Archbishop Peter Jensen’s Easter Message 2012

Archbishop Peter Jensen has released his 2012 Easter message – a message of wonderful news.

Watch it here at SydneyAnglicans.net (1 minute 20 seconds).

And you can download the message here formatted as 2 x A5 handouts.

Or read the text below –

“You can pay people to do a lot of things for you but you can’t pay someone else to do death for you. And there is no one on earth who can really tell you what it’s like.

They are the facts.

If you want to travel to an exotic place, someone has been there before you and can tell you what it is like, with photos. But there are no travellers into the realm of death who come back.

That’s a fact.

Well, no it isn’t a fact.

There is a man who has been there and come back and told us what to expect. That man is Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.

We Christians love Easter because it is the historical reminder that although Jesus was executed by being crucified and was truly dead, three days later he broke out of his tomb and showed that death is not the last word in life.

And everything is changed. Instead of living in fear and anxiety, it’s as though God has turned the light on and dispelled our fear.

Jesus dies so that we could be forgiven and he lives to give us life beyond the grave.

Now that’s a great fact!

Dr Peter F Jensen,
Archbishop of Sydney,
Easter, 2012 AD.”

A reminder to pray for those in authority

“For our devotions before our meeting this morning we read 1 Timothy 2.

‘First of all then, I urge that supplications, prayers intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and for all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life, godly and dignified in every way.’

Does God answer such prayers?…”

– a report from East Timor at Mission Partners.

New Principal for George Whitfield College

“The directors of George Whitfield College, which trains leaders for ministry across Africa, have unanimously elected Rev Mark Dickson to succeed Dr David Seccombe as principal.

Dr Seccombe has been Principal of the South African theological college since 1993. He is also an Affiliate Professor of New Testament at North-West University at Potchefstroom. He was formerly rector of St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Shenton Park, in Perth.

Mark Dickson (pictured) is currently Vice-Principal of GWC and holds the C.S. Lewis Lectureship in Christian Thought.

He has been engaged in Phd studies and has special expertise in the area of science and Christianity, also holding a Bachelor of Science.

He previously served as the senior minister of St Matthews Church in Table View, (Cape Town) for 17 years. The appointment will take effect from 1 January 2013.”

– Report by Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net. (Dr D B Knox was the founding Principal of George Whitfield College.)

Sydney Anglicans I. Biblically confessional

What is it that makes Sydney Diocese what it is?

‘Sydney Anglicans’, as well as their friends, and critics, will find Mark Thompson’s first post in a new series helpful in understanding the ethos of the diocese –

“Those of us privileged to grow up in faith within the Anglican diocese of Sydney don’t often appreciate just what an extraordinary privilege it is. Until we travel outside the diocese, we are apt to think that this is just what Anglicanism is like everywhere. But it isn’t.”

Here’s his post:

“In this new series of posts I want to explore some of the characteristics of Sydney Anglicans. Those of us privileged to grow up in faith within the Anglican diocese of Sydney don’t often appreciate just what an extraordinary privilege it is. Until we travel outside the diocese, we are apt to think that this is just what Anglicanism is like everywhere. But it isn’t. There are many exciting examples of Anglican evangelicalism all over the world, but rarely does a diocese have that particular theological flavour. In another series of posts (which will be picked up again soon) I have sought to identify some of the key figures who have made substantial contributions to character of the diocese. Here I want to look at some of those things which, while not by any means unique to Sydney Anglicans, nevertheless are important characteristics of the diocesan ethos.  Read more

Changes coming at Bethlehem Baptist

Justin Taylor has the info on plans for change at Bethlehem Baptist Church –

“Tonight the elders at Bethlehem Baptist Church  unanimously voted to present Jason Meyer as their candidate to succeed John Piper, pending congregational approval.”

– Read it here.

