“The whole church is called to pray…”

“An impassioned Archbishop Raffel has led the diocesan fellowship in prayer at a large meeting in St Andrew’s Cathedral as well as in parish churches.

Morning church services across Sydney and the Illawarra either saw a video of the Archbishop leading in prayer or read the text of his prayer for the spread of the gospel across the Diocese.

Later, representatives from all regions of the Diocese gathered in the Cathedral. …”

– Report by Russell Powell on yesterday’s prayer focus across Sydney.

Image thanks to Anglican Media Sydney.

Bathurst Diocese celebrates Bicentennary of Holy Trinity Kelso

Holy Trinity Kelso is the oldest parish west of the Blue Mountains, this year marking its bicentennary.

On Saturday, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel was in Kelso as part of the celebrations. Above, he is pictured with Mark Calder, Bishop of Bathurst.

Photos via the diocesan Facebook page.

Also see Archbishop Raffel’s sermon on 1 Peter 2:4-10 at the anniversary service.

Archbishop of Adelaide and Primate Geoffrey Smith announces resignation

“Adelaide’s Anglican Archbishop Geoffrey Smith has announced he will resign as Archbishop on November 8 and as Primate… of the Anglican church of Australia effective October 8th.

This will bring on the separate election process for both positions.

‘The time is right for Lynn and I to reconnect with family and friends by moving back to Queensland. Lyn and I will move to the Sunshine Coast, where we will settle and look forward to becoming involved with the local church and community,’ Smith writes in a letter to Adelaide clergy. …”

– John Sandeman at The Other Cheek has the news.

Photo: Diocese of Adelaide.

A Prayer for the people of Sydney and the Illawarra

As Sunday’s Day of Prayer for the Spread of the Gospel (including a prayer gathering in the Cathedral on Sunday afternoon) approaches, Archbishop Kanisha Raffel has written this prayer which you may wish to use –

A Prayer for the Spread of the Gospel in Sydney and the Illawarra

Dear heavenly Father

We praise and thank you for sending into the world, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to be the world’s redeemer.

Thank you that by his death and resurrection you have opened the way to life abundant and life eternal through the forgiveness of ours sins. Thank you that by repentance and faith, we are adopted by grace into your family, and given the gift of your Holy Spirit who assures us that we are your children, and enables us to call you Father, not because of anything we have done, but because of your great mercy and love.

Gracious God, we pray for Sydney and the Illawarra, from the Hawkesbury to the mountains, from the new growth corridors to the coastal suburbs and the inner city, from the southern highlands to Wollongong and the towns and villages of the south Coast – would you pour out your Spirit to bring many of our neighbours, friends, families and colleagues to saving knowledge of your Son.

Would you equip all your people, in our families, churches, schools, agencies and organisations, in every community across our diocesan fellowship to fulfil the works that you have prepared in advance for us to do so that in every way we make known the excellencies of your Son, who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Dear Lord, hear our prayer for all those who do not know you, and do not know your love for them in the gospel of your Son. Please open blind eyes, please soften hard hearts, please lift the veil from those blinded by the god of this age so that all may see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Dear heavenly Father, by the proclamation of your gospel, by our ready answer for the hope that we have,  by our lives and in our fellowship, bearing witness to the transforming power of the risen Lord, would you make known the truth, beauty, majesty and mercy of your Son and call many from death to life, from darkness into his wonderful light, from slavery to sin and death, into the Kingdom of the Son whom you love.

Even as you have been merciful to us, pour out your mercy in the gospel of your Son and bring many more we pray to repentance and faith in him; build your church from every tribe and people and language and nation, to the praise and glory of the Lamb who was slain, who by his blood purchased a people for himself, who alone is worthy of all praise and honour and glory and blessing forever and ever, Amen.

The latest North West Network

The most recent issue of North West Network (March 2025) is now up on the website of the Diocese of Northwest Australia.

– Download your copy for your encouragement and for food for prayer. (PDF file – linked from this page.)

Reminder: Before the Throne – Diocesan Day of Prayer for the spread of the gospel – Sunday 4th May 2025

A Day of Prayer for the spread of the gospel.

