A word from Bishop Gary Nelson
Bishop of North West Australia, Gary Nelson, writes –
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” [ESV, 2 Tim 47]
Paul writes these words to Timothy as he nears the end of his life and ministry. They certainly encourage us all to finish well, to remain faithful to our Lord.
Friends, as I write, it’s only a few months before I conclude my ministry in the North West on May 15. For Christine and I, it has been, and still is, a wonderful privilege to serve the Lord in this part of remote Australia. It seems only yesterday we were leaving Sydney to drive across the continent to Geraldton. Now, we find ourselves preparing to do the reverse trip, 10 years later. We find it hard to believe our time in the North West is rapidly drawing to a close. So, Christine and I, want to thank you, whether family, friends or supporters [across Australia, and overseas, especially in America], for your constant prayer, generous giving and continued encouragement to press on. Read more
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s message to churches — March 2022
“Archbishop Raffel has written to churches, and spoken on video, about the remarkable week which has seen the invasion of Ukraine and flooding in two states.”
– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net has more.
In a letter to Rectors, Archbishop Raffel also writes,
“The Rev Mark Charleston has also written a prayer for those affected by floods. It is available online at sydneyanglicans.net/news/a-prayer-for-those-affected-by-flood.”
Numbulwar Restoration Project
From the Diocese of the Northern Territory:
“The Diocese is seeking financial support for the restoration of the church building and rectory in the remote community of Numbulwar.
We hope to continue to enable culturally appropriate worship activities in the region by improving its facilities. For further information, please review the project presentation or contact Lee Walton at the Diocesan Office…”
Numbulwar is a remote community on the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Southern Cross magazine, March 2022
Anglican Media Sydney has just released Southern Cross magazine for March 2022.
Printed copies will be available in parishes from this weekend, but you can download a PDF version now at magazine.sydneyanglicans.net.
Pastoral video from Bishop Mark Calder on the floods and Ukraine
Yesterday Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder released this pastoral video.
Please use it as an encouragement to turn to the Lord in prayer.
New Registrar for Moore College
From Moore College:
“It is with great joy and in eager anticipation that the Governing Board of Moore Theological College has appointed Dr Paul Yeates to replace Rhonda Barry in the position of Registrar. …”
– Story here.
A prayer for Ukraine
From Archbishop Kanishka Raffel via SydneyAnglicans.net tonight –
The world is dismayed, though perhaps not surprised, to find that Russia has illegally invaded Ukraine in an act of unprovoked and unjustified aggression. We fear that the toll on the brave people of Ukraine will be heartrending and dreadful. The world has had to engage in defensive action to protect the innocent and to contain aggressors in the past.
We must pray for the government and people of Ukraine, the people of Russia who live under an authoritarian regime, for the leaders of the world that they will respond with wisdom and courage and for the restraint of evil and the restoration of peace, with justice.
Psalm 10 says “Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.”
And so we ask –
Sovereign Lord, you observe all those who dwell on earth. Have mercy we pray on those who now suffer the miseries of a war not of their own making. Have compassion on the wounded and dying; comfort the broken-hearted; confound the hatred and madness of those who make war; guide our rulers, bring war to an end, bring peace across the world. Unite us all under the reign of your Son, the Prince of Peace, before whose judgement seat the rulers of the world will give account, and in whose name we pray. Amen.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel,
Sydney, February 24, 2022.
Archbishop of Perth Responds to Concerns over Ordination
“The Archbishop of Perth has today released a statement in response to growing concerns about tonight’s ordination and the appointment of a new precentor at the Cathedral. The statement is reproduced below …
davidould.net understands that conservatives in the diocese are not placated by this message…”
– Read the latest at davidould.net.
Archbishop of Perth Set to Proceed with Ordination that will “Split the Diocese”
“The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, is set to proceed with an ordination later this week that, according to sources in the diocese, is set to ‘split the diocese’.
On the evening of Thursday 24 February 2022 Archbishop Goldsworthy will preside over the ordination at St George’s Cathedral where four candidates will be made deacon. …”
Photo: Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy, courtesy Diocese of Perth.
