Pastoral video from Bishop Mark Calder

Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has released this short video as an encouragement to trust in Jesus in these uncertain days.

Dr. Charlotte Hespe — What you must know about COVID-19

See this video, one from the Archbishop, and additional helpful information at the Sydney Diocese webpage on COVID-19.

Diocese of Bathurst to suspend church gatherings

Bishop Mark Calder has written to all church members in the Diocese of Bathurst:

19 March 2020

Dear brother and sisters across the diocese, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2 My prayer for us all, is that in such challenging circumstances, we will run to God as our refuge and feel safe; draw strength from God in our weakness, and find him to be a very constant and palpable help in our trouble. And I pray that the result of all that, will be that we do not fear – though the whole world is changing around us day by day.

Weekend of 21-22 March will be the last with public gatherings until further notice

On Wednesday 18 March, following our Prime Minister’s press conference announcing a whole new range of restrictions, the bishop’s leadership team met by teleconference and decided that following the spirit of the announcement and in support of the purpose of restricting public gatherings, we should suspend Sunday services after this weekend. We realise that not many of our churches have over 100 people at any one time, however, we also know that the age and frailty of many who do attend, means that there is a heightened risk to our members, should someone inadvertently attend carrying COVID-19. So the loving, wise action to take, to reduce any risk of spreading this disease, and to protect each other, is to suspend our church services. Each of the five dioceses in NSW are also suspending church services, as is the Diocese of Tasmania. I’m certain others will follow.

Church this weekend will be different

  1. All services this weekend, will be Morning or Evening Prayer; or Praise, Prayer and Proclamation. Even with the precautions we took last week, there are just too many risk factors with Holy Communion in terms of handling bread and wine, and our proximity to one another as we line up and return to our seats.

  2. There will be no refreshments after our services – again – the risks are too great to mitigate at this time.

  3. The offering will be received on entry or exit – not by passing the plate or bags.

  4. There will be no greeting of peace or shaking hands with our ministers at the end of the service.

  5. No one should attend who has returned from any country overseas in the last two weeks, or who is feeling in any way unwell.

  6. People need to use hand sanitizer upon arrival and leaving and keep their distance from one another (1.5 metres).

  7. We will not be handing out prayer books, hymns books or Bibles as they can retain/pass on the virus. I will be making available a printed order of service for those who wish to use it, or your parish will produce its own.

  8. These measures are so counter-intuitive but are the very means of loving and serving one another and our communities in this unique circumstance.

Church will be VERY different from the following weekend

  1. For the weekend of 28-29 March, and into the foreseeable future, I will make available via YouTube, a service you can watch at home on your computer, iPad or similar, or on your television should you have a “Smart TV” with internet connection.

  2. Some parishes may have the ability to livestream a service. I’m sure they will advise you if this is being planned.

  3. This will not be the same as gathering in person with our brothers and sisters, but I trust and pray that it will be a rich encouragement and help to us as we take up the opportunities that today’s technology gives us.

  4. You could gather with a very small group of friends to watch together and have fellowship following the service – so long as you kept your distance from one another. Such a gathering may assist those who are not able to access or use internet resources.

  5. We are all very conscious that Easter is not far away. It may be possible to hold outdoor services without communion. Your local church will advise. However, there will be extensive online resources made available.

Offering

It will be VERY important that each person work out how they might continue to contribute financially to the life of their church, while we can’t meet. The best way would be to switch your giving to internet transfer or direct debit. I’ve asked each parish to make their bank account details clearly and easily available. If you do not use internet banking, you can take your church’s account details to your local branch when you’re next in town, and arrange for them to set up a regular transfer of funds.

Your giving at church pays for the entire ministry of the church and your minister’s stipend. Costs for your parish will continue unchanged while services are suspended. Unless you act to switch your giving as soon as possible, your parish will be put under severe financial stress, and clergy may not be able to continue.

How do we care for another?

Each local parish or church will make arrangements for pastoral care and work to ensure people don’t become lonely or isolated. It may be that key leaders in your parish, volunteer to look out for 6-8 people and be in regular contact by phone or calling in. What about weddings, funerals and baptisms? Weddings in churches and chapels are included in the ban of more than 100 people. While highly disruptive and understandably distressing for all involved, weddings may only proceed with the bridal party and their families and the minister officiating. Unfortunately, funerals held in crematoriums, chapels or church buildings can only include immediate family members. This is the most practical way to ensure that funerals do not exceed the limit of 100 people in enclosed gatherings. You may want to suggest to the family to hold a more public thanksgiving at a later time, when it is possible to gather. If funerals are conducted at a graveside it is possible to include more people, as long as they maintain appropriate social distancing. Baptisms similarly may be conducted with ONLY the immediate family present.

