Feasting at Christmas — A heavenly meal (and a lottery ticket)

From Phillip Jensen –

“There are many Christmas traditions that I happily do not practise, from sentimental Christmas songs to reindeer, trees, and Santa Claus. However, I would never forgo the glory of eating a great feast at Christmas time, for eating food together is the God-given expression of fellowship, and Christian fellowship is derived from God sending his Son into the world to save sinners. Read on to see how Peter and I remember our Christmas festivities and have come to understand the importance of food at this season.”

– Listen (or read the transcript) at Two Ways News.

Dr. Glenn Davies and the Future of Anglican Communion in relation to GAFCON

In the latest Australian Presbyterian Profiles in Christian Living, Mark Powell speaks with Glenn Davies, the Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern Cross, about the future of the worldwide Anglican Communion and GAFCON.

While this was recorded in late October, it’s just been published.

– Watch here.

Jack Day to join MTC Old Testament Department

From Moore Theological College:

“We are delighted to welcome Jack Day to Moore College as a Faculty member in the Old Testament Department.

A Moore graduate, Jack is returning to College while completing his PhD in Old Testament at the University of Cambridge. He brings with him both academic depth and pastoral experience, and a deep desire to help students trust and treasure God’s word. …”

– Read it all here.

The Light of Christmas shines in our darkness — Christmas 2025 (new posts below this one)

From Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net, the Archbishop’s Christmas message –

“The Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel says the message of Christmas will be felt more deeply amid the horrific events at Bondi less than two weeks before Christmas.

‘This year, a pall of darkness was cast over Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights,’ the Archbishop said. ‘The attack that brought that darkness targeted the Jewish community — our fellow Australians.’

The Archbishop said it was understandable that people will have mixed feelings approaching Christmas. …”

– Read it all here.

Also, watch (and share) the video –
and download the Archbishop’s message as a PDF file.

Full text:  Read more

Southern Cross December 2025 — January 2026

The latest copy of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now available.

If you don’t see a copy in your local church, you can also read it online.

A Christmas Special from Two Ways News

From Phillip Jensen –

“Christmas is a great time for gifts, and Two Ways News comes to you free of charge and provided by generosity. If you would like to support the ministry, please see the details of how to give here or at the end of this article. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this Christmas special.”

– Phillip and Peter Jensen chat about Christmas.

Gafcon Chairman’s Christmas Message 2025

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

At Christmas, the Church once again returns to the quiet and unsettling words of Luke’s Gospel: “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

The coming of Jesus into the world did not happen because space was made for him, but because he chose to enter our broken world. The Son of God entered his own creation not amid welcome and recognition, but amid rejection, displacement, and neglect.

That truth should give us pause.

For there are times when the Church herself can begin to resemble the inn—busy, occupied, confident in her own arrangements—yet leaving no room for Jesus and his Word. Under false shepherds, the voice of the true Shepherd is sidelined. Faithful witness is crowded out. Obedience is treated as disruption. And those who seek to hold fast to the gospel are told, in effect, that there is no room.

Yet Christmas proclaims this unshakable hope: Jesus is not hindered by closed doors. God’s purposes are not thwarted by human refusal. The child laid in the manger is the Lord of history, and his Kingdom will not fail.

This year, many across our Anglican family have known uncertainty, pressure, and grief. Some have borne the cost of faithfulness quietly and at great personal cost. Christmas reminds us that such suffering does not place us outside God’s purposes, but often directly within them.

The witness of the Church has always been forged not through comfort, but through conviction.

That truth was given renewed expression in this year’s Martyrs’ Day Statement, which clearly and soberly reaffirmed our shared confession, fellowship, and mission under the authority of Holy Scripture. It reminded us that the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3) has always been guarded and proclaimed at a cost—and that we are called, in our generation, to do no less.

Throughout this past year, we have seen bishops, clergy, and lay leaders stand together in gospel unity, resolved to make room for Jesus where others have not—to guard his gospel, to proclaim his truth, and to remain faithful even when it would be easier to yield.

As we now look toward the historic gathering in Abuja next March, we do so with humility, prayer, and hope. G26 is a summons to make room for Jesus afresh in the life of his Church, to listen again to his Word, and to walk together in obedience and courage.