Sydney Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on the future
“Sydney Anglican Archbishop Kanishka Raffel spells out the future mission challenges in Sydney and the future of the National Anglican Church in Australia.
We canvass some of the issues Archbishop Raffel might have broached in his first Presidential address, had the ‘Synod in the Greenfields’ (scheduled for this Saturday 26 February 2022) not been postponed due to the Omicron outbreak.
Archbishop Raffel speaks frankly about the Greenfields challenge, indigenous issues, multiculturalism, the national church and the current religious freedom debate. …”
“He had lost control of his life to Jesus Christ”
“When Archbishop Kanishka Raffel came to Australia in 1972 as a small child, his home faith was Buddhism. The story of how he came to believe in Jesus has now been told on video, which is available for playing in churches or to pass on to friends.
The Archbishop’s story has been told in print and on radio, but he was moved to record a video version after a request from Anglican Chinese churches. He talks about how he became interested in studying Buddhism as a teenager and also asked Christians about their faith. …”
– Watch and download this encouraging testimony at SydneyAnglicans.net.
From around the Anglican Church of Australia
A few items of interest from around the Anglican Church of Australia –
The Idea of Duty – Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Mark Short.
“As I write this column people across the world are preparing to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the seventieth anniversary of her accession to the throne. My only encounter with royalty came at a distance. Our family were in England during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and she came to our city as part of the celebrations. The day of her visit I lined up in on the footpath with our younger son on my shoulders. From that vantage point he saw her: I did but see her lemon-yellow hat passing by. …”
Sesquicentenary of St Stephen’s Fitzgerald’s Valley – Blayney Chronicle.
“Sitting atop a hill in the picturesque Fitzgerald’s Valley between Blayney and Bathurst is an Anglican Church that is unique in the Bathurst parish.
Built in 1871 by the settlers who moved into the valley in the 1800s, St Stephen’s Anglican Church is an operating church that commands one of the best views in the central west. …”
Rod Bower, author of politically charged church billboard, leaves Central Coast – ABC News.
“Father Bower is moving onto his new role as Director of Mission for the Diocese of Newcastle, based at Lake Macquarie, where he will shape and ‘pass the baton of social justice”’ onto the next generation of priests. …”
Eighteen ordained at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney
“From twenty-something college graduates to an experienced Aboriginal Pastor, the 18 candidates for ordination at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday, Feb 19, 2022, shared both excitement and a sense of privilege and responsibility as they made their vows…”
– Encouraging news from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The washup from lockdown: What can we pray for our churches?
From The Australian Church Record:
“We don’t need to talk to too many church pastors to see that the last two years have been extraordinarily difficult. Of course, there have also been many blessings – and we know that God is always at work for his glory and the good of his people. So as our churches begin their third year under COVID, the ACR thought it would be helpful for us to begin the year by praying for one another.
The Sydney Anglican Diocese is a fellowship of churches partnering together in the gospel for the glory and Kingdom of our great God. There are many ways in which we can and should express this fellowship, and one great way is by praying for one another.
Over the next few weeks, the ACR will be sharing prayer points from various church pastors from within the Sydney Anglican Diocese. Will you join me in praying for these churches? What better way to express our fellowship as churches than by mimicking Paul in his relationship with the Philippian church, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer (Phil 1:3-5).”
– The ACR has begun publishing prayer requests – so far, from St. Peter’s Cooks River and St Stephen’s, Willoughby.
Five ordained as Deacons at Bathurst Cathedral
“The Anglican Diocese of Bathurst ordained five new deacons at a special service at the All Saints Anglican Cathedral on Saturday.
Mark Calder, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst, was on hand to ordain Ben Mackay, Roger and Sally Phelps, Bec Choi and James Daymond into the church. …
Bishop Calder said the ordination service is one of the largest in recent times.
‘It’s one of the largest ordinations in recent times but the other significant thing is that they’re younger then people who have typical been ordained in recent years’…”
– Encouraging news from The Central Western Daily – and a great reminder to pray for the continued progress of the saving news of Jesus in the Diocese of Bathurst.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…