Easter messages from Around Oz — 2014
We’ll add Easter messages from around Australia as we spot them. Please pray that Christian leaders will speak clearly of Christ and the hope he offers.
Paul writes: “pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ… that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” – Colossians 4:3-4.
Canberra & Goulburn – Bishop Stuart Robinson:
Text: “On Good Friday, Jesus took our worst so that on Easter morning we could be reconciled with him…”
Plus a video message.
Newcastle – Bishop Greg Thompson:
“The dying and rising of Jesus provides us with an overarching vision for working for justice in our country…”
Melbourne – Archbishop Philip Freier:
“The crucifixion was God’s great act of solidarity with all those who suffer…”
Tasmania – Bishop John Harrower:
“It is a great comfort to know that there is victory over death. Therefore we can live with the complexities and cruelties of life in the sure hope of eternal life…”
Professor Ian Harper writes for The Australian Financial Review –
“There’s nothing like the death of a close friend to remind you of what really matters. Last week, on successive days, I attended the funerals of an old friend and a young colleague, and gave the eulogy at one of them. Death seems so final; such a full stop at the end of life’s sentence…”
Sydney – Archbishop Glenn Davies:
“…only Jesus can perform the heart operation that brings eternal life, for only he has conquered death on the Cross, once and for all.”
‘Australia’s Anglican Archbishops express ‘profound disquiet’ about children held in detention this Easter’
Here’s a media release issued this afternoon –
The Anglican Archbishops in Australia will commence Holy Week with a call for more humane treatment of refugees, particularly children in detention.
The Archbishops have released the following statement deploring the fact that recent figures suggest that around a thousand children will spend Easter in Australian sponsored detention.
“As leaders of the Anglican Church of Australia we wish to put on record our profound disquiet that at the end of February this year there were more than 950 children in detention facilities and alternative places of detention in Australia, and a further 177 children in offshore detention in Nauru. The average time people spend in detention is more than eight months. …”
Leon Morris and the Cross of Christ — Ridley lecture
The Rev. Neil Bach, who is writing a biography of Leon Morris, delivered this lecture at Ridley College Melbourne to mark the Centenary of Morris’ birth.
See also Peter Adam’s words of thanksgiving.
‘Singing in the Rain’
“The dying and rising of Jesus provides us with an overarching vision for working for justice in our country…”
– The struggle for justice is the theme of Bishop Greg Thompson’s first Easter message as Bishop of Newcastle.
Canberra & Goulburn celebrates Sesquicentenary
“The crowd of nearly 300 marchers were ebullient as they walked to St Saviour’s Cathedral, retracing the footsteps of its first bishop, Mesac Thomas… With parish banners fluttering and some members in period costume, it was a fitting climax to the diocese’s 150th anniversary celebrations. …”
New Bishop for Riverina
The Rev. 
Rob Gillion from London has been elected the Bishop of Riverina.
Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
New BCA Regional Officer to be Commissioned
The new BCA Regional Officer for NSW and the ACT, the Rev. Peter Adkins, will be commissioned tomorrow afternoon, at 5:30pm 19th March 2014, in Sydney.
The Service is at St. Philip’s York Street, and Archbishop Glenn Davies will preach and conduct the commissioning. Please pray for Peter in his new role.
You might have missed — 8th March 2014
Here are a few items from the last week you might have missed –
- Christ Church Cathedral Newcastle film festival during Lent with Bishop Greg Thompson.
- A Statement Concerning the Consecration of Rev Dr Sarah Macneil in the Anglican Diocese of Grafton.
- Clarification on the Church of Uganda’s Relationship with the Church of England.
- 31 Days of Purity – from Tim Challies.
- New Moore Distance Courses – new options from MTC.
Around the Anglican Church of Australia — March 2nd 2014
Here are a few items of interest from around the Anglican Church of Australia –
- Melbourne Diocese has released some resources for Lent.
- New Bishop of The Murray, John Ford, introduces “Taking the plunge together” mission programme beginning in Lent 2014.
