Major fire destroys parts of St Hilary’s Kew
“The Anglican community was distressed to hear that there was a major fire at St Hilary’s Kew (on the corner of John and Rowland Streets) in the early hours of Friday 10 January. …
Thanks to the quick action of the fire fighters, they were able to save the church and the hall (both original buildings on the site). …
Offices, the main kitchen, and other spaces were significantly affected. The church has sustained some smoke and water damage”
– Story at The Melbourne Anglican.
Photo via The Melbourne Anglican.
Cross-cultural ministry that seeks to connect
“In our part of Sydney, Chinese migrants come from very diverse backgrounds. Their occupations range from working on construction sites as builders, to running their own businesses, to working in offices as white-collar workers. There is a real mix of people in Lidcombe since it is now an important transport hub in Sydney, and it attracts many Chinese migrants who settle here. …”
– At the Moore College website, Danny Au Yeung, Rector of Lidcombe Anglican Church, shares some points for prayer in a strategic part of Sydney.
Holding out the good news to multicultural western Sydney
“Minchinbury is a suburb in the heart of western Sydney located just south of Mount Druitt and Rooty Hill. The local area is a melting pot of nations, with only 53 per cent of people in the catchment born in Australia. (It’s 70 per cent across New South Wales.) If Minchinbury was a street with 100 people living in it, 10 would be Filipino, four Indian, 81 would speak more than one language, 12 would be Islamic, 33 would be Catholic, and only 15 people would have no religion. …”
– Moore College has published this encouraging report from Mike Smith in the parish of Minchinbury.
Earlier the College published this ministry story from David Misztal at Wentworthville.
Passion play with puppetry
“When Epping rector Bishop Ross Nicholson first raised the idea of a Good Friday passion play centred on a large puppet of Jesus, the response was sceptical. Could this really work?
Given that his previous church in Tasmania had done the play for years, he was able to reply with an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’…”
– Judy Adamson has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Photo: Ross Nicholson.
Praying for 2024 Ordinands
“Please pray for these candidates as they prepare for ordination on February 17, 2024 and for taking up positions at the following parishes …”
– SydneyAnglicans.net has the list – for your prayers!
William Ansdell Leech (1842-1895) and the Fresh Air League
“On 25 September 1890, in his parish of Bong Bong in the Southern Highlands of NSW, the Rev William Ansdell Leech, an Anglican clergyman, formed a Ministering Children’s League (MCL) group from which the NSW Fresh Air League (FAL) would arise.
Initially, the activity that gave rise to the FAL was Leech’s particular way of fulfilling the ideals of the MCL. It soon became apparent that providing holiday accommodation for poor children and families in a healthy mountainous environment was a ministry deserving of its own name. …”
– Paul Cooper, Research Fellow at Christ College, Sydney, provides another fascinating window in to the (not-so-distant) past at Philanthropists And Philanthropy In Australian Colonial History.
Image: colonialgivers.com
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. …”
“Jesus has come to invade the realm of darkness”
“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has visited the Diocese’s newest Anglican building, Leppington Anglican Church, celebrating ministry to what has become known as the ‘new southwest’. …
The church’s opening was disrupted by COVID and the service was the first opportunity to mark the event. …”
– Leppington opens as ‘new SouthWest’ emerges.
Russell Powell writes of Hope Anglican Church at Leppington.
Embedded in the article is the video of the service, including an interview with the Archbishop, and his sermon. The Archbishop reminds us, “Jesus has come to invade the realm of darkness”.
Getting to know CityAlight
Recently, Sol Fenne, Music Coordinator at 20schemes music in Scotland, spent some time with Rich Vassallo to get to know CityAlight, a music ministry which has blessed many people – at St. Paul’s Castle Hill, across Sydney, and right around the world.
A most encouraging video and a great reminder to pray for the team of CityAlight.
Sydney Diocese: Please pray for ordinands
“Please pray for these candidates as they prepare for ordination on November 28, 2020 and taking up positions at the following parishes. …”
– Media release from the Diocese of Sydney, and fuel for prayer.
Car wash to become homeless aged care centre
“In the inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst, early work has begun on an aged care centre catering for homeless men and women.
The 42-bed centre will be operated by the charity HammondCare, on a site previously occupied by a car wash. …”
– Story from ABC News.
Artist’s impression of the new centre via St. John’s Darlinghurst.
Rick Smith joins Moore College’s CMD team
News from Moore College:
“Moore College’s Centre for Ministry Development (CMD) has been assisting in the theologically shaped development of ministers for the past four years. The Centre has recognised the need to assist more clergy through mentoring and for developing new Rectors and has appointed Rick Smith to join the team as a consultant…”
– Story here.
Related: Centre for Ministry Development.
UNSW Campus Bible Study 40th Anniversary
Campus Bible Study at the University of New South Wales held a 40th anniversary thanksgiving and reunion event on October 31st.
There is much cause for thanksgiving to the Lord for a ministry that has been such a blessing to so many around the world.
Video from the day has now been posted at phillipjensen.com.
Ordinands get ready for the big day
“A group of 35 men and women will be ordained as deacons on Saturday, taking positions from church planting, indigenous ministry, school chaplaincy to parish work.
Archbishop Dr Glenn Davies has been addressing the group this week at the pre-ordination conference and will ordain them at a service at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday, February 1st, 2014 at 10am.
The number is one more than were ordained at last years service. Sydney Anglican churches are being asked to remember the ordinands in prayer.”
– See the full list at SydneyAnglicans.net and take the time to pray for these brothers and sisters.
‘Tears & Hope’ – a service of healing for survivors of abuse
There’s to be a special service of healing for survivors of abuse – at St. John’s Darlinghurst at 7:00pm on Monday 25th November 2013.
Kerrie Newmarch, Chaplain Professional Standards Unit, writes, “Much thought and care is put into the program so that all attendees can feel relaxed and at ease. Previous participants have found the prayers and the words from the Archbishop to be helpful, at times bringing comfort and healing.”
Download a PDF invitation with contact details. Related: Abuse Report Line.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…