Bathurst Christmas Reflection – Bishop Mark Calder on Finding Permanence in a World of Change
Bishop Mark Calder’s Christmas message for 2023:
“In a world where everything bears the label ‘temporary,’ the Christmas season invites us to discover the enduring permanence found in Jesus Christ.
Imagine labelling the items in your life – microwaves, cars, homes – as either ‘temporary’ or ‘permanent.’ The result is confronting: almost everything is temporary, except for Jesus.
As we celebrate his birth, we’re not just commemorating God stepping into our world as one of us; we’re affirming the timeless reign of a permanent King. Jesus is the exception in a world of transience, offering reliability, dependability, and lasting hope.
This Christmas, amidst the chaos of life, run to Jesus. In him, find not only help but a source of unwavering hope, strength, and inner transformation. Amidst the temporary, Jesus stands as the permanent promise of a Kingdom that never ends.
May this Christmas be a reminder that, in Jesus, we discover hope and help and strength in the face of our world – and our lives – which are often confusing and uncertain.
Bishop Mark Calder
Anglican Diocese of Bathurst, covering central and western NSW.”
Moore College farewells The Rev Dr Chase Kuhn
“Moore College’s much-loved lecturer in Christian ethics and theology, The Rev Dr Chase Kuhn, has accepted the Archbishop’s invitation to become the Rector of St Matthias Centennial Park in Sydney. Dr Kuhn’s long-standing love of church-based pastoral ministry means that this move has not surprised any who know him.
While we will be very sad to see him go, we are so glad that he is able to use his very considerable gifts in the service of this community of God’s people. We share the joy of this opportunity with Chase, Amy and the family. …”
The how and why of Bible reading – and why we should do it more
“According to the recent National Church Life Survey, 47 per cent of Sydney Anglicans say they read their Bible every day and 75 per cent of them a few times a week. This is a very encouraging statistic!
During the pandemic, newspapers reported something of a revival in personal “spiritual practices”, including reading “holy texts”, prayer and meditation. No doubt many Christians also found that being forced to stay at home lent itself to reviving personal Bible reading and time with God in a more disciplined way.
The Scriptures emphasise both the importance and also the sheer joy and privilege of meeting God in his word …”
– Archbishop Kanishka Raffel encourages us to continue to hear and respond to God’s word. He writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.
This remote town feels like heaven to some, but it has a great gospel need
“Photographs of Exmouth show endless clear blue-water beaches, with expansive horizons.
The nearby Ningaloo Coast is world heritage listed. It is known for its reef, for whale sharks, sea turtles, rays, humpback whales, and a network of underground caves.
The town is gateway to the reef, where people dive and swim.
It’s in a 6504 square kilometre municipality, but most people live in Exmouth itself, a town of 2800.
Its population swells in winter, as people visit during the cooler months. Many people in town spend their spare time fishing, or just enjoying the environment.
Exmouth residents, the Venerable Simon Roberts and Alison Roberts, can see much lostness, just as anywhere. Some people are escaping difficulties, others just living for the enjoyment of life, a hedonistic lifestyle in a beautiful location.
Mr and Mrs Roberts are there for neither. Instead, they hope to bring people something that will satisfy more deeply than either escape or enjoyment: a relationship with God.
They moved to Exmouth around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, Mr Roberts is rector of Exmouth and Onslow Anglican Church and archdeacon of the Pilbara. …”
– The Melbourne Anglican has this story on Simon and Alison Roberts and the churches in Exmouth and Onslow. Food for prayer.
Map: Diocese of North West Australia. Exmouth and Onslow circled.
Archbishop of Perth set to push on with controversial Ordination
From David Ould:
“The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, will proceed with the ordination to the priesthood of a man who is openly living in a relationship with another man on Thursday evening despite a large growing protest in the Diocese.
I understand that more than 700 signatories have been received on a letter of protest. These 700 signatories represent close to 15% of regular church attendance in the Diocese and do not include members from one large church, St Matthew’s Shenton Park, which is organising its own response and will effectively double the number protesting. This leaves easily one quarter of regular church goers in the Diocese now protesting against an ordination. …”
– Read here.
Photo: Diocese of Perth.
Bathurst Diocese Advent Newsletter 2023
The Bathurst Diocese Newsletter for Advent 2023 is now available here as a PDF file.
Great to use to pray for the churches of the diocese and the people they seek to serve with the gospel.
Bishop Mark Calder writes:
Dear friends,
My guess is that most of us are well and truly getting into Christmas planning and shopping.