2:30pm – 4:00pm, Sunday 4th May 2025,  St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.

From Tara Sing at Anglican Media Sydney:

“We’d love to see every Sydney Anglican church represented at St Andrew’s Cathedral that afternoon, visibly demonstrating our unity in Christ as we lift up the mission of our diocese in prayer. How special it will be to experience a glimpse of heaven, as people from all cultures and generations gather to pray.”

Bishop Richard Condie — Hope for the hopeless — Luke 8:40-56

The Diocese of Bathurst is running HOPE25, with some special messages after Easter.

The Bishop of Tasmania, Richard Condie, begins the series by preaching from Luke 8:40-56. His topic? Hope for the Hopeless.

Very good to watch and share.

Coming sermons:

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on the death of Pope Francis

“Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Statement from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
The passing of Pope Francis

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Pope Francis, and those closest to him.

The example of the humility that characterised his life will be his lasting legacy.

On behalf of Sydney Anglicans, I extend our profound sympathy to Archbishop Fisher and the Catholic community in Sydney.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel

April 21, 2025.”

– Media release from the Diocese of Sydney.

Don’t sleep through Easter — the Resurrection of Jesus is a bolt from the blue

Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel preached at this morning’s Easter Day service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. He spoke from 1 Corinthians 15:12-22.

– Watch here.

Three short Good Friday reflections from Luke 23 — Bishop Mark Calder

Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, shares three short reflections from Luke 23 for Good Friday.

See Luke chapter 23 (ESV).

1. He has done nothing to deserve death.Luke 23:2-25.
2. Today, you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:32-43.
3. Surely this was a righteous man. Luke 23:44-47.

Are we post Christian or post Secular? – with Mark McCrindle

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“The new McCrindle report ‘An undercurrent of faith’ says:

Founder and Principal of McCrindle research, Mark McCrindle, says his report shows a new search for purpose and meaning and asks is ‘Australia Post Christian or are we now Post Secular?’

Plus we compare the findings of the national McCrindle report with the recent Sydney Anglican report on Church attendance.”

– Watch or listen here.

Now is the time to find forgiveness through Jesus

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s Easter message 2025.

Good to watch – great to share.

Don’t let prayer be our last resort

From Archbishop Kanishka Raffel:

“On Sunday, May 4, I have invited all of our churches to share in a day of prayer for the spread of the gospel across our Diocese – from the Hawkesbury to the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands to Wollongong and the South Coast, and Greater Sydney. A day of prayer for our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues who don’t know Christ, to come to know him and his redeeming love. …”

– Read it all at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Ministry opportunities expand in Bathurst

From the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook page:

“Back in August when our bishop wrote an article for Southern Cross, he said we needed just 11 more ministers, so that each of our 28 parishes might just have one! As of now, we need 15! Two of our ministers have moved to Sydney multi-staffed parishes, one has retired, one moved to another role, and another had to leave ministry for personal reasons.

Perhaps if you’re in a multi-staffed city parish, you might consider our situation and the tremendous opportunities which await. Please email our bishop: bishop@bathurstanglican.org.au.”

– Facebook.

See also:

Bathurst Diocese Ministry Opportunities.

“Folded and complied” — Conversion Laws Dilemma For Melbourne Anglicans

“Melbourne Anglicans face a dilemma. They must decide whether to obey state laws or the teachings of the Bible.

Their diocese demands that members sign a Code of Conduct that among many other rules, agrees not to seek to change or suppress a child’s gender — as dictated by Victoria’s conversion laws under the Change Or Suppression (Conversion) Practises Prohibition Act 2021.

Those who don’t sign the Code are banned from serving in the church or attending synods.

They include religious liberty analyst Elizabeth Kendal who laments that many church members have folded and complied with the code of conduct, ignoring Biblical teachings on gender and sexuality. …”

– Report from Vision Radio.

See also:

A Canary In The Anglican Coalmine – Mark Durie.

(Photo: St. Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne is the backdrop for an evangelist’s sign on Princes Bridge.)

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