Into all the world — Moore College Graduation 2012

Held last night. “Moore College Graduation 2012 saw 102 people receive their awards. It was a wonderful celebration of the work of God in the lives of graduates and the vital equipping work of the College. We thank God that these faithful servants have completed their training and preparation, and now head out ‘Into all the World’ to minister Jesus’ love and saving grace.

Some fast facts:

See the videos – and more – from the graduation – and give thanks.

‘The mistakes of Phillip Jensen’

Few people have been used by the Lord to bring gospel blessing to Sydney as has Phillip Jensen. And few people have been as maligned and misrepresented.

At The Briefing, Tony Payne chats with Phillip about his days in university ministry, about the Anglican Church, about being nominated for Archbishop, about the real agenda of REPA, and much more. Read it all here.

Memorial Service for Professor Patrick Collinson

There will be a Memorial Service for Prof. Patrick Collinson, C.B.E. (1929–2011) in Cambridge on Saturday 10th March. A number of Sydney folk would have been taught Reformation history by him when he was at Sydney University 1969-75. He died last September. Obituary in The Guardian, and tribute at Trinity College website.

No second casino for Sydney, say churches

Here’s a media release from the NSW Council of Churches:

The President of the NSW Council of Churches, Revd Dr Ross Clifford, has commended NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell on his measured approach to pressure for a second casino license for Sydney, and reiterated a call for an inquiry into the social implications of gambling in NSW.  Read more

Inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 and the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012

From the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs:

“The Committee encourages all interested parties to participate in the following survey on the two Marriage Bills. … the closing date for responses is 20 April 2012.”

The battle for accurate Bible translation in Asia

“At least a dozen Turkish pastors, as well as some whole churches… have signed a petition condemning a new Turkish translation of Matthew…”

– WorldMag has an article about Insider movements and the challenges for Bible translators. Food for prayer.

Related:
A World of Riches – Reformation21.
In Pursuit of a Faithful Witness – Reformation21.
Should We Drop “Son of God” in Bible Translations for the Sake of Reaching Muslims? – Thabiti Anyabwile.

Diocesan budget needs more than ‘minor tweaking’

“A conference on future funding of diocesan bodies has been told the Global Financial Crisis provides a great opportunity for change but not in the form of ‘radical congregationalism’.

The Anglican Church League organised an open forum on the Draft Statement on Funding Principles and Priorities for 2013-2015, presented to last year’s Synod by the Mission Board. Speakers at the Chapter House on February 18th included Dean Phillip Jensen, who was on the sub-committee which prepared the draft, GAB Chairman Bruce-Ballantine Jones, ACL Chairman Dr Mark Thompson and Senior Ministers Sandy Grant of Wollongong, Peter Lin of Bossley Park/Fairfield and Craig Roberts of Neutral Bay…”

– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net reports on the ACL’s Diocesan Financial Priorities Conference. (Conference papers here.)

NSW Council of Churches calls for gambling inquiry

Here’s a media release from the NSW Council of Churches –

“Churches call for NSW gambling inquiry – 20 February 2012

The President of the NSW Council of Churches, the Revd Dr Ross Clifford, has called on the O’Farrell Government to hold a wide-ranging inquiry into the gambling industry.  Read more

Position vacant: Lecturer in Biblical Studies

You’d have to subscribe to the doctrinal standards of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, but if you do, you might be just the person they are looking for.

When bishops disagree

“What should bishops do when a bishop breaks ranks and violates the collegiality of the House of Bishops?

That would seem to be the question confronting the Church of England since the Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam apparently stated, in an interview with The Times, that he did not see any need to ‘sublimate’ his support for same-sex marriage to the views of the Church.

Given the inevitable shortcomings of newspaper reporting, that may not be exactly what he said or exactly what he meant, but given also that there has been no refutation from him, for the moment we must assume this is the case…”

– John Richardson at the Ugley Vicar looks at events in the UK.
Related: ACL Statement on developments in the Diocese of Gippsland.

← Previous Page — Next Page →