Tewantin Community Gathering of Care and Support

It would be good to uphold in your prayers Mark Calder and the Anglican Church at Noosa as they seek to help their local community after yesterday’s tragic fire.

(Update: audio and the hand out from the meeting has been posted here.)

God Becomes our Neighbour

Read Archbishop Peter Jensen’s Christmas sermon, delivered at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney –

“The success of the whole human enterprise depends on knowing God. That is the condition for us to have what the Bible calls ‘eternal life’, the fulfilment of all human hopes and aspirations in this life and in the world to come. Getting to know God is the central ambition and task of your life. Do you know God? …”

– read it all at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Queen’s Christmas message 2011

“God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.”

– from Queen Elizabeth II’s 2011 Christmas broadcast. (text here)

Archbishop Peter Jensen’s 2011 Christmas message

Archbishop Peter Jensen has released his Christmas message for 2011.

“we are celebrating the generosity of Jesus, who left his heavenly home to live amongst us and to die for us on a Roman cross to reconcile us to God.”

Here’s the full text.

Christmas is our big annual reminder of the generous love of God. When Jesus was born, it was God himself entering our story to rescue us from sin.

Some people just can’t stand the fact that he is the most important person in history and our whole dating system revolves around his birth. They even want to change the language to write him out.

It’s sad really. It shows that people are frightened of his influence and will do anything to stop us talking about him.

Sad, because Jesus Christ is the world’s greatest inspiration. We need him in our lives and in our history and in our community.

The signs are that the world is in for a difficult time economically. For some countries it is not just a downturn, they will need to grapple with a breakdown in their economic systems. Already, many people go hungry each day. If times get worse, it will be the poor and disadvantaged who suffer most. We are going to need to be generous, and the greatest inspiration to generosity that the world has ever known is Jesus.

When we celebrate Christmas we are celebrating the generosity of Jesus, who left his heavenly home to live amongst us and to die for us on a Roman cross to reconcile us to God.

When we are reconciled to God, it affects the whole way we think of others. We reach out in care and forgiveness.

It’s a glad and generous season of the year because our God makes us glad with his generosity.

Dr Peter F Jensen,
Archbishop of Sydney,
Christmas, 2011 AD.

Video version here (thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net)

Carols from St Andrew’s Christmas Eve

ABC Television will broadcast the service of Carols from St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney this Christmas Eve.

Watch it around Australia on ABC1 6:00–7:00pm on Saturday 24th December.

December 2011 Church Record online

The December 2011 issue of The Australian Church Record is now available from their website.

Archbishop of Sydney calls on ALP delegates to reject ‘false rhetoric’

Here’s a Statement released by Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen:

Archbishop of Sydney calls on ALP delegates to reject ‘false rhetoric’

The ALP has a proud history of achievement in genuine matters of equality, so it is disappointing to see it divided over the false rhetoric of ‘equality’ surrounding same-sex marriage.

The present law defining marriage is not a denial of rights. Issues of inequity regarding the financial and legal status of same-sex relationships have already been addressed by the Parliament and I have supported these changes.

There is no doubt the ALP conference has a difficult decision and this is a painful subject for many, but it is incumbent on delegates to consider the long-term consequences.

Redefining marriage will have unintended and unwelcome consequences for the meaning of parenthood, our openness to other forms of marriage, sex education and our commitment to religious freedom.

Dr Peter F Jensen
Archbishop of Sydney
2/12/2011.

(Source: SydneyAnglicans.net)

At the Centre of the Storm — accounting for Biblical Theology in the 21st Century

Mark Thompson shares news of a new MA course at Moore College, starting in 2012.

Australia Day Convention 2012

Well, this series of promo videos for the 2012 Australia Day Convention is a bit different (as noted at Ref21).

The next speaker (in the absence of ‘Special Agent PDJ’) will be revealed on Sunday. But who is the mystery man in the centre of the photo?

2012 Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference

The Priscilla & Aquila Centre at Moore College is holding its 2012 conference, ‘Side by Side’, on Monday 6th February. Looks to be very encouraging.

The conference is aimed – (i) to encourage women in a variety of biblical appropriate ministries; and (ii) to think more seriously and creatively how men and women can work better together in ministry. Details here.

A creative approach to reaching people

“Mission happens wherever Christians find themselves. Pilgrim Hill is an example of a very creative approach to reaching people with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pilgrim Hill, which is not yet opened, will be a family-run hostel for travellers in Tasmania’s Huon Valley…”

– The Mission Partners website reports on this innovative venture to help pilgrims lose their burdens. (HD version of the opening video here.)

The Sydney Family Album — 7

Mark Thompson has returned to his theme of Sydney’s Family Album with the story of Nathaniel Jones, Moore College Principal 1897–1911:

“Jones’ legacy was a determined evangelicalism, determined equally to live out the faith in quiet godliness and to resist the liberalism (a.k.a. modernism) that would seek a foothold in the diocese over the next two decades.”

Nathaniel Jones, Principal of Moore College from 1897 until 1911, must be included in any reckoning of those who shaped contemporary Sydney Anglicanism. He influenced a generation of Sydney clergy during his fourteen years as principal of the college. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Katoomba Christian Convention. It would be Jones’ men who would promote Howard Mowll for Archbishop in 1933.  Read more

Scottish government ‘forgets’ Christmas

“The Scottish Government has come under fire for completely failing to mention Christmas in its ‘Winter Festivals’ programme. In an official news release the Government mentions St Andrew’s Day eleven times, Hogmanay five times and Burns Night several times. But Christmas is not mentioned at all. …” – More political correctness, as reported by The Christian Institute.

Provincial Mission Convention 2012 — what a great idea

The Provincial Mission Convention in Canberra in January 2012 is a great way for Anglicans across NSW to get together for encouragement for mission. (The Anglican Province of NSW is made up of the dioceses of Canberra & Goulburn, Sydney, Riverina, Bathurst, Newcastle, Armidale and Grafton.)

Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn, Stuart Robinson, speaks about the Provincial Convention in his latest StuTube.

He writes: “This Convention affords us the opportunity to meet with people from a wide range of traditions and contexts, to be challenged and resourced for mission and to enjoy times of corporate worship and fellowship; a brilliant way to start the year!!”

Grab the updated brochure / registration form (PDF file) for details.

‘Common Prayer’ development version launched at Sydney Synod

At Sydney Synod this week, the ‘development version’ of a new liturgical resource (Common Prayer) was presented for one year’s experimentation, examination and feedback. The anticipated final version of Common Prayer is intended as ‘a resource for gospel-shaped gatherings in the evangelical Anglican tradition’.

Speaking on behalf of the Archbishop of Sydney’s Liturgical Panel, Bishop Robert Forsyth said that the Panel was very keen to receive feedback to make this first draft better. An updated and improved version will be presented to the Synod in 2012. The initiative was very warmly received.

The development version, and supporting information, is available now at commonprayer.org.au.

← Previous Page — Next Page →