Archbishop of Adelaide and Primate Geoffrey Smith announces resignation

“Adelaide’s Anglican Archbishop Geoffrey Smith has announced he will resign as Archbishop on November 8 and as Primate… of the Anglican church of Australia effective October 8th.

This will bring on the separate election process for both positions.

‘The time is right for Lynn and I to reconnect with family and friends by moving back to Queensland. Lyn and I will move to the Sunshine Coast, where we will settle and look forward to becoming involved with the local church and community,’ Smith writes in a letter to Adelaide clergy. …”

– John Sandeman at The Other Cheek has the news.

Photo: Diocese of Adelaide.

A Prayer for the people of Sydney and the Illawarra

As Sunday’s Day of Prayer for the Spread of the Gospel (including a prayer gathering in the Cathedral on Sunday afternoon) approaches, Archbishop Kanisha Raffel has written this prayer which you may wish to use –

A Prayer for the Spread of the Gospel in Sydney and the Illawarra

Dear heavenly Father

We praise and thank you for sending into the world, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to be the world’s redeemer.

Thank you that by his death and resurrection you have opened the way to life abundant and life eternal through the forgiveness of ours sins. Thank you that by repentance and faith, we are adopted by grace into your family, and given the gift of your Holy Spirit who assures us that we are your children, and enables us to call you Father, not because of anything we have done, but because of your great mercy and love.

Gracious God, we pray for Sydney and the Illawarra, from the Hawkesbury to the mountains, from the new growth corridors to the coastal suburbs and the inner city, from the southern highlands to Wollongong and the towns and villages of the south Coast – would you pour out your Spirit to bring many of our neighbours, friends, families and colleagues to saving knowledge of your Son.

Would you equip all your people, in our families, churches, schools, agencies and organisations, in every community across our diocesan fellowship to fulfil the works that you have prepared in advance for us to do so that in every way we make known the excellencies of your Son, who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Dear Lord, hear our prayer for all those who do not know you, and do not know your love for them in the gospel of your Son. Please open blind eyes, please soften hard hearts, please lift the veil from those blinded by the god of this age so that all may see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Dear heavenly Father, by the proclamation of your gospel, by our ready answer for the hope that we have,  by our lives and in our fellowship, bearing witness to the transforming power of the risen Lord, would you make known the truth, beauty, majesty and mercy of your Son and call many from death to life, from darkness into his wonderful light, from slavery to sin and death, into the Kingdom of the Son whom you love.

Even as you have been merciful to us, pour out your mercy in the gospel of your Son and bring many more we pray to repentance and faith in him; build your church from every tribe and people and language and nation, to the praise and glory of the Lamb who was slain, who by his blood purchased a people for himself, who alone is worthy of all praise and honour and glory and blessing forever and ever, Amen.

Praying for the Australian Federal Election

As Australians cast their ballots tomorrow, continue to pray for those in authority, those who aspire to be, and for our nation.

These words from 1 Timothy 2:1-4 are relevant:

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – ESV.

The latest North West Network

The most recent issue of North West Network (March 2025) is now up on the website of the Diocese of Northwest Australia.

– Download your copy for your encouragement and for food for prayer. (PDF file – linked from this page.)

Veronica Hoyt’s hopes for the Priscilla and Aquila Centre at Moore College

“Dr Veronica Hoyt loves the ministry of Moore College’s Priscilla and Aquila Centre so much that, when she lived in New Zealand, she travelled to Sydney two years in a row for P&A Centre’s annual conference. So, it’s a delight for her to now become director of a place that focusses on encouraging the ministries of women, particularly as they partner with men in gospel work. …”

– Judy Adamson writes at Sydney Anglicans.net.

Remembering Anzac Day — What is it we’re remembering?

From Phillip Jensen:

“For Australians, Anzac Day is the great national day. But what is it we’re remembering? And should we celebrate Anzac Day? In particular, should Christians be remembering or celebrating a military battle of the First World War? Does Anzac Day glorify war? Is it an alternative religion for Australians?

I hope you will enjoy our discussion as Peter and I try and grapple with the history and purpose of Anzac Day observances.”

– Listen to the latest Two Ways News podcast with Peter and Phillip Jensen.

← Previous Page