Joint statement on the NSW floods

Joint statement on the NSW floods

Our hearts ache for the people of the Mid-North, Hunter and other areas of New South Wales suffering in the current flood crisis.

We pray for the tireless work of emergency workers and first responders as they guard and save lives. May God give them strength and endurance. We cry out to God for families grieving the loss of loved ones, homes and businesses. May they find comfort and hope.

We give thanks for the countless acts of neighbourliness, kindness and help, and for the resilience of these communities.

As Anglicare, Samaritans and local churches gear up for the recovery operation ahead, may God bless their efforts to share the love and compassion of Christ with a hurting community.

May those who suffer cling to the hope of restoration through the God who makes all things new.

The Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of NSW

The Right Reverend Dr Peter Stuart, Bishop of Newcastle

The Right Reverend Dr Murray Harvey, Bishop of Grafton

23 May 2025.

– via SydneyAnglicans.net

The Christian’s daily battle

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  (Titus 2:11-13)

“Paul’s letter to Titus takes as one of its central themes ‘knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness’ (Titus 1:1).

The apostle is eager to show the relationship between the ‘grace of God that has appeared’ in Jesus, and the ‘self-controlled, upright and godly lives’ that are the fruit of God’s grace in the lives of those who ‘wait for the blessed hope’. …”

– Archbishop Kanishka Raffel writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.

(Also in the print edition of Southern Cross magazine, May-June 2025.)

The foreigner, the fatherless, the widow

“As I read the Bible, I’m struck by God’s heart for the most vulnerable.

In the Old Testament, we repeatedly see God’s tender care for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. These groups were particularly vulnerable, not just because they lacked money and possessions, but because they had lost important relationships – and the security, provision, and love these relationships bring.

Throughout the Bible, God calls his people to care for these groups of people. And today, around the world, compelled by Christ’s love, Anglican Aid’s partners are taking this to heart. …”

– Anglican Aid’s Canon Tim Swan introduces their End of Financial Year Appeal.

Authentic Anglicanism

What is an Anglican? How is Anglicanism being stretched out of shape to be unrecognisable? Sydney’s Doctrine Commission has produced a report on authentic Anglicanism and the following is an abridged version, with some language simplified for general reading.

“ ‘Anglicanism’ is the label attached to a form of Christian corporate life that traces its theological convictions and ecclesiastical practice to the New Testament, with an especially formative period during the English Reformation.

Its congregations are part of the ‘one holy catholic and apostolic church’ confessed in the ecumenical creeds, yet they share distinctives that mark them out from other communions and denominations. …”

– Dr Mark Thompson writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.

(Mark is Chairman of the Sydney Doctrine Commission.)

Southern Cross May – June 2025

The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine (May – June 2025) is now downloadable from SydneyAnglicans.net.

If you attend a Sydney Anglican church, you should be able to pick up a printed copy there.

 

Malawi: A graduate’s holistic ministry

“Visiting Anglican Aid projects at the end of last year was a joy! I witnessed how God is working through your support to grow and strengthen his church in some of the world’s poorest nations. I could see how our long-term partnerships in the gospel were bearing fruit.

I was encouraged to meet Rev. David Mponda, Pastor of Thyolo Parish in the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi …”

– Canon Tim Swan shares great encouragement from Malawi.

“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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

Southern Cross magazine March — April 2025

The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine (March – April 2025) is now available in churches.

If you miss out on getting a printed copy, a digital version is available from sydneyanglicans.net.

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