Planning a Remembrance Day service?
Next Monday, 11th November 2019, it will be 101 years since the end of The Great War.
If you are planning a special service for the day, or perhaps intend to include something appropriate in your Sunday gatherings, these resources from Defence Anglicans may be a help.
Christian singing: Why and how? (Ephesians 5:19–20)
“Christian music is one of the most powerful and enduring ways to teach theology. Singing gets under our skin and into our souls. So the words really matter, at a detailed level. We repeat those words again and again and learn to love them. …”
– Lionel Windsor continues on his journey through Ephesians and encourages us to think about what we are doing (and not doing) when we sing in church. Read or listen at Forget the Channel.
The vulnerable pastor — with Peter Adam
In the latest Pastors Heart video, Dominic Steele speaks with Peter Adam in a very personal and encouraging interview. Watch or listen here.
The Draft Religious Discrimination Bill and possible impact on healthcare professionals
Associate Professor Neil Foster presented a paper tonight on the topic “The Draft Religious Discrimination Bill and possible impact on healthcare professionals” at the meeting of the Newcastle University Clinical Unit in Ethics and Health Law.
He has made his paper available for download at Law and Religion Australia.
Reformation Day 2019 Acquisition for Moore College
“To mark Reformation Day this year (2019), Moore Theological College is pleased to announce the acquisition of an important Martin Luther volume. This particular book is the sixth part of the great Wittenberg Reformer’s Books and Writings published in 1557. …”
– Read the news at the Moore College website.
FREE2BME Religious Freedom Event in Blacktown, Monday 18 November
Mark Tough, Rector of St. Clement’s Lalor Park and Kings Langley, is advertising a Religious Freedom Event on Monday November 18 at 7pm at the Bowman Hall in Blacktown.
He writes, “We have a great line up of speakers – John Steenhof from the Human Rights Law Alliance, Professor Michael Quinlan from the University of Notre Dame Australia, Michelle Rowland MP the Federal Member for Greenway, and the Hon. John Anderson AO, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
The event is free but people need a ticket in order to gain entry. Tickets can be obtained at https://www.trybooking.com/BFRMK.”
Download the flyer (1.6MB PDF file) with all the details, and be encouraged to share it widely. See also the Free2BMe Facebook page.
Mark Tough has recorded this video to encourage you to come along.
Moore College Spring Carnival, Saturday 26 October
“A day to come along and check out the College, get an insight into Moore’s in-depth theological training, tour our new building, plus have all your questions answered by faculty and students. A presentation overviewing the College is followed by a tour of the new building with lunch to follow. Meals are our shout, but RSVP is essential for catering purposes.”
The Bible and Same-Sex Marriage: An Overview from Ridley College
“Our purpose in writing this brief letter is to support our fellow Anglicans in wrestling with this issue by offering a summary of the scholarly discussion over what the Bible teaches on homosexuality, and an explanation for why we believe the traditional path on marriage and sexuality is the one that Christ is calling us to take.”
– Ridley College, Melbourne, has issued an open letter affirming the Biblical doctrine of marriage.
As David Ould notes, this is a significant contribution to the conversation among Australian Anglicans, especially in the light of the unilateral action of the Diocese of Wangaratta.
The ACL’s Pre-Synod Podcast
Check out the ACL’s 2019 Pre-Synod Briefing Podcast to get a feel for some of the key issues coming up at Sydney Synod.
Produced by the Anglican Church League as a service to members of Synod.
The big mistake many secular people make about religious discrimination
“There’s a big mistake many secular people make about religious discrimination.
It’s a mistake I’ve seen repeated many times. Even by (or especially by) educated secular commentators. This mistake is a fairly recent one. But it’s impact is serious: it’s eroding religious freedom in Australia. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Akos Balogh thinks there’s a better way of understanding the issues.
Resilience
“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart (2 Corinthians 4:1). The trouble is, in ministry it can be only too easy to lose heart.
So begins Birkett’s short and incisive work that details her research into the idea of resilience and Christian ministry. This is much needed, given that burnout is all too common in ministry.
What sets Birkett’s work out from the crowd is that she is not writing a survival plan. …”
– At Church Society’s blog, Aled Seago commends Resilience, a new book by Kirsty Birkett.
Seven ways you can contribute to better Public Discourse
“Paul D. Miller, professor of the practice of international affairs at Georgetown University, recently authored a white paper for the ERLC [Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention] on ‘Faith and Healthy Democracy.’ …
Here are their seven encouragements for individuals and families to be healthier contributors for the common good.”
– From Justin Taylor at The Gospel Coalition.
One encouragement: Put down your smart phone, and don’t give them to kids.
What do you want to become? (Ephesians 5:5–7)
“What do you want to become? When you close your eyes and picture yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, what will you have become? What do you hope for, pray for, and plan for? …”
– Don’t be deceived, Lionel Windsor at Moore College has some encouragement for you from God’s word.
Books of the Reformation: An Interactive Exhibition
On Monday, 28 October 20129, from 6:30 pm, Moore College is running a free event as part of the NSW State Library’s Sydney Rare Book Week.
Dr Peter Jones on The Arrival of the Post-Secular Age
Reformers Bookshop in Stanmore is hosting an event with Dr. Peter Jones, Executive Director of TruthXChange in Los Angeles, on Monday 21st October at 7:00pm.
Dr. Jones is also speaking at the Australian Christian Lobby’s “Not Ashamed” 2019 National Conference in Sydney on Saturday 19th October. See the short video of Dr Jones on this page.