The washup from lockdown: What can we pray for our churches?

From The Australian Church Record:

“We don’t need to talk to too many church pastors to see that the last two years have been extraordinarily difficult. Of course, there have also been many blessings – and we know that God is always at work for his glory and the good of his people. So as our churches begin their third year under COVID, the ACR thought it would be helpful for us to begin the year by praying for one another.

The Sydney Anglican Diocese is a fellowship of churches partnering together in the gospel for the glory and Kingdom of our great God. There are many ways in which we can and should express this fellowship, and one great way is by praying for one another.

Over the next few weeks, the ACR will be sharing prayer points from various church pastors from within the Sydney Anglican Diocese. Will you join me in praying for these churches? What better way to express our fellowship as churches than by mimicking Paul in his relationship with the Philippian church, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer (Phil 1:3-5).”

– The ACR has begun publishing prayer requests – so far, from St. Peter’s Cooks River and St Stephen’s, Willoughby.

Five ordained as Deacons at Bathurst Cathedral

“The Anglican Diocese of Bathurst ordained five new deacons at a special service at the All Saints Anglican Cathedral on Saturday.

Mark Calder, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst, was on hand to ordain Ben Mackay, Roger and Sally Phelps, Bec Choi and James Daymond into the church. …

Bishop Calder said the ordination service is one of the largest in recent times.
‘It’s one of the largest ordinations in recent times but the other significant thing is that they’re younger then people who have typical been ordained in recent years’…”

– Encouraging news from The Central Western Daily – and a great reminder to pray for the continued progress of the saving news of Jesus in the Diocese of Bathurst.

I Remember … When I was Licensed to Preach The Gospel

Presbyterian minister Bob Thomas shares his remembrances and encouragements. (For many years he served as the Editor of Australian Presbyterian Life, and also New Life Christian newspaper.) –

“We’re in the middle of the Licensing Season, that time of year when this year’s crop of exit students has finished their formal studies and are about to embark on their exit appointments. Licensing marks this transition and confers on the licentiate the right to accept a call or appointment on the way to ordination. It’s a wonderful time in the church’s year, when a fresh platoon of front-line soldiers goes forth with stars in their eyes and hope in their hearts to win the world for Christ. …”

– Read it at AP.

Church Society podcast — Reading the Bible Better

Here’s the latest podcast from Church Society in the UK –

“In this week’s episode, Chris Moore and Lee Gatiss discuss how we can read the Bible more and better. They talk about different Bible translations, how to establish a good routine, listening to audio Bibles, using devotional resources, singing and saying the Scriptures aloud. …”

– Listen here.

No Shortcut to Success

In a recent episode of the Pastors Talk podcast from 9Marks, Jonathan Leeman and Mark Dever commend the book “No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions”. They also chat with the author, Matt Rhodes.

While primarily on the topic of missions, it’s an encouragement for those labouring at home.

– Listen at 9Marks.

God’s quiet and mysterious work

“God moves in a mysterious way,/ His wonders to perform.

So begins one of the finest hymns in the English language. It was penned by one of the most depressed men who ever lived, William Cowper, who was friends with one of the most grateful men who ever lived, John Newton.

Down through the ages, God has chastened and warned His people with the four horsemen of sword, famine, wild beasts and plague. At times it may appear that they have all been let out at once, and our present age seems particularly disoriented and afflicted. …”

– Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Dr Peter Barnes, shares some encouragement in the midst of difficult times.

Pastoral video from the Bishop of Bathurst, 5th February 2022

The Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has today released this Pastoral Video.

The planned diocesan Synod has not been able to take place, due to COVID, so this partly replaces what Bishop Calder had hoped to say at the meeting, however it will be of wider interest and encouragement.

The video includes an interview with Archbishop Kanishka Raffel who was to have spoken at the Bathurst Synod – plus lots of great news from around the Diocese of Bathurst.

Watch here and share widely.

Three Reasons to Read the Letters of John Newton

“Over the course of 2021, I slowly worked my way through Letters of John Newton. Some of us may know that name, and if not the name, most of us will know the lyrics he penned in the song Amazing Grace.

As the near year begins, I would like to encourage you to read the Letters of John Newton. Here are three reasons I would commend the letters of this brother of old to you. …”

– Here’s some encouragement from Sean Sheeran at The Gospel Coalition, Canadian edition.

Related: The John Newton Project.

New year, old virus, eternal home

“The new year has arrived, but the pandemic is not going away anytime soon. The ABC’s Dr Norman Swan has suggested that new variants are virtually certain and they may be more severe than any of the variants we have experienced so far.

For many, the summer break was disrupted by needing to isolate as a close contact, or by testing positive for the virus. Some experienced severe symptoms and others required hospitalisation. We should not neglect to remember that many have died and many have been left behind to grieve. Families are also bracing themselves for the possibility of further disruption to schooling.

In such challenging circumstances, how should Christians approach a new year? …”

– Encouragement from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel.

(Also published in Southern Cross, February 2022.)

Southern Cross magazine, February 2022

Anglican Media Sydney has just released Southern Cross magazine for February 2022.

Printed copies will be available in parishes from this weekend, but you can download a PDF version now at magazine.sydneyanglicans.net.

How the Black Summer of 2019/2020 prepared me for the pandemic

“It was October, November, and I was anxious. I was trying to do several things at the same time – plan my move to Sydney for College, finish up a ministry apprenticeship, hand over my ministry responsibilities and begin to think about saying goodbye well, and several times an hour, I’d open the Fires Near Me NSW app to tell me where the fire had spread to.

I lived in Newcastle, but the place I grew up in was burning. Crowdy Head was alight, and the Lake Innes fire, which had begun near Port Macquarie, was starting to make its way south. …”

– At The Australian Church Record, Brooke Hazelgrove reminds us where our trust must be.