The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof

Commander of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, Reid Wiseman, took this photo of the Earth yesterday, shortly after the crew had fired their engine to leave Earth orbit to travel to the vicinity of the Moon. (Image credit: NASA.)

The photo has been widely shared in the media. It shows the night-time side of the Earth, illuminated by the full Moon, which is behind the spacecraft. The Sun is hidden behind the Earth.

The planet Venus is the bright point at top left, and a reflection of something inside the cabin is the bright spot just below the centre of the picture. Auroras are visible at both poles, and stars can be seen in the blackness of space.

As published, the photo has usually been shown with north at the bottom, making identification difficult. The image above is rotated to north at the top. A comparison might help in working out what is what.

Psalm 24 reminds us that “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein…”

If you look closely at the picture (click for a larger version – or see the unrotated original here), you can pick out the lights of cities across NW Africa  and the Iberian Peninsula. Madrid is the brightest light there.

Each of those lights represents thousands – or millions – of people. People who need to come to know the Lord Jesus who died and rose again for them.

As well as praising the Lord for the wonder of his creation, praying for the people framed in that photo would be a good way to pray this Easter.

Update:

Astronaut Victor Glover onboard Artemis 2 was asked for his reflection this Easter Sunday –

Why I returned to the Middle East

“As I stepped onto the plane, it was noticeably empty. It seemed many regular travelers had decided to stay back that day. Probably because I was heading to the Middle East.

I’ve lived in this region for almost two years, having moved here for the opportunity to serve in evangelism and discipleship among university students. …”

–At The Gospel Coalition, an unnamed believer shares his or her reasons for going back.

“ My reflections aren’t only relevant to those living in this region or serving in cross-cultural ministry.”

Image courtesy adsbexchange.com showing air traffic, 29 March 2026.

Prayers requested for the Bathurst Bishop’s Election Board

Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder – as foreshadowed late last year – will be retiring from that role in six months,

Today he submitted his letter of resignation, effective 19 September 2026, to the Metropolitan, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel.

He also wrote to members of the Diocese,

“This marks the beginning of an important time for the Diocese. Please pray for the Bishop’s Election Board as their work now begins in earnest.

Clergy: Andrew Thornhill (Chair), Tim St Quintin, Phil Howes, Andy Martin, James Boardman, Bob Cameron.

Lay people: Jane Francis, Mark Galbraith, Ray Haigh, Lisa Milton, Sandy White, Eliot Harper.

It has been a great joy and privilege to serve as your Bishop. I will continue in this role over the coming six months and would value your prayers that this may be a time of wise preparation for the next chapter in the life of the Diocese.

Thank you for your support and encouragement over these years.”

– As he requests, please continue to pray for Bishop Calder in these next six months, for continued strength and encouragement and wisdom – for the Bishop’s Election Board and all involved in one way or another in choosing the next Bishop of Bathurst.

Pray that the Lord will be glorified in all this, that the churches of the Bathurst Diocese will be strengthened, and that many in the region will come to know Christ in the days and years ahead.

Abuja 2026: A Turning Point for Global Anglicanism — The Pastors Heart

Here’s the first of Dominic Steele’s reports from Abuja in Nigeria –

“Dominic Steele reports from Abuja, Nigeria, as nearly 500 Anglican leaders gather for GAFCON 2026 in what many believe could prove a decisive moment in the reshaping of the Anglican Communion. Delegates have arrived from across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australasia, despite significant travel disruption caused by the US–Iran conflict and Middle Eastern airspace closures. For many Australians, flights were cancelled only hours before departure.

This preview episode of The Pastor’s Heart sets out what is expected in the coming days: proposals for the structure and operation of a new Global Anglican Communion, distinct from Canterbury.
The story stretches back through the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008 and the strong Kigali statement of 2023, in which leaders representing the majority of the Communion expressed no confidence in the existing Instruments of Communion. This week, foundations for a renewed and confessionally orthodox global fellowship are anticipated to be agreed.

Steele outlines the program for the week, including plenary sessions, presentations and votes on doctrine, fellowship and leadership structures. Particular attention will be given to the biblical basis of communion, the failures of current Canterbury-centred mechanisms and how future alignment will be defined. Questions around governance, canonical relationships and financial partnerships are also expected to be addressed.

Over the next five days, The Pastor’s Heart will release daily 30-minute reports with interviews from primates and key leaders, alongside full-length conversations on YouTube. Coverage is brought in partnership with Anglican Aid. This episode provides essential background to what may become a defining chapter in modern Anglican history.”

– Be sure to watch here.

Please do uphold this key gathering in your prayers.

Some are still travelling, affected by global travel disruptions due to events surrounding Iran. Please pray for safety in travel.