Prayer

Please pray for your Parish, your minister, and the health care workers in your area. The COVID-19 crisis has placed enormous stress on all of us, particularly the frail and vulnerable people among us. We are still the body of Christ even though we are not gathering in churches. In times such as these people turn to the church for help and guidance, so there will be fresh opportunities to be people of salt and light and to give an answer for the hope we have. We will continue to minister to each other and share in the Word. Although this is a time of uncertainty, and the suspension of services in our churches may take some time to end; God is still on the throne and we can and should trust in this promises – especially from the end of Romans 8 where he assures us that nothing can separate us from his love for us.

“No virus can change the number of days that God has written in his book for us. No virus can make the word of God untrue. No virus can undo the work of Christ on the cross. No virus can change the fact that through Jesus we have a Father in heaven who cares for us. And no virus can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Kevin DeYoung

We will keep you up to date and well resourced. We look forward with hope and anticipation, to that time when we can gather with one another once more.

Mark

Update on NT Anglican Church Services

“Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The coronavirus situation continues to change rapidly, with the federal government announcing on March 18th that indoor gatherings of more than 100 people are suspended. After conversation with other denominational leaders and in the light of news from other parts of the Anglican world, I am announcing that Anglican churches in the Northern Territory will suspend their Sunday services from March 23rd. Individual parishes may suspend their services earlier than this. …”

– Bishop Greg Anderson in Darwin announces the Anglican response there.

Sydney Diocese launches COVID-19 webpage

The Diocese of Sydney has just launched a dedicated web-page for resources about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initially, there’s this encouraging message from Archbishop Glenn Davies, and a very informative video from Dr. Charlotte Hespe.

There are Frequently Asked Questions and links to helpful resources.

Bookmark it and see what’s there.

Jesus the dying saviour

“Jesus Christ understood the most deadly virus known to humanity is sin. He knew the sin virus was a killer. Like all viruses it takes up residence and eats away its host. For the virus to survive its host must die.

Thankfully in a war against such a virus you won’t find Jesus Christ rushing for the toilet paper. You won’t find Him in a toilet paper brawl in Bass Hill or in a Coles or Woolworths near you. But you will find him nailed to a cross, suffering on your behalf, offering a cure for the sin virus that has been destroying us from our beginnings. It’s the same sin virus that has people fighting over toilet paper instead of considering how we might care for one another in a time of crisis.

The Bible makes clear that the most dangerous place we can get in society is anarchy, where everyone does what is right in their own eyes. This is the heart of sin, to act like you are God when you are not. We will reap the carnage of this and the virus of sin will destroy us all. In that moment COVID19 will be irrelevant as the judgement of God has the final word. …”

– Bishop of Armidale Rick Lewers continues his series of thought-provoking articles for the local newspaper, and also published on the diocesan website.

Sydney Anglican public gatherings suspended because of COVID-19

“Archbishop Glenn Davies has issued a public statement on the future of church services because of the spread of COVID-19.

‘In light of the Prime Minister’s announcement this morning, banning enclosed gatherings in excess of 100 people, I have decided that the Anglican Church in Sydney should suspend all public church gatherings until further notice.’ the Archbishop said.

‘We are encouraging all our churches to consider providing their services online or by other communication methods. We shall make every effort to care for our church communities and the wider public, especially those who are isolated and vulnerable. Anglicare Sydney will continue its vital work of showing Christ’s love in ministering to all people, especially older Australians. Anglican Schools will also continue to play a significant role in caring for students and families.’ the official statement said.

‘I call on all Christians to pray for health workers and those seeking to develop a vaccine and to pray that the spread of this disease may slow. God’s love for all people has not diminished, nor his sovereignty over his world. Therefore, I urge all Christians to continue to trust in God’s goodness and mercy in this crisis, and to show Christ’s love to those affected.’”

Via SydneyAnglicans.net.

Pastoral Letter on COVID 19 from the Bishop of Tasmania – 17th March 2020

Dr Richard Condie, Bishop of Tasmania, has written to all churches in his diocese –

“Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The Lord Jesus reigns! God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1) He is our shelter and our fortress. (Psalm 91:1-2)

These are realities that do not change in the midst of a changing and unstable world, even in the face of the global pandemic of Coronavirus (COVID19). None of this has taken God by surprise. He will watch over his people, and his salvation and goodness are sure.

The Anglican Church in Tasmania is committed to being a Church for Tasmania. We believe that the best way for us to be for the State in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic is for us to stop meeting in large groups, including our Sunday Services. The best practice in limiting the spread of disease, and to protect our health system, is to adhere to social distancing. This means limiting the number of people with whom you come into contact.