Some of you may have purchased an Advent calendar which are increasingly popular. However, the secular version seems to be all about helping kids countdown to Christmas. That is not actually what Advent is about!
Advent is about preparing for Christ’s second coming! In Advent we look forward to Christ’s second coming and then celebrate his first coming at Christmas because it marks the beginning of God’s plans to save the world through his Son Jesus.
My Advent sermon series this year is called “On that Day” and arises from a song by CityAlight.
We will be reminded that when Jesus returns, we will rise; we will see him; we will know him, and we will keep on singing!
The season of Advent is meant to lift our eyes from all the disaster which surrounds us – to see the glorious nature of the future which awaits. To see that there will one day, be an end to the mess. To understand that that Jesus has conquered all evil and even death! We’re reminded that Christians are people of hope and expectation. We are people who know that on that day – when Jesus returns – we will rise as Jesus rose!
May Advent be a time of recapturing our Christian Hope and rejoicing in all that is yet to come!
Mark.
Resources to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
From SydneyAnglicans.net:
“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has commended the work of Anglicare as the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls on November 25. …”
Image: Anglicare resources website.
Calling recently-retired clergy
From the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook page:
“Bishop David Robinson has graciously been helping in Coonamble as a locum. Such a blessing to that church.
If you’re recently retired and keen to serve in the Diocese this way next year, very flexible terms and conditions can be discussed. (eg;. Bishop David has served two weeks on, two weeks off, just 2.5 days a week each visit.) Please contact Bishop Mark Calder.”
Activists blessed by the Anglican Dean of Newcastle
“The Anglican Dean of Newcastle has blessed a group of activists who plan to block the city’s harbour for 30 hours this weekend.
The group say they want to send a message about climate change…”
– Report from NBN News Newcastle.
Photo: Newcastle Cathedral.
Meet the late starter taking up Chappo’s flag
“In Christian terms, Dave Jensen could be considered a late starter. When the figures tell us that 78 per cent of Christians turn to faith in the years up to age 19, conversion in his late twenties has made him a determined spreader of the good news. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell writes of Dave Jensen’s new role.
Related:
What is a Christian? — book by Dave Jensen.
Healthier clergy, families, churches because of five-day working week
“Anglican leaders in NSW believe their full-time clergy have better mental, spiritual, emotional and physical health because of their five-day working week model.
Bathurst and Newcastle dioceses, and Norwest Anglican parish in the Diocese of Sydney say their full-time ministers are able to focus more of their free time on family life and personal recreation under the shorter working weeks. …”
– The Melbourne Anglican speaks with Bishop Mark Calder and others, including Pete Stedman at NorWest Anglican, about a five day working week for clergy.
Two Archdeacons announced for Bathurst Diocese
News from the Diocese of Bathurst:
“Bishop Calder has announced the Rev’d Andrew Thornhill as Archdeacon of the north-west and the Rev’d Tim St Quintin as Archdeacon of the east. They will be collated at their commissioning services on 03 February (11am, Dubbo) and 13 April (11am, Mudgee) respectively. Please pray for Andrew and Tim as they prepare to take up these appointments.”
Via the Bathurst Diocese Facebook page.
Photo: Andrew Thornhill with Bishop Mark Calder, and Tim & Sarah St Quintin.
Latest news from the Diocese of the Northern Territory
The latest issue of Top Centre, the magazine of the Diocese of the Northern Territory, was published recently.
You can download a PDF copy from their website – Top Centre 23.3.
It’s a great way to be informed how you can pray for gospel ministry in the Top End and Centre of Australia.
Southern Cross magazine November – December 2023
The latest issue of the Diocese of Sydney’s Southern Cross magazine for November – December 2023 is online. Download it here.
Printed copies will also be available in churches.
Howard Guinness and the beginnings of evangelical university ministry in Australia
At an event at Moore College on 1st November, Dr Ruth Lukabyo spoke on the legacy of Dr Howard Guinness –
“Dr Howard Guinness, of the well-known Irish brewing family, was sent to Australia in 1930 by Inter-Varsity Fellowship to develop Christian student groups on university campuses. His visit was the catalyst for the establishment of Sydney University and Melbourne University Evangelical Unions on the basis of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
During his later parish ministry in Broadway and Vaucluse, his ongoing involvement in EU missions has left a lasting legacy in university campus ministry.”
– The video is now available to watch. (At time of posting, the event begins 37 minutes and 30 seconds into the video, though the video might later be edited.)
At the end of Dr Lukabyo’s presentation, Mary Jones, Howard’s daughter, shares recollections of her father.
Related:
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…