‘Intolerable corruption’: Anglicans warn euthanasia may force exit from aged care

“The Anglican Church has advised its aged care homes to discourage residents from using voluntary assisted dying when NSW’s laws take effect this year, and has warned the practice could become so morally corrupting for church-run facilities that it may have to exit the industry. …

‘The Board of Anglicare Sydney decided … VAD will not be available at its residential aged care homes, and the organisation and staff will not actively participate in the provision of any VAD services,’ said the report to the Synod, an Anglican parliament…”

– Story by Jordan Baker in WA Today.

Image from a video by St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.

Talks from the Bathurst Diocesan Camp 2023

The Bathurst Diocesan Camp was held at Burrendong Dam over the weekend.

Ian Powell from St. Matthew’s Wanniassa in Canberra spoke on the Book of Jonah. Very challenging and helpful talks.

Talk 1, Talk 2, Talk 3, Talk 4.

Darwin Cathedral Evening Service turns One

A new issue of Top Centre (23.2) from the Diocese of the Northern Territory is now out and available for download.

Lots of encouragement and plenty to pray about – including a report on the first anniversary of the new evening service at Christ Church Cathedral in Darwin (pictured).

“Christ Church Cathedral celebrated the first anniversary of its 5.30pm evening service on June 4 with about 50 people in the congregation including a newborn baby.

This compared with a mere ten people at its first service a year ago.

Reflecting on the growth of this church plant, founding leader Ben Staunton said as much as he was encouraged by the growth in numbers, what was more remarkable was the community that had been built, with members regularly meeting socially and helping each other in their daily lives. …”

Download your copy from this page.

Wilfrid Law Docker (1846-1919) Accountant and a thorough Anglican

“Upon the death of Wilfrid Law Docker (often misspelled as Wilfred) it was said that death had removed one of those men who are the salt of the community and furthermore that:

There are many whose loss would attract greater notice, but there are few who will be so long and so much missed in a number of public affairs touching the religious and philanthropic, and educational interests of this city.

Who, then, was Wilfrid Law Docker? What had he done in his life to be accorded the designation of ‘salt of the community’? And why would he be ‘much missed in … the religious and philanthropic and educational interests’ of Sydney?…”

– At his website Philanthropists and Philanthropy in Australian Colonial History, Paul F Cooper, Research Fellow of Christ College, Sydney, provides fascinating glimpses into the lives of many who helped shape Sydney and beyond.

In his latest contribution, Paul introduces us to Wilfrid Law Docker, member of the Chapter of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod, the Synod of the Province and the General Synod of Australia.

Spate of scam texts from ‘vicars’ at Melbourne churches

“Parishioners have received scam text messages claiming to be from their vicar at several Melbourne churches during the past week.

The texts named the vicar of the relevant church, and several asked the recipient to transfer money to an account for ‘mission giving’.  …”

– Report and image from The Melbourne Anglican.

ACL Synod Dinner 2023

The Anglican Church League invites all members of the Sydney Synod to the 2023 ACL Synod Dinner.

It will be held on Monday 11th September from 5:30pm (or when Synod rises), at the Bishop Barry Centre, 51 Druitt Street, Sydney. The cost is $30.

Hear Archdeacon Simon Flinders on The Importance of the Local Church.

Simon Flinders is Archdeacon to the Archbishop of Sydney. He has served in parish ministry in Georges Hall, North Sydney and Northbridge.

Dinner bookings are absolutely essential as space is limited.

Sorry – the dinner is sold out.

God gives the growth, but we must sow the seed – Matthew 13:1–23 – Bishop Richard Condie

Bishop of Tasmania Richard Condie speaks at Moore College chapel on the Parable of the Sower.

Great encouragement to 1. preach Christ, and 2. pray for the churches of Tasmania as they hold out the Word of Life.

Bishop of Bathurst’s Newsletter — August 2023

The Bishop of Bathurst’s Newsletter — Winter edition, August 2023 — has been published by Bishop Mark Calder.

Be sure to download your copy to help you pray for the ministry of the gospel of the Lord Jesus in Central and Western NSW. (There is also information on how to support the work financially, if you are able.)