- Canberra & Goulburn Bishop Stuart Robinson to carry a cross in Cootamundra next Saturday.
- The Vicar of Gosford in Newcastle Diocese takes part in the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and proclaims – “I don’t really believe in Heaven and Hell at least not in the traditional sense.”
- NBN TV Newcastle reports on the consecration of Grafton Bishop Sarah Macneil.
- The Diocese of the Northern Territory is in the process of seeking a new Bishop. Doubtless they would appreciate your prayers in this task.
A Statement Concerning the Consecration of Rev Dr Sarah Macneil in the Anglican Diocese of Grafton
Here’s a Statement from ACL President, The Rev. Gavin Poole:
“On 1 March 2014 the Anglican diocese of Grafton will consecrate its new Bishop. The consecration will be hailed as ‘historic’ as she will be the first female diocesan Bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia.
The fact that the diocesan Bishop will be a woman is of concern, especially considering there has been no publicly available provision by the Grafton diocese for those who cannot in good conscience accept her episcopal ministry. The matters raised in this document however are of more grave concern. …”
Read the full text – or download it – below – Read more
Canberra Anglicare restructures aged care
“After a thorough review, the Board of Anglicare (NSW South, West & ACT) is pleased to announce a new stage in the development and growth for our five residential aged care facilities…” – story from the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.
“An organisation affiliated with the RSL has bought five nursing homes owned by the Anglican Church in Canberra and on the NSW south coast. Anglicare, the church’s social services agency, has sold the Ginninderra Gardens and Brindabella Gardens facilities in Canberra, as well as three on the NSW south coast…” – report from The Canberra Times. Photo: Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.
Why are you doing what you are doing?
“A friend sent me a postcard once from his holiday destination with the inscription ‘Why are you doing what you are doing?” I asked myself that question recently while I was sitting in a lecture at the Australian Command and Staff College at Weston Creek, where I am posted as chaplain…”
– Moore College graduate Peter Friend, inaugural Chaplain at the Australian Defence College, shares why he is doing what he is doing. (Good point for prayer too.)
Bathurst church building destroyed by fire
The St. Barnabas’ Anglican Church building in South Bathurst (map) was destroyed by fire last night. The congregation and Bishop Ian Palmer would value your prayers.
Report from ABC News.
Report and photos from The Western Advocate.
Monday morning update from The Western Advocate.
Photo: Troy Johnson / Twitter via ABC News.
Andrew Cameron to be Director of St Mark’s Canberra
“The Right Reverend Trevor Edwards, President of St Mark’s Council, announced today the appointment of The Reverend Dr Andrew Cameron as Director of St Mark’s National Theological Centre.
The appointment follows a careful, thorough and rigorous selection process by St Mark’s Council and the consent of Bishop in Council. It will be effective from 1st July 2014, and follows the resignation of the Right Reverend Dr Tom Frame…” – news from the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.
Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Glenn Davies spoke of Dr Cameron as:
“both an accomplished scholar and a faithful servant of Christ. He possess an incisive mind, a firm integrity and a pervasive godliness which he brings to every task he approaches.
St Mark’s Theological Centre has chosen well and I have no doubt that Dr Cameron will continue to bless the Australian Church in his new role.”
And Moore College Principal Dr. Mark Thompson says,
“Andrew is an extraordinarily able ethicist. His contribution to Moore during more than a decade on the faculty has been of the highest quality and the most enduring character.
While we are very sorry that he is leaving us — it is a very significant loss — we are not at all surprised that others have seen the value of Andrew’s ministry and invited him to lead them.”
‘New Anglican bishop promises justice, compassion’
“Newly installed Anglican Bishop of Newcastle Greg Thompson focused on the issues of justice and compassion during his first official sermon at Christ Church Cathedral yesterday. …”
– Report from the Newcastle Herald. (Please also keep in your prayers the Diocese of the Northern Territory as a new Bishop is sought.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…