, a time during the day where Christians prayer and read the Bible. It is based on the ancient practice of prescribed daily times of prayer. Although the Prayer Book is not in vogue or used by most parishes, the Prayer book has a daily service in the morning and evening for this very purpose. Anglican theologian and author, the late J.I. Packer says, “None of us will! ever find a better pattern for private prayer and Bible-reading anywhere than that offered by the Prayer Book’s own daily offices.”
3. Be committed to your church. Although since the Covid lockdown opportunities for online church are so much more readily available, there is no substitute for face to face fellowship and physical corporate worship. It is also easier than ever to have a laissez-fair attitude to church, since we can attend anywhere at anytime, with no checks.
4. Be open and honest with God about your sin. Do we have the determination to see ourselves before God as we are, without excuse? We must face “the things what we have done and the things that we have left undone.” How am I participating in the systems of the world and the flesh? In what ways have I given the devil place in my decisions?
5. Get practical with your faith None of us can expect to follow the Lord Jesus and simply have our own comforts baptised. Sacrifice has to cut deep. The Lord Jesus calls us all to radical discipleship and it is costly. It costs to be an agent of the Kingdom in this world. Where are we letting go of the riches we cling to in order to use our time, energy, and resources to serve, the body of Christ and also to help those in need?
6. Be a contagious Christian The Christian faith is contagious, it is to be shared and spread. Pray that God will grant you boldness and opportunities to introduce people to the Lord Jesus. I am praying that this time will open people’s eyes to the folly of the cultural idols that are in our lives and will be receptive to the Lord Jesus and the abundant life he offers.
We may be in ordinary time, but following the Lord Jesus is far from ordinary!
– Joshua Bovis is the Vicar of St John The Evangelist in Tamworth.
The Importance of Fellowship
“In Sydney, our evangelical theology is one where we treasure the local parish and congregation. This is an absolutely right thing to do at a scriptural level but we need to recognise that there is also a bigger fellowship that occurs between like-minded people.
So, one of the things that the diocese has been, really since Bishop Barker, is a movement. That is, we are not just a group of people, nor just as a denomination, nor just people who share a common ordination, but we have been a movement of Anglican evangelicals.
Indeed, this movement is about wanting to see the glory of the Lord cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. That is really what we are about as a diocese, and it has been the beating heart for a long time. …”
– In this piece which was first published in the latest ACR Journal, Autumn 2021, Archie Poulos has a challenge for parishes great and small.
No higher title than ‘child of God’
“There was a knock at the cathedral door just moments after the afternoon rehearsal for the consecration and inauguration of Kanishka Raffel.
The door was opened by the Archbishop-elect himself. ‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’ he said to person at the door, one of the many people in difficulties who take shelter around the Cathedral.
‘Do you take sugar?’ the about-to-be Archbishop said as he went off to make the coffee himself.
It seemed fitting that only four hours later, before the Governor-General, politicians and leaders of other religious denominations, he was giving a sermon urging humility before the cross of Jesus. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell has this story on last night’s service of Consecration and Inauguration.
You can watch the entire service here – or click this link to go straight to the Bible reading by Mrs Cailey Raffel and then Archbishop Raffel’s sermon.
Photos by Russell Powell (click for full images):
Dean of Sydney Kanishka Raffel, about to enter the Cathedral for the Service of Consecration and Inauguration. By Russell Powell
Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel. By Russell Powell.
Watch the Consecration and Inauguration of Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
The Consecration and Inauguration of Kanishka Raffel as Archbishop of Sydney was streamed live from St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney from 7:00pm AEST on Friday 28th May.
A most encouraging and Christ-honouring occasion.
The Order of Service may be downloaded at this link.
Palliative Care and The Art of Dying Well
“Modern palliative care emerged in the late 1960s through the work of Dame Cicely Saunders, widely acknowledged as its founder, in the United Kingdom. She believed that caring for people requires caring about them. She combined the tradition of hospitality in medieval religious communities (hospice) with modern medical techniques for treatment of symptoms.
She studied the stories of terminally ill patients and found that their suffering involved, not just physical pain, but also had social, emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, palliative care doctor Megan Best writes during National Palliative Care Week (23-29 May 2021).
By contrast:
A media release from the Australian Christian Lobby:
South Australian Parliament votes to end life during Palliative Care Week – Australian Christian Lobby.
This week is National Palliative Care Week in Australia. It is a time that the nation’s mind should be focused on supporting and caring for the terminally ill.
Instead, the South Australian Parliament last night voted to progress the physician assisted suicide bill.
Christopher Brohier, SA Director for the Australian Christian Lobby said, “It is evident that government resources are being used to further the physician assisted suicide bill.
“The Health Minister last week released an anonymous paper from Wellbeing SA arguing against institutional conscientious objection rights. The government is therefore putting itself in direct conflict with Calvary Hospitals, one of the state’s largest palliative care providers.