And so, as you celebrate the birth of our Lord with your families and churches, may your hearts be strengthened by this sure hope: “Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Lord enters in.”

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Yours in Christ,

The Most Revd Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Saturday, 20th December 2025.

McNeills visit Abuja for G26 Preparation

A Gafcon point for thanksgiving and prayer –

“We give thanks to God for a fruitful week-long visit to Abuja, Nigeria, by Gafcon Global Operations Manager, The Revd Canon Jodie McNeill, and his wife, Mrs Mandy McNeill, Events and Partnership Coordinator.

During their visit, they worked closely with the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in preparation for the history-making G26 Bishops Assembly, to be held in March next year.

They were warmly welcomed by The Most Revd Dr Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, Primate of All Nigeria and member of the Gafcon Primates’ Council, together with his wife, Mama Angela. They also met with The Most Revd Dr Blessing C. Enyindah, Dean of All Nigeria and Chairman of the Gafcon G26 Planning Committee.

We give thanks for this strong partnership in the gospel and for the excellent preparations already underway. We pray for the Lord’s strength as logistics continue, and ask that He would raise up generous Christians to provide bursaries so bishops from the Global South can attend this vital gathering.

Give at www.gafcon.org/G26Bursary.”

– Source.

Repeat the Sounding Joy – all episodes now online

Tyndale House in Cambridge has now published the final episode of their Advent podcast series:

“In this four-part series for Advent, Tony Watkins talks to Christopher Ash, Writer in Residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge, about Luke chapters 1 and 2.

These chapters are the focus of Christopher’s book of Advent devotions, Repeat the Sounding Joy (pub. Good Book Company).”

– See all four episodes here. Most encouraging and helpful.

When time feels broken

“Bad timing drives me nuts.

The bus pulls away just before you reach it. The priceless opportunity disappears just before you can grab it. Just when that person finally gets back on their feet, something else goes wrong. Bad, broken timing.

Why does time feel so broken?

Don’t let those swish Swiss clocks confuse you: time does not run smoothly. It slips away, races past and—ultimately—runs out. But why? Why does it feel like our times are out of joint when there’s a perfect time Lord holding all our times together?…”

– At The Australian Church Record, Annabel Nixey continues her series on time.

This isn Part 2. Part 1 (The Bible’s guide to time travel) and Part 3 (You only live twice) are also available.

What are the (Church of England) bishops up to now?

“On Tuesday, 16th December, the House of Bishops of the Church of England announced that ‘more time’ was needed to finalise its ‘proposals on the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process’.

While they said that the decisions they took in October had not been ‘contested’, they ‘identified some areas where further clarification is needed and agreed to continue work on a letter to the Church summarising LLF and setting out an agreed position.‘ Later in the press release it was explained that the text of the letter would ‘take the form of a statement from the House,‘ which would have a degree of authority in any future dispute.

Archbishop Stephen Cottrell also reassured the Church that the bishops ‘remain on course to bring proposals to Synod for consideration in February.’

This has led many observers to scratch their head and ask ‘What are the bishops up to now?’

Of course, unless there is a leak from the House of Bishops, the Church will need to wait until January to find out for sure. Meanwhile, this blog explores the possibilities that arise from a careful reading of the both the statements and the theological and legal advice the bishops received.…”

– Curious. Read it all at Anglican Futures.

But see this post at Church Society from 7th November 2025: Why we can’t have the Prayers of Love and Faith after all.

Image: Archbishop Stephen Cottrell speaking at the Church of England’s General Synod in February 2025.

2025 Christmas op-ed from Bishop Mark Calder

Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has released this Christmas op-ed –

Christmas comes to us after a year marked by news that has been deeply unsettling. Violence close to home, ongoing conflict overseas, and stories that disturb and weary us. Into a world like this, Matthew’s Gospel reminds us that the first Christmas also arrived with shocking news.

Mary, pledged to be married, was found to be pregnant. In first-century Jewish life, this was scandalous and devastating. For Joseph, it meant confusion, fear and a decision that could have ended everything quietly and safely. Yet God intervened. An angel told Joseph that this child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Shocking news – but also the most wonderful news imaginable.