From the newsletter –

“Pray for all our stipendiary clergy

– that they would be refreshed, sustained and encouraged in their work – Andy Martin, Andrew Thornhill, Bec Choi, Ben Connelly, Ben Mackay, Brett Watterson, Carl Palmer, David Blackmore, James Boardman, James Daymond, James Hodson, Jonny Lush, Jono Williams, Phil Howes, Bob Cameron, Roger Phelps, Sally Phelps, Steven Klouth, Tim Smith and Wally Cox. Pray also for our many other clergy who serve and help so wonderfully!

Pray too for our stipendiary lay ministers: Lizzie Watterson, Levi Kowalczyk and Jo Watts + Glenn and Wendy Murray.

Parishes without clergy – Dubbo, Cudgegong Valley, Kelso, Narromine, Gilgandra, Coolah-Dunedoo, Condobolin, Trundle, Coonamble, Warren, Bourke-Brewarrina, Cumnock and Warren. Please pray that the Lord would raise up 13 godly, able and passionate people to serve in ALL of these parishes, to his great glory! And please thank the Lord for all who serve these parishes in the meantime – both lay and ordained.”

– PDF file here.

Societas 2023 from Moore College

Societas, the magazine produced annually by the students at Moore College, is now available.

Always interesting, and a great reminder to pray for the College.

You can read online or download your copy here.

Various clergy opportunities in central and western NSW

SydneyAnglicans.net highlights these opportunities for gospel work in central and western NSW –

“In central and western NSW, we find ourselves with a bountiful harvest but too few labourers.

Of our 28 parishes, 13 are in need of clergy – not so much to ‘run a church’, but to serve as loving shepherds to our people; to share the love of Jesus, open his Word, and provide guidance, nourishment, and protection. …”

– See the communities where there are specific needs.

August – September 2023 Southern Cross out now

The August – September 2023 issue of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now out.

Printed copies will be available in parishes shortly, and you can read it on the web right now.

In his column this month, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel reflects on Our True Spiritual Condition –

“Recently I was walking through the city and, as I crossed Martin Place, I noticed the usual queue of men and women lining up to receive their evening meal, while others set up plastic folding tables and baskets of plastic cutlery and paper serviettes ready for that night’s food distribution.

The Sydney City Council says there are about 300 people sleeping on the streets of the CBD each night, with close to that number in city-based crisis accommodation. Across NSW, the number of people without adequate housing is more than 30,000. I am deeply grateful for the work of Anglicare and a number of city and suburban churches that provide assistance to people experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of homelessness in their local area.

As I continued on my walk, I soon passed another queue. This time it was a queue of people waiting to enter the Louis Vuitton store on George Street. It made for a jarring contrast, though the two queues were barely 500 metres apart. …”

Read it all on pages 13 and 14.

This major regional city needs a new minister

As the Bathurst Diocese Facebook page says,

“This major regional city needs a new minister. Read with encouragement who they are looking for. Please join them in prayer.

Maybe you’re the answer to their prayer. Seek a preliminary, confidential chat with our bishop – Mark Calder.”

See the details at the SydneyAnglicans.net jobs vacancy page.

One & All is all for Jesus

“As Christians around Sydney – and around the world – sing songs written by composers and music groups from Sydney Anglican circles, it’s always exciting to discover another addition to the mix.

One & All, a group born out of the parish centred on Christ Church, Springwood, started in early 2020…”

– Judy Adamson writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Remembering Arthur Stace 56 years on

Like a broken record, we’ve mentioned Arthur Stace on our website once or twice over the years.

In some ways, you might call him Sydney’s best known evangelist, chalking the word Eternity on footpaths across the city for more than 35 years. He inspired thousands to wonder at the meaning of that word – hopefully to contemplate where they would spend eternity – and to be attentive to the gospel.

In addition, Arthur was an open-air evangelist, though few were aware he was also ‘Mr Eternity’.

Arthur was called home to be with the Lord Jesus on this day (30th July) in 1967.

He was eventually buried at Botany Cemetery, now part of Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park.

As we remember this humble man, let’s also be encouraged by his example as he laboured to bring the good news of salvation to his fellow Sydney-siders.

See also these two tributes in song – by Nathan Tasker (video below) and Colin Buchanan.

Can I share a little secret about speaking at Conferences?

“for me, all things being equal, the hard part of ministry isn’t giving talks at conferences. The hard part is Everything Else.”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Rory Shiner shares what’s easy – and what isn’t.

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