From today, there will be no Anglican Church gatherings over 10 people, other than funerals and weddings, but even these will be limited to immediate family members only.…”

– Read it all here. (Bold added.)

See also:

“The Anglican Church of Tasmania will “actively avoid” groups of more than 10 people meeting together and has called off church services for the foreseeable future. …”

– Report from The Examiner.

Cathedrals lead historic prayer amid COVID-19 pandemic

“For the first time since the second world war, Anglican Cathedrals in Sydney, Parramatta and Wollongong will lead public prayer for their cities as the effects of the pandemic grow.

Because of the social-distancing measures in force, ministers at each of the Cathedrals will lead prayer, in the open, on the steps of their buildings. …

At St Andrew’s Cathedral in the city, the Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel said prayer was part of the life of the cathedral, but especially so now.

‘We pray regularly for the life and welfare of the City of Sydney at the Cathedral. …

Most of all we want to call people to remember Jesus’ invitation to turn to him, with all our weariness and burdens, to find the rest that only he can provide.’”

– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.

Related:

Bishops lead prayers on church steps as visitors keep social distance – Sydney Morning Herald.

COVID-19: Thanksgiving Service for Bishop Ivan Lee cancelled

Archbishop Glenn Davies has written to Western Sydney churches with the sad news that the Thanksgiving Service planned for Bishop Ivan Lee on Saturday March 28 has had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus. He also asks all to continue to uphold Virginia and her family in prayer.

Related:

With thanksgiving for Bishop Ivan Lee – ACL President’s tribute.

“We have lost a great champion for the gospel” – SydneyAnglicans.net.

Sydney Diocese COVID-19 Update Tuesday 17 March

“Archbishop Glenn Davies has warned of the seriousness of the situation facing Sydney Diocese in coming months, saying further advice will be forthcoming from the Diocese’s COVID-19 Task Force. …

Bishop Gary Koo, the Bishop of Western Sydney who formerly practised as a doctor, is chairing the COVID-19 Task Force for the diocese.”

– from SydneyAnglicans.net.

Nexus Conference 2020 postponed

Here’s an e-mail from the organisers of the Nexus Conference:

Dear Nexus friends

It will perhaps not come as a surprise to you that we have decided to postpone next Monday’s Nexus Conference (set down for March 23).

Our committee has been talking and praying about the issue over the past week, and keeping a close eye on the developing situation. In view of the government’s latest advice and requirements about non-essential gatherings, we feel that postponing the conference is the best way forward in the circumstances.

We have tentatively rescheduled the 2020 Nexus conference for Monday, September 14 or 21. We are still working to finalise the exact date, timing and venue, and will be back in touch very soon with those details.

For those who have already registered for Nexus20, there are two options available:

We are disappointed of course not to be able to proceed with Nexus next Monday, as I’m sure you are. But we are only engaged in gospel ministry (including running conferences like this) because we believe in the infinite goodness and power of God, and in his unstoppable purposes in Jesus Christ. We know he will work for the good of those who love him in all things, including the current chaotic circumstances.

With warmest regards in Christ

The Nexus Committee

(Tony Payne, Adrian Russell, Sarah Vigar, Dominic Steele, Carl Matthei, Chris Braga)

Men Meeting the Challenge Conference postponed

Richard Bolton, Convenor of the Men Meeting the Challenge Conference, has announced the postponement of this year’s conference –

“As you will be aware the Prime Minister and the Chief Medical Officer have made announcements regarding responses to the COVID19 pandemic. 

In response, the Men Meeting the Challenge conference committee has met this afternoon, and following prayerful consideration, and out of loving Christian concern for our community, we have made the difficult decision to not proceed with the Men Meeting the Challenge Conference as scheduled for 28 March 2020.

We wanted to get this information to you as soon as possible. We will make a further announcement next week about rescheduling and refund requests for pre purchased tickets.”

In the meantime, talks from previous years are available on their website.

Australian Primate’s Election Deadlocked — report

David Ould reports that the electors for the new Australian Primate were unable to reach a consensus.

“The electoral panel adjourned and agreed to meet again before 30 June 2020.”

Coronavirus Update on large gatherings — Archbishop Glenn Davies

Statement from Archbishop Davies regarding the Prime Minister’s announcement on Coronavirus:

“We accept the Commonwealth Government’s health advice that gatherings above 500 people should be restricted from next week.

We are in contact with the NSW Health Department and will pass on their advice to ministers of churches where decisions will be made locally.

We expect smaller gatherings to go ahead with the safeguards already advised, including precautions relating to personal contact, holy communion and food service.

I call on Christians to continue to trust in God’s goodness and mercy, to pray that the global spread of this disease may slow, and to show Christ’s love to those affected.

13 March, 2020.”

– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.

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