For this child was to be given two names, each filled with hope.

First, Jesus—a name that means God saves. Christmas tells us that God does not stand at a distance from human failure and sin. He steps into our world to deal with it. Jesus came to save his people from their sins—to restore what has been broken between us and God, through forgiveness won at the cross.

Second, Immanuel—God with us. Not God far away, but God alongside us. Sharing our world, our pain, our joys and our fears. God who knows what it is to suffer, to be rejected, and yet to love without limit. And by his Spirit, he is still with us today.

So, Christmas proclaims both forgiveness and presence: we can be put right with God, and we are not alone. My prayer this Christmas is that you will know both truths deeply—that you can be forgiven in Christ, and you can know that God is with you, whatever your present circumstances.

Have a joyful Christmas!

Mark

Good to share. Also available as a PDF file.

Photo: Mark and Susan Calder.

“We will not turn away from anti-Semitism in silence”

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel –

“Sydney Anglicans speak with one voice when I say that we abhor anti-Semitism. And we will not turn away from anti-Semitism in silence.”

From Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net –

“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has made a passionate gesture, expressing solidarity with the Jewish community as they mourn victims of the Bondi massacre.

The Archbishop represented Sydney Anglicans at an outdoor memorial on Wednesday and then spoke at the Great Synagogue to mark Hanukkah and mourning for massacre victims.

Archbishop Raffel’s speech ended with him singing a Hebrew blessing as the congregation joined in. …”

– Read the full report – along with the Archbishop’s full remarks – here.

Updated with video, courtesy of Russell Powell —

Top image: Screenshot from the video posted by SydneyAnglicans.net.

Making your ‘Christmas Talk’ better

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“How to preach Christmas that engages and connects.

We’ve pulled in three experts to help us prepare for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We share talk structures, attention hooks, and illustrations that connect with guests who didn’t come for a sermon but need a Saviour.

Sam Chan talks about tailoring length, tone, and imagery for each.

Andrew Barry frames Christmas with a pastoral lens: some in the room are celebrating their first Christmas in Christ, others their last — and how this shapes content and cadence, putting joy and gravity side by side.

Adrian Russell talks about speaking into tragedy at Christmas, by preaching peace that is more than a feeling—reconciliation with God that makes real.

For Christmas morning, we share passages and closes that put God’s face turned toward us and the cross in view, with invitations that are personal and memorable.”

– This is a good reminder of the opportunities at Christmas – and especially in church Christmas gatherings.

Christmas Message from Bishop Mark Short

Bishop of the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn (and Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia) Bishop Mark Short has today released his Christmas message –

Living in an area of LED lightbulbs and powerful searchlights it is easy for us to miss how fragile and vulnerable light sources were in the ancient world. A candle could be snuffed out, a torch could be extinguished by the wind, an oil lamp made of clay could be dropped
and smashed.

It’s one reason why the Jewish story of Hanukkah – the account of a supply of olive oil sufficient for one day which miraculously lit the re-dedicated temple for eight days – resonates so profoundly with members of that community.

Perhaps because of this fragility the ancients were also aware of the power of light. Light protected you from danger, it guided your way and strengthened your hope.

This combination of apparent fragility and profound strength is evident in the first Chapter of John’s Gospel. John meditates on the events of Christmas. In Jesus the true light, which gives light to everyone, comes into the world (verse 9). Yet that same world does not recognise Him for who He is (verse 10). But to all who do recognise and receive Him, there is the power to become God’s children (verse 12). “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.” (verse 5).

Here is the wonder of Christmas: the vulnerable baby lying in the feed-trough is also God’s eternal Word. This Word is powerful enough to hold together the entire universe; strong enough to still a raging storm, mighty enough to defeat sin and death forever.

Where do we find the strength to confront the kind of evil that was unleashed on Bondi Beach the evening of Sunday December 14? Perhaps where we least expect to do so; in the light of the world, whose apparent weakness is strong enough to give life and hope and a future to all who believe in Him. Even now He commissions His followers to bring that same light to their world by mourning with those who mourn and by making peace (see Matthew 5:1-16).

– Download Bishop Short’s message as a PDF file suitable for printing or sharing.

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