“The Parliament and the Health Minister must take into account the views of Calvary Hospitals,” said Mr Brohier. “The bill must be amended in the committee stage to provide for institutional conscientious objection rights.”
The ACL urged the South Australian Parliament to reject the bill or significantly amend it when the third reading vote occurs.
ENDS
The Reformanda Initiative — in conversation with Mark Gilbert
In a recent podcast from The Reformanda Initiative in Rome, Mark Gilbert from Certainty4Eternity shares his own story about how he came to Christ.
He also has some practical advice on sharing the saving gospel with Roman Catholic friends. He says that genuine love is a key.
Very good to share (and to pray about).
Also see these books by Mark at Matthias Media.
The Importance of the Gospel
“Where would you be without the gospel? I shudder to think of where my life would have headed without it, and it horrifies me to hypothesise about a future without it.
Wonderfully, I am not weighed down by such thoughts. For I love to remember when I came under the sound of the gospel, and I am enthusiastic and excited (sometimes nervously!) at the prospect of ministering the gospel wheresoever the Lord takes me, and howsoever long the Lord grants me. The gospel matters to me. And I strongly suspect the gospel matters to you, in much the same way. …”
– This piece by Dr Mark Earngey at Moore College was first published in the latest ACR Journal, Autumn 2021.
Five Key Distinctives of Anglican Worship
“That’s not really very Anglican.
I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard someone talk in this way about a particular church service.
What do they mean by not very Anglican?
Usually, they mean that it isn’t liturgically formal. Perhaps there are no clerical vestments on display, or the service does not have a particular form to it. Perhaps there are no responsorial prayers. Perhaps the church building does not look like a classic church, or maybe it is plainly rather than ornately decorated…”
– Dr Michael Jensen shares the heart of Anglicanism – at Crossway, who have also published his book Reformation Anglican Worship.
And another quote:
“…Anglican worship is distinct not because of its form, but because of its content. The genius of the Book of Common Prayer is not in dictating a particular style of worship but in the way it does two things: first, it makes Scripture the centerpiece of the Christian gathering, and secondly, it enfolds the worshiping community in the theology of grace.”
The heart of Sydney’s new Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
Most encouraging and worth sharing widely.
And please do continue to uphold Kanishka and Cailey in prayer ahead of the Inauguration on Friday at 7:00pmAEST.
Avoiding “long COVID” in our churches
“For some people, the impact of the COVID-19 virus can last weeks or even months after they have been infected. These ongoing symptoms are known as ‘long COVID’.
Despite its title, this article is not about medical long COVID. Rather, I am using long COVID as a metaphor for the ongoing disruption to our churches caused by COVID-19. …”
– Bishop Michael Stead writes with some key encouragements for churches – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Ten Reasons to Persevere in Gospel Ministry
“It is widely acknowledged that there is something of a current crisis in the evangelical church. Too many are dropping out of pastoral ministry and seeking to do something else. This is a tragic situation that must be urgently addressed.
To be fair, there are a number of legitimate reasons why this might occur. And I don’t want to discount the validity of an individual’s personal decision. But as I am presently preaching through Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, I’ve been struck by the numerous encouragements Christ’s apostle gives as to not lose heart…”
– Encouragement from Mark Powell at The Gospel Coalition Australia.
George Whitefield College gives thanks for Dr. John Newby
George Whitefield College in Capetown gives thanks to the Lord for former Vice Principal The Rev. Dr. John Newby, who was called home earlier this month.
Photo: John Newby and then Principal Broughton Knox.
See also this tribute from REACH South Africa.
Archbishop of Canterbury issues ‘personal apology’ over charity abuse
“The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued a ‘full personal apology’ to the survivors of abuse by former barrister John Smyth QC in the 1970s and 80s.
Smyth, who died aged 77 in 2018, violently beat boys who attended Christian summer camps.
Justin Welby said: ‘I am sorry this was done in the name of Jesus Christ by a perverted version of spirituality and evangelicalism.’…”
– Report from BBC News.
Here is the full text of Archbishop Welby’s Statement.
Preaching Mentoring
“This year, quite by accident, I have been involved in a number of preaching mentorships.
These mentorships are one on one, held on a weekly basis, and focus on preaching rather than other aspects of pastoral leadership. The sessions are held for half an hour and focus on either the next text to be preached or as a review of the last sermon preached.
Consistently, as with all Trust activities, there is no financial charge for any of our services or resources. The Trust is dependent on donors who meet all the costs of the ministry so that there is no financial pressure on those accessing any of our resources.
At the moment we are assembling a group of experienced preachers who will be available to mentor preachers via Zoom. …”
– A very practical and generous offer from David Cook at the Expository Preaching Trust.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…