G26 Travel Arrangements

A Gafcon prayer request from a couple of days ago –

“Today we pray for the many complex travel arrangements being made for the G26 Conference in Abuja, Nigeria. With just weeks to go, hundreds of delegates are booking flights, applying for visas, arranging accommodation, and finalising countless logistical details. Pray for smooth itineraries, affordable fares, timely visa approvals, and protection in every stage of the journey.

We remember especially those travelling long distances from across Africa, South America, Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia. Pray that no financial, administrative, or unexpected obstacle would prevent those invited to attend from gathering with us.

May the Lord grant safety in transit, unity in purpose, and joy as we gather authentic Anglicans — guarding God’s gospel and generating missional resources for the glory of God.”

– The G26 Conference is planned for 3-6 March, in Abuja.

The Pastor’s Heart will be there:

“Can you please help fund our coverage of the first gathering of the GLOBAL ANGLICAN COMMUNION.

We’re planning a series of daily broadcasts from ABUJA NIGERIA for the first week in March, as the faithful bishops gather to move away from Apostasy, Colonialism and Canterbury to a faithfulness to Jesus Christ. We will be there with the full coverage.”

Bathurst Diocese newsletter Summer 2026

The Newsletter of the Diocese of Bathurst is now available on their website.

It includes this letter from Bishop Mark Calder:

“Dear friends,

For many Australians, summer is a season of gathering – time with family, perhaps a few days away by the coast, a change of pace from the year just past. And yet, we know that this year summer has been anything but restful for so many across our nation.

Some communities have been living with the fear and disruption of bushfires; others have endured the devastation of flooding. The long work of recovery has begun.

Closer to home, across our own Diocese—and particularly in the west—summer has brought a different but no less heavy burden. The lack of rain is becoming acute. Dams are drying, stock numbers are being reduced, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead weighs heavily on farmers and their families. For many, summer has been a time of anxiety, watching the skies and refreshing the weather apps, hoping for relief.

As God’s people, we are invited to bring all of this before him. Please pray that, in his mercy, God would send good, soaking, refreshing rain in the right measure. Pray too for those facing the slow grind of drought—that they would be given strength, patience and grace to keep trusting God through circumstances that often feel overwhelming.

Across our Diocese, I trust that we will commit ourselves this new year to loving and serving one another in practical and generous ways. As we draw near to God together, may we keep turning up for one another—encouraging, supporting and spurring each other on in love and good works—so that we may continue Sharing Jesus for Life.

With every blessing,

Mark

Bishop Mark Calder.”

The newsletter includes important prayer requests, notably to –

“pray for the bishop’s election board as they prepare to begin in earnest on 19 March”.

At 1:00pm on Saturday 19th September, there will be a Service at All Saints Cathedral in Bathurst for the end of Bishop Mark’s episcopacy.

Please pray for Mark in the coming months before his retirement, and pray that the Lord may lead the Bishop’s Election Board to the right man to continue the work of building up the Churches in the Diocese of Bathurst.

A additional reminder for prayer:

“Pray for our parishes without clergy – that the Lord raise up clergy to love and serve our people:

1. Bourke / Brewarrina
2. Coonamble
3. Warren
4. Cumnock
5. Trundle
6. Condobolin
7. Coonabarabran
8. Wellington
9. West Wyalong
Including these with resident lay ministers for whom we are very thankful:
10. Nyngan
11. Coolah–Dunedoo.”

– Download the Summer 2026 Newsletter here (direct link to PDF) or via this page.

Diocese of the Northern Territory Prayer Cycle for 2026

The Diocese of the Northern Territory’s Prayer Cycle for 2026 is now available on their website.

A great way to be reminded to pray for gospel ministry in the Northern Territory and around Australia.

On this page – or direct download (PDF).

Please pray for 2026 Ordinands

SydneyAnglicans.net has published a list of those to be ordained next month –

“Please pray for these candidates as they prepare for ordination on February 21, 2026 and for taking up positions at the following parishes …”

– See the list here.

World Watch List 2026

Open Doors has released their World Watch List for 2026.

North Korea is still identified as “the most dangerous country to be a Christian”, but there are many other runners-up.

Much to pray about – including the people of Iran.

See the list here.

Trauma and devastation after Philip Yancey’s adultery

From The Pastor’s Heart, the first episode of 2026 “and not the episode we had planned”:

“How should Christians react to news one of our heroes has engaged in an eight year sinful affair with a married woman?

• How should churches respond when leaders fall?

• Why do accountability structures fail?

• How do we speak of grace without minimising harm?

• What does faithfulness look like for pastors, churches and ordinary believers in moments like this?…”

– A most sobering discussion with strong exhortations at the end.
Watch or listen here.

