On the elimination of the suffering
“Why is it, as soon as we see someone suffering, that we so quickly think of eliminating the sufferer?
Is it that we think that their suffering is so bad that they would be better off dead than to continue as they are?
Or is it that we are fearful that their suffering would only increase if they were to continue to live in a society which is unwilling to change so that their needs will be met? Or are we concerned that we would suffer because of them?…”
– Dr Megan Best asks some challenging questions in this article at SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Matthias Media.)
Latest Church Record (May 2013) online
The latest issue of The Australian Church Record is out – and includes discussion of the coming Archbishop’s Election Synod. From the ACR website.
Opposing Euthanasia
“Euthanasia is being pushed again in NSW. There’s a lot more that could be said, but here’s what I’m sending to my local MPs…”
–Sandy Grant writes at The Briefing.
This is after news that the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill 2013 may be introduced into the Legislative Council of the NSW Parliament as a private members bill tomorrow – Thursday, 2 May 2013 – by the NSW Greens MLC, Cate Faehrmann.
(Image: Feggy Art on Flickr.)
Bronwyn Chin memorial service
AFES has posted online video of the Memorial Service for Bronwyn Chin, who went to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday.
“May God use the testimony of her life to spur you on to live for Jesus as the pulsating centre of your life into eternity.” – at the AFES website.
Holy Trinity Dulwich Hill building lost in fire
“A 100-year-old church in Sydney’s inner-west is still smouldering after it burnt down early this morning. Firefighters were called to the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Dulwich Hill just before 4.00am…”
– Report and image from ABC News.
Sydney Anglican 2014 united mission campaign
Dominic Steele and Baden Stace share some exciting news –
“At Synod last year, we resolved to pursue a united Mission Campaign across the Diocese in 2014.
The vision for this campaign is that it be a city-wide and uniting-force, providing a platform from which local churches can mission effectively and cooperatively in 2014.”
See jesusbrings.com.au – and watch the video.
If you skip the e-mail signup to watch the video first, be sure to sign up further down the page to get updates. You can also download the video to show in church or in your groups.
Please pray that this might bring great glory to the Lord Jesus – and also bring many people to rejoice in knowing him.
Moore College Open Events 2013
Open Nights 2013
27th May and 26th August
Open Weeks 2013
27th May – 31st May
26th August – 30th August
Open Day 2013
28th September
See all the details at the College website.
Archbishop Peter Jensen’s last Easter message
Archbishop Peter Jensen has released his last Easter message as Archbishop of Sydney.
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
2013 Easter MessageThis is my 12th and final Easter message as Archbishop of Sydney.
As I think on my time as Archbishop, naturally I look back and try to judge myself – not with much success!
Like you, I have a real judge. Think how much more God, who knows all the secrets of our hearts, must be able to hold me to account. It should make us tremble.
But I am filled with hope. Why?
Because of Easter. What happened at the first Easter reminds me of the love of God.
Through the death of Jesus even I, and all of us, can have forgiveness as we turn to him in sorrow and trust him for our lives. Our failures are not the last word over our lives. And, through the resurrection of Jesus I have a great and undeserved hope of my own resurrection and future.
I can only quote the words of John Newton, the man who wrote the song, Amazing Grace: ‘I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Saviour’. Thank the love of God for that.
Dr Peter F Jensen,
Archbishop of Sydney,
Easter, 2013 AD
Watch it below – and log in to Vimeo to download a copy for use in church.
Easter Message 2013 from Sydneyanglicans.net on Vimeo.
The text is also available at SydneyAnglicans.net (PDF), and there’s a report here. And you can listen to the audio here.
Majoring on the majors: Phillip Jensen on John Chapman
“God gives different gifts to different people. The important thing is not the gifts we’re given, but what we do with them. Being a godly man, Chappo always used his gifts for the gospel, and always for other people. He could have used them for himself, but he never did. That was his godliness on display. …”
– Phillip Jensen remembers John Chapman. He touches on a good deal of recent history, in both Sydney and Armidale. Edifying and interesting.
Related: John’s interview for AFES in 2012.
Lady Patricia Loane
We are sad to report that Lady Patricia Loane, widow of Sir Marcus Loane, has died in Sydney.
More from SydneyAnglicans.net.
(Photo: Anglican Information Office, Sydney.)
Archbishop Peter Jensen on the new Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop Peter Jensen was asked for his thoughts on the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in a 3 minute segment on SBS TV.
He said the new Archbishop would be “enormously welcomed” and respected if he were to visit Australia.
See it here – ‘Anglican Aussies welcome new Archbishop of Canterbury’.
(Photo: SBS.)
The Marcus I Knew and Loved
Greg Blaxland, former SAMS missionary, and well-known to many of our readers, has just published “The Marcus I Knew and Loved”, subtitled An Autobiographical Appreciation of Sir Marcus Lawrence Loane.
In his Preface, he writes,
The pages that follow do not purport to be a complete life story… Rather, they are a simple, loving, autobiographical appreciation of a truly great man of God…
Many share such a high estimate of Sir Marcus Loane.
It’s available as an e-book (in ePub, Mobi, or PDF formats), and can be purchased for $US9.99 here.
Related:
- Sydney Synod gives thanks for Marcus Loane.
- Archbishop Marcus Loane photo gallery.
- Remembering with gratitude Sir Marcus Loane, on the Centenary of his birth.
- Guarding the Gospel.
Archbishop Peter Jensen’s statement on Pope Francis
The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen today joined other Christian leaders in welcoming the election of the new Pope, saying “The papacy continues to have huge global significance in testing times for humanity. We join those who pray that Pope Francis will use the office to further the gospel of Jesus Christ for the sake of all humanity.”
Other statements – via The Bible Society.
Moore College Graduation 2013 — Report
“Last night 92 graduates received their awards from the college. City Recital Hall was packed with over 600 guests who were family, friends of the graduates and supporters of the college…”
– story from the Moore College website.
Also on the website: An Invitation to the Commissioning of Dr Mark Thompson as the 13th Principal of the College, on Thursday 6th June, 7:00pm at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
Chappo’s preaching
“From the day that Jesus saved John, there was no-one more impressive or wonderful for John than Jesus. Did he ever get tired of telling people about Jesus in the gospels, or of stringing together the things Jesus did so you could see his greatness?”
– Another reminder that remembering John Chapman means pointing to Jesus. Simon Manchester writes in The Briefing. (Photo: St Thomas’ North Sydney.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…