A reminder of the need for gospel ministry in the country
This was posted on the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook page:
“Molong? Gilgandra? Canowindra? Bathurst? (assistant role at the Cathedral). Where might you come and experience the blessings of regional ministry? Or perhaps somewhere a little further away? West Wyalong? Coonabarabran?
Keen to talk to men and women open to exploring ministry in central and western NSW.
(Also: Coonamble, Condobolin, Bourke-Brewarrina, Nyngan, Warren, Coolah-Dunedoo, Cumnock, Trundle.)”
– see also the Diocesan website.
From the Archives: Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane remembers the beginnings of the SUEU
From our archives:
In 1980, Archbishop of Sydney Sir Marcus Loane (1912 – 2009), addressed the Sydney University Evangelical Union’s End of Term Service.
In his 19 minute address, Sir Marcus recalls the beginnings of the Evangelical Union, fifty years previously.
Photo: Marcus Loane as Vice Principal of Moore College, 1950.
North Sydney Rector speaks about meeting the King and Queen
St. Thomas’ North Sydney Rector Mickey Mantle was interviewed by Matthew Pantelis on 5AA Adelaide earlier this week. He took the opportunity to share the good news.
Related:
Mr Eternity: The Story of Arthur Stace, launched in Sydney – November 2017.
Link thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net.
Image: Mickey Mantle at St. Thomas’ on 20 October 2024.
Archbishop of Perth approves changes to Faithfulness in Service
“The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, has written to members of the diocesan synod to confirm that she has assented to the motion passed earlier this month to approve changes Faithfulness in Service that effectively approve of extra-marital sexual activity.
In her letter she sets our her argument…”
– David Ould has the details.
Photo: Diocese of Perth.
A Tamworth ministry to the local Indigenous community
“In West Tamworth, there is palpable excitement in Glen Street on Wednesdays. Children finish school and go straight to Aunty Lucy Gibbs’ place where they wait for Frontyard Church to begin, filling in the time by running around or jumping on the trampoline.
In the late afternoon, about a dozen people arrive from St Peter’s, South Tamworth, spending the next half hour in the vacant block next door unpacking a shipping container full of chairs, tables and lights, plus a sound system and the all-important barbecues. …”
– SydneyAnglicans.net relays this encouraging story from the Diocese of Armidale.
Sheltering families in north Lebanon
From Anglican Aid (Sydney):
“Over the last month, many families from the conflict zone in south Lebanon have moved north, seeking safety. Believing that the Christians there would help them, some have sought help from Anglican Aid’s long-term partner, Good Shepherd School. In response, the school is now sheltering some of these displaced families.
Directors of Good Shepherd School, Reem and Emil Bourizk, have also taken some families into their home alongside their own children.
They told us yesterday that bombardments in their area early this week have brought the conflict very close to home. …”
– Read more, watch their video, pray, and support Good Shepherd School if you are able.
Guess who’s coming to church
“The congregation of St Thomas’ North Sydney was told only the day before that they would have the King and Queen as special guests for the Sunday morning family service.
Strict security had to be in place for the opening official engagement of King Charles’ first visit to Australia as King.
‘We really hope and pray that he recovers well and what he hears in the service will be of great encouragement and meaning to him,’ said the rector, the Rev Micky Mantle, as he prepared for the service. …”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
You can read the text of Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s sermon here. (PDF file.)
Video of the full service can be seen here (link to the arrival of the King and Queen).
Weddings and Marriage
“I am currently part of a diocesan committee looking into the issues of marriage, divorce and remarriage. …
Flowing out of these meetings, I have been struck by something.
In some ways it’s a relatively minor point, but I wonder if it reveals more than we realise. What dawned on me was the great disparity nowadays between how we prepare for a wedding, and how we prepare for marriage. …”
– Jay Behan, Bishop of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa NZ, writes in his current e-mail newsletter.
Photo: Jay speaking at the ACL Synod Dinner in 2019.