Anglican Aid’s 2026 Prayer Diary

Anglican Aid’s Prayer Diary for 2026 is now available for download.

Tim Swan, CEO of Anglican Aid, writes,

“Our 2026 Prayer Diary includes 31 days of prayers and prayer points for a range of partners providing emergency aid and relief, ministry training, food security, clean water, education, and more.”

– Read his full letter, and download the Prayer Diary, at Anglican Aid’s website. There’s also an option to request printed copies.

No Longer The Lucky Country for Jews

Published last Friday, just two days before the attack at Bondi, this interview is disturbingly prophetic.

“Julian Leeser joins John Anderson for an assessment of the disturbing return of anti-semitism to the Australian public sphere.

Leeser sets out the historical contours of anti-semitism and why Hamas’s October 7 attacks became a catalyst for hostility on Australian soil.”

While the discussion does critique some of the political responses to anti-semitism, the video is especially useful to help us understand how people in the Jewish community are feeling – and those feelings must have been amplified greatly in the last week. Fuel for your prayers.

– Watch here.

Bondi pastoral note from the Bishop of Bathurst

Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst Mark Calder has released this pastoral note this morning, in text and on video.

“In moments like this, we are reminded of the radically upside-down nature of the Christian faith. Our leader — our King — urges us to love our enemies, not to kill them. Our Lord laid down his life for his enemies. Our Lord forgave those who drove in the nails.”

“Dear friends across Diocese,

What we’ve been hearing about has disturbed our hearts deeply.

Many of us don’t even know how to process it. I know for myself that I turned the TV off last night — not out of denial, but as an act of self-protection.

What has happened is not only tragic; it is outrageous. Anger is an appropriate response when something like this occurs on our shores — reflecting ancient conflicts between peoples whose origins are far away from here. We don’t want this here. We don’t want it anywhere, of course. And yet we find ourselves asking: why bring it here? Don’t people come to Australia to escape such things?

In moments like this, we are reminded of the radically upside-down nature of the Christian faith. Our leader — our King — urges us to love our enemies, not to kill them.

Our Lord laid down his life for his enemies.

Our Lord forgave those who drove in the nails.

And our Lord will one day return to bring justice, and his righteous rule will last forever.

This is what Advent is about. It is designed to lift our eyes from the muck of this world to the coming — the Advent — of our King, who will right all wrongs and rid the world of evil and death. Come, Lord Jesus.

But what are we meant to do about this today?

Teachers and children still have to get up and go to school. Retailers will open their stores. Accountants will pore over the books. Farmers will be out and about — some still finishing harvest.

Life goes on, even when our hearts are heavy.

The only way we can deal with this is:

• to cast all our cares on him who cares for us

• to admit that there is much in this world we will never understand

• to turn to the Lord who is close to the broken-hearted, who saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34)

• and to pray.

We pray for those being treated in hospital — for healing and comfort.

We pray for the families of those who have died — for comfort in their distress.

We pray for the many witnesses to what has happened, who may be traumatised for a long time to come, and for police and paramedics who are stretched and under great strain — that they may receive the care and help they need.

We pray for members of the Jewish community, who may be living on edge — for protection, reassurance, and hope.

And yes, we pray even for the perpetrators and those who stand with them — that they may bow the knee to Jesus, who loves his enemies.

Above all, we turn our eyes to Jesus — the true light of the world — who alone can bring light into this darkness.

The message of Advent, and then of Christmas, is the message of Jesus coming to deal with evil and to bring righteousness. That is the only reason that, even in the midst of today’s darkness, we can still be people of hope and expectation.

God bless and comfort you today.

May God draw you to himself and remind you of his love.

May the Lord grant you that peace which passes understanding.

Mark Calder, Bishop.”

A nation in shock

“Just minutes before, they had prayed for the Jewish community at the start of Chanukah, then, as the congregation of Bondi Anglican Church was leaving, they heard shots ringing out at the beach nearby.

‘A whole crowd of people ran past our church building which goes down to the beach, very close to where the violence occurred,’ said Bondi’s senior minister Martin Morgan. ‘So as we were leaving the church we saw people running past and we came back into the church building. Two or three of our church members who are in the crowd saw what had happened.’ …”

– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net has this report and video from Martin Morgan, Rector of the parish of Bondi.

ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood case to proceed to Trial

“Archbishop Steve Wood of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is to be tried in a church court according to a memorandum directed to members of the denomination today.

Wood faces a formal complaint submitted by ACNA clergy and laity alleging bullying of staff, misuse of funds, and two separate allegations of inappropriate advances brought by a former children’s ministry director and an anonymous complainant. …”

– Jeffrey Walton at Juicy Ecumenism reports on the latest developments in ACNA.

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