Pastoral letter from Bishop Mark Short to the Anglican Parish of Cobargo
Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Mark Short, has sent this pastoral letter to the Anglican Parish of Cobargo. In this fire season across Australia, each loss is locally felt, and this is one.
January 1 at 12:27 PM ·
Dear sisters and brothers of the Parish of Cobargo,
I write as your Bishop at a time of shared loss and grief.
You have lost treasured buildings, valued homes and beloved friends and neighbours. Many of you have faced overwhelming situations and have worked selflessly to care for others .
The Bible assures us that God is close to the broken-hearted and it is right and healthy to grieve. The Bible also assures us that in Jesus Christ God is able to bring restoration and hope. This journey of hope will take time, and it is a journey we will make together. Be assured of the prayers of the rest of the Diocese and our readiness to work with you as, with God’s help, we renew and rebuild.
Almighty God,
In your wisdom you have so ordered our earthly life
that we must walk by faith and not by sight:
give us such trust in your fatherly care
that in the face of all perplexities
we may give proof our faith by the courage of our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. APBA, p465
In the love of Jesus,
+Mark Short
The Bishop’s pastoral letter includes the prayer, written by the Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral, The Very Reverend Kanishka Raffel, to be read on Sunday:
“Lord of all days and years, and time and eternity, You made this land and have blessed us with its riches and beauty.
You are a refuge to all who seek your shelter, our strong defence in trial and tribulation.
Send rain we pray to extinguish flames and heal our land.
Mercifully protect life and property.
Give help and hope to our neighbours assailed by fire.
Comfort and provide for those who grieve.
Uphold those who suffer loss,
Give peace and hope to those bewildered and broken-hearted.
We thank you for men and women of courage and selflessness.
We thank you for brave communities of care and support, We thank you for those who share your comfort and hope, We thank you for those at a distance giving and praying.
Lord, you sent your Son so that we would know your power to save, your presence with your people in this world of turmoil, and your promise to renew the whole creation. Turn our hearts to you, that we may have faith for this day and hope for eternity.
We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“St Saviour’s Church Quaama in the Parish of Cobargo. Locals tell me that the bell-tower always appeared to be the most rickety part of the structure. Yet it still stands [top photo]; a reminder that in the most challenging circumstances our call to summons people to find comfort and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ endures. Thank you for your prayers as the communities of the Diocese face a difficult weekend.”
(With thanks to Ramon Williams for forwarding this letter and images.)
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“Millions of Australians have today celebrated the spirit of Christmas with family and friends.”
– Report and Image from Seven News Sydney (on Facebook).
‘God is with us’: Anglican Archbishop’s Christmas message to us
“The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has told Mark Levy no trouble, bushfire or any other event can separate people from the love and comfort of God in Jesus.”
– Archbishop Glenn Davies was interviewed on Sydney’s 2GB this morning.
Bishop Mark Calder’s Christmas message 2019
Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has released his Christmas message for 2019 –
“Christmas – that time when God turned up on earth as one of us.
That is what Christmas is about and it’s worth celebrating!
It’s the sure sign that God cares enough about us to turn up, loves so much that he would come and live among us in humility; that he died and rose again so that we could be forgiven and have eternal life if we put him back in control of our lives.
So despite living in a drought ravaged land, a land deeply impacted this year by bushfires, we have in Jesus a sure sign that God loves us, cares for us, is with us, is alongside of us, wants to know us, wants to be in relationship with us and promises us a glorious future.
Friends, have a happy Christmas!”
You can also watch Bishop Calder’s Christmas sermon, on Luke 2:1-4.
It’s all a good reminder to pray for the people of the Diocese of Bathurst, which covers the region bordered by Oberon, Cowra and West Wyalong in the south; Cobar and Bourke in the west; across the north-west to Coonamble and Coonabarabran; and Coolah, Mudgee and Rylstone in the east.
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The Reverend Gary Siew Leong Koo was one of their own and many western Sydney clergy and congregation members came out to see him consecrated at the regional Cathedral. …”
– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net has the story and some photos.
Bishop of Bathurst’s Christmas Sermon 2019
Newly installed Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, is sharing his sermons from Bathurst Cathedral by video as an encouragement to people across his far-flung diocese.
Here’s his Christmas sermon, on Luke 2:1-4.
Jesus is God with us
Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies has released his Christmas Message for 2019 – in both text and video formats.
It would be ideal to play at services on Christmas Day – and to feature it on your church website.
North West Network – Nov 2019
The latest North West Network is full of encouraging stories and fuel for prayer.
Download it as a 3.1MB PDF file.
Diocese of Sydney Response to Second Exposure Draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Statement
The Release of the Second Exposure Draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill
We appreciate the thorough way in which the government has approached this issue and takes seriously the deeply-held views of people of faith.
In particular, I am encouraged by a number of changes in the second exposure draft. The respect given to faith charities is an important model for the future harmony of Australian society.
Personal faith and the activities of religious communities touch so many areas of our lives. As the Prime Minister has pointed out, we have laws preventing discrimination on race, sex, age or disabilities and faith should likewise be protected.
We look forward to providing further feedback on the updated Bill.
Glenn N Davies,
Archbishop of Sydney
10 December 2019.
Source: SydneyAnglicans.net
We shall see His face – Advent sermon from Bathurst
The new Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, is publishing the audio of his weekly sermons on the diocesan website.
His topic for Advent Sunday was “We Shall See His Face”. Audio here.
2019 Christmas message from the Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn
Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Mark Short, has released his Christmas message.
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“Moore College’s Preliminary Theological Certificate is used to train people for ministry across the world, and the Diocese’s new Bishop for International Relations, Malcolm Richards, gave Synod members a snapshot of some of the impact it is having across the globe. …”
– Here’s cause for great thanksgiving – and prayer – from SydneyAnglicans.net.
New Anglican Diocese of Bathurst Bishop Mark Calder’s hope for region
“Just over eight months after Ian Palmer’s retirement, the Right Reverend Mark Calder was recently appointed as the new bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst and he has a big hope for the region.
Rev Calder was installed as bishop on Saturday, November 23, at the All Saints Cathedral… And just a week into his new rule, he’s made his number one goal as new bishop clear for all. …”
– Story from The Western Advocate.
Photo: Mark and Susan Calder with Archbishop Glenn Davies at the Installation service at Bathurst Cathedral, 23 November 2019. From The Diocese of Bathurst.
When the smoke clears
“A journey to Port Macquarie for a funeral, a trip to Mt Tamborine to speak at a convention and a return to Armidale, these trips have more than filled my lungs with smoke. …”
– Bishop of Armidale Rick Lewers writes to his local community about the fires and the drought.
Archbishop Philip Freier to conclude as Primate on 31 March 2020
“The Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, Archbishop Philip Freier of Melbourne, has announced that he will not seek reelection as Primate. He will stand down on 31 March 2020 in order to allow sufficient time for an election and for his successor to prepare for the pivotal General Synod in June.”
– David Ould has the news.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…