A Cloud of Witnesses: Australian Anglicans in Tanzania – Rev Dr Colin Reed
“The Letter to the Hebrews encourages us with the account of the great cloud of witnesses in the Old Testament – people who lived by faith looking forward to Jesus. The Moore College Archives encourage us with some of the witness of people of more modern times who have stepped out in faith looking to Jesus as they went to serve God in Tanzania. How do they encourage and challenge us today? What shaped their faith? What shaped their passions? What were their aims in mission? How do they ‘strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees’?”
Colin Reed spoke at a Moore College Library Lecture earlier this month. His fascinating lecture will be of great interest to anyone wanting to know more of the history of CMS in East Africa, and many people he mentions will likely be familiar to our readers.
Rev Dr Colin Reed grew up in Africa and (along with his wife Wendy) served with CMS as a missionary in Tanzania, on staff of the NSW & ACT Branch, and as Principal of St Andrew’s Hall.
Over many years, Colin has studied and written on the history of the Church in East Africa.
And on YouTube, there are timestamped links to topics mentioned in the lecture.
Bishop of Bathurst’s newsletter — Synod 2024
The Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has released his latest newsletter.
Food for your prayers and a great way to catch up with what is happening across the diocese.
Ridley’s Principal to deliver farewell lecture
“The Reverend Brian Rosner will deliver a public farewell lecture at Ridley College on Wednesday, 16 October, marking the conclusion of his more than 12 years as principal.
The lecture, titled Strengthened by the Gospel: The Purpose of Romans and the Future of Ridley College, will focus on the enduring role of the gospel in Christian life and ministry. …”
– Report and photo from The Melbourne Anglican.
And a good reminder to also pray for the College and for Rhys Bezzant as he takes up the reins in January.
Anglican Aid CEO Statement: Responding to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East
“When the terrible violence erupted in Israel and Gaza in October last year, I was genuinely appalled and saddened. At the time, I wrote a prayer pleading for God’s protection of the innocent and urging Anglican Aid supporters to pray. Now, one year on, I continue to grieve over this devastating conflict, which has now also spread to Lebanon.
As this conflict continues to escalate, Anglican Aid supporters may understandably want to give to provide aid to those who have been caught up in the crossfire. However, at this stage we are not launching an emergency appeal for Lebanon (or for Israel and Gaza), for two main reasons…”
– CEO of The Archbishop Of Sydney’s Anglican Aid, Canon Tim Swan, explains the current situation and asks for your prayers for peace.
Latest news from the Northern Territory
The latest issue of Top Centre magazine (issue 24.2) from the Diocese of the Northern Territory is available on their website.
2024 Melbourne Synod wrap-up
The Synod of the Diocese of Melbourne has been held the last few days.
The Melbourne Anglican has several stories, as well as the text of Archbishop Philip Freier’s last Synod Presidential Address before his retirement.
Photo by Jenan Taylor / The Melbourne Anglican.
Where is our mission confidence?
“Last week, I enjoyed Xiao Long Bao with the family in a restaurant just behind Bourke Street in Melbourne City. On our way back to the car, we walked past two billboards casting their messages onto the famous Swanston and Flinders Street intersection.
The first billboard was hilarious; it advertised Melbourne’s Fringe Festival by emulating Paris’ Olympic Opening Ceremony with a Last Supper mock-up. Melbourne’s creatives apparently have the comedic and artistic flair of the inside of a vacuum: ‘Let stupidity repeat itself’! (no I’m not offended, except by the boorishness).
The second billboard stands outside St Paul’s Cathedral. This gothic lookalike sits on the busiest intersection in Melbourne’s CBD. It is a favourite spot for news reporters, city workers, protesters, and more. In every direction a tram is clicketing with passengers heading to the MCG or to theatre shows and the symphony.
With this kind of amazing frontage, which is probably unbeatable anywhere else in all of Melbourne, what message would you like to convey to the 100,000s people who pass by every day?…”
– Murray Campbell in Melbourne has some important observations for all churches.
Here’s another message, posted by private individuals, across from St. Paul’s Cathedral several years ago:
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…