Hope in 2026!

“It is that time of year when hope springs eternal.

Australian political and community leaders greeted the new year with words of hope. A common sentiment went like this: ‘There are stormy waters ahead, but there is also great hope for this great nation of ours’.

Really?

The signs are of increasing pessimism in Australia. Many of us expect to be personally worse off over time and expect the same for the nation. …”

– In a New Year message, Presbyterian Moderator-General David Burke explains that “the Christian faith has a tension between pessimism and hope”.

Christmas morning service from St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney

Here’s this morning’s service from St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney. On YouTube.

Or go straight to the Archbishop’s sermon.

The Light of Christmas shines in our darkness — Christmas 2025

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

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.

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.

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.

The Dean’s favourite verse

“Friends in Christ, my favourite verse in the Bible is Romans 5:8.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. …”

– In the Cathedral newsletter, Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, explains why this verse is is such good news.

Christmas in Bethlehem

“Christmas is unlikely to be much in Bethlehem this year. The city of Jesus’ birth has about 30,000 people, of whom about 9,000 identify as Christan. They live with poverty, restrictions and uncertainty. They are squeezed between their majority Muslim neighbours and the Israeli government and west bank settlers.

Nor was Christmas much in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. A few shepherds cared for some smelly, dirty and bothersome sheep in nearby paddocks. Forget the maternity suite with all mod cons. Instead, the baby arrived in the equivalent of a corrugated iron shed out the back of a country pub. …”

– At AP, David Burke, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, reminds us of the good news of Christmas.

Photo of David Burke: Christ College, Burwood.

Living water – John 7:14-53 – Moore College final Chapel service 2025

Moore Theological College held its final Chapel service for the academic year today, 21 November 2025.

Principal Dr. Mark Thompson turns to the Lord Jesus’ words about Living water in John 7:14-53.

Watch and listen for your edification.

Jesus’ hardest words – John 6:22-71

Moore Theological College Principal Dr Mark Thompson spoke in College chapel on Friday (31 October 2025 – Reformation Day) as part of a series from the Gospel According to John.

Feeling weary? Let down? Needing encouragement? Here is food for the soul.

Jesus’ words are “a monumental comfort to us“.

– Watch here.

A ransom to reckon with

“No Australian with a pulse could have been anything but deeply moved by the story of Australian doctor Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn, who were kidnapped in Burkina Faso by al-Qaeda-linked jihadists.

While Jocelyn was released after three weeks, Ken was held captive for seven years, enduring the most frightening conditions that would have sorely tested the health and resilience of any human being half or even a third of his age. He was 82 when he was captured and 88 when he was released. …”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, David Mansfield reminds us of the most important ransom.

The speech against assisted suicide that Lord Alton couldn’t deliver

“In July Lord Alton of Liverpool wrote in TCW of his strong determination to oppose the assisted suicide Bill when it reached the House of Lords.

The crossbench peer was unable to speak at Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill yesterday and the week before, however, because he is recovering from injuries suffered two weeks ago in a bus crash at Victoria Station, London.

Instead, Lord Alton filmed the speech he would have given. It constitutes a passionate plea to the Lords to protect the most vulnerable members of society by rejecting the Bill. …”

– Lord Alton’s 7 minute and 50 second speech is a good summary of many arguments against ‘assisted dying’. It’s embedded on this page at The Conservative Woman.

Of course, Christians are very much aware that there are even greater reasons for hope than articulated in the video. for example –

Hope for the Hopeless:

Hope for the Oppressed:

and Hope for the Dying:

What’s the Deal with Jesus for Catholics? — Certainty4Eternity podcast

The latest podcast from Certainty4Eternity has been released –

“Who is Jesus – and how do Catholics and Protestants understand Him differently?

In this episode, Mark and Rayne unpack the most important topics of all: the person of Jesus Christ.

We explore how Catholic theology often overemphasises Jesus’ divinity (especially in the Eucharist), sometimes at the expense of His humanity, and how this shapes Catholic views of the Church, priests, Mary, and the saints. In contrast, Protestants stress that we relate to Jesus personally through His Word and Spirit.

You’ll also hear practical insights into how to lovingly open the Bible with Catholic friends, using tools like the Swedish Method of Bible reading.”

– Watch here.

Evangelism – A Priority in Your Parish? — Neil Prott

From our archives:

“There is nothing more wonderful we can do for anyone than introduce them to Jesus Christ.

However, this is not reflected in the programme of many parishes today.

No doubt there are numerous reasons for the current state of affairs. Our analysis should take in the Scriptural factors as well as the obvious ones. …”

– The late Neil Prott wrote this article for ACL News back in 1989.

(We gave thanks for Neil when he was called home in April 2022.)

Matthew Gospel hits the stage

“An engaging stage dramatisation of the gospel produced kingdom fruit in Geraldton.

Geraldton Anglican Cathedral member Eugenie Harris produced The Matthew Drama, a 90-minute retelling of the Gospel of Matthew with a cast of 15 local Christians.

‘More than 200 people attended the two performances which happen as theatre-in-the-round so the audience is central to the action,’ she said. …”

– Encouraging news from the Diocese of North West Australia.

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