March – April 2024 Southern Cross magazine
The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now available for download – and print copies should have reached churches.
Many articles to read – but here are two –
Understanding the Cross – Archbishop Kanishka Raffel (page 22).
“At the centre of the Christian faith are the great Easter events – Jesus’ death on a cross, and on the third day his bodily rising to new life, victorious over sin and death and the devil.
Australians embrace these events as a holiday but most regard them with sentimentality. For Christians, however, the days could not be more weighty, for in Good Friday and Easter Day we glimpse hell and heaven. …”
and
Remembering Nicholas Ridley – Dr Mark Earngey (page 24).
“Many modern Christians have heard of Thomas Cranmer, some have heard of Hugh Latimer, but most have no awareness of Nicholas Ridley (c1500-1555).
This would have surprised his contemporaries – even his opponents – because of his centrality to the English Reformation. One of his enemies put it like this: ‘Latimer leaneth to Cranmer, Cranmer to Ridley, and Ridley to the singularity of his own wit’. It was thought that if Ridley could be toppled, then the prizes of Cranmer and Latimer would also be won. Evidently, Nicholas Ridley was a Reformation giant of his time, and we can appreciate much from his life and ministry in ours. …”
Embrace Compassion as the World Rejects Life’s Sanctity — Archbishop Kanishka Raffel writes
“In the past five years, two momentous decisions have been taken by our State Parliament, both under the banner of ‘right to choose’.
The first, the abortion liberalisation in 2019, was a change against which Sydney Anglicans, led by my predecessor Dr Glenn Davies, took a firm stand.
The other was in 2023. On November 28, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022 (NSW) (the Act) came into force in this State, enabling eligible people to choose to access euthanasia in accordance with the regulations and guidelines stipulated by the Act.
This watershed shift in medical practice and community expectation marks the final abandonment of one of the cornerstones of Western civilisation over the past two millennia: the sanctity of life. …”
– Archbishop Kanishka Raffel writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The article includes two helpful links.
Field Notes from Kenya
From Anglican Aid in Sydney:
“On Monday 4 March [from 5.30-7pm], Anglican Aid is holding a special event, “Field Notes From Kenya” to hear from Norm Gorrie, our partner from Kenya. All are welcome!
Norm will be sharing the latest updates from Marsabit, Kenya about recovery after the East Africa Hunger Crisis, a clean water project called ‘Generate‘, and the Bible Leadership program there.
We would love to see you and any of your friends there! There is no cost to attend, but please let us know you are coming…”
– Details and links at Anglican Aid’s website.
Evangelism for the terrified
“I don’t know about you, but I find evangelism utterly terrifying.
It didn’t start that way. After becoming a Christian in my late 20s, one of the things God did in my heart immediately was help me see that following Jesus and sharing the news of Jesus were two sides of the same coin.
“How hard could it be?” I thought. Very hard, as it turned out. …”
– Dave Jensen begins a regular column in Southern Cross magazine.
Why the “equality” Bill is a threat to religious freedom — and what you can do about it
“The Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023 introduced by Independent MP Alex Greenwich is due to be debated next month and voted on in March.
The bill makes wide-ranging changes to 20 pieces of NSW legislation that will undermine religious freedom and entrench a radical gender ideology in NSW. …”
– Bishop Michael Stead writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.
He emphasises,
“Christians need to act immediately to make our opposition to this bill known.
We need to contact our local State members. Most politicians have little idea about the contents – let alone the consequences – of this bill.
It is important they hear our concerns before the bill’s scheduled voting day on March 14.”
This is an important article and deserves to be widely shared.
See also contactyourmp.org.au for background and helpful resources.
Pray for Mothers Union Sydney
Today’s GAFCON Prayer Request:
“The Mothers Union (Sydney) is hosting an event at the Cathedral on February 23: ‘It takes a Village – stronger together in the family of God.’
Pray for a good attendance, online and in-person, and warm fellowship of Word and Spirit.”
Hundreds watch as Sydney’s latest ministers make their promises
“On one of the hottest days of February, a congregation of more than 700 gathered to support ordination candidates as they made the final official step to ordained ministry.
Twenty three men and women lined across the Cathedral, and in a first, in the front row was seeing-eye dog Trixie. …”
– Russell Powell provides this encouraging report on today’s ordinations at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney.
Mother’s Union Sydney Annual Seminar 2024
Mothers Union Sydney’s Annual Seminar for 2024 is coming up on Friday 23rd February at St. Andrew’s Cathedral and on livestream.
It’s a free event. Topics:
Lovebound: the beauty of church – Tim Clemens
Being church: life in the family of God – Dani Treweek
Raising children: the church as your village – Jocelyn Loane.
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!
Southern Cross magazine February-March 2024
The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now available – in printed form at churches – and electronically at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Anglicans honoured in 2024 list
“Anglicans are among the Sydney recipients of Australia Day honours, including two Professors of Medicine for their roles in the COVID-19 response.
The honours are awarded by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Council of the Order of Australia. …”
– Russell Powell has the details at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Photo: Professor Charlotte Hespe AM.
10 books to add to your Summer reading list
From SydneyAnglicans.net:
“The days are long, the breeze is cool, we’ve got a good book and we’re lounging by the pool. Sounds like a perfect summer day to me!
Here’s a short list of great books from the past 12 months that are worth stashing into your suitcase this season, as reviewed by our team and invited guest writers. …”
Remembering Broughton Knox after 30 years
David Broughton Knox, Principal of Moore College 1959–1985, was called home 30 years ago, on January 14th 1994.
Who was Broughton Knox? Take the time to read these two tributes:
“There were many strands in Broughton’s complex make-up as husband and father, teacher and friend. But all who knew him know that his life was ruled by a profound faith in God. That life was to span just a shade over seventy seven years from the time of his birth. And they were years crowded with quiet achievement as well as moments of high drama.
It was a life rich in friendship, in world-wide contacts, and in special fields of service. And it has left a mark for God that will endure in and beyond his own generation. …”
And Donald Robinson, Archbishop of Sydney 1982–1993, wrote a tribute for ACL News in 1994:
“It is no doubt too soon to estimate Broughton’s full contribution to the Australian Church. We can note something of its character, its thrust, and its scope, and we can voice our gratitude where we have personally been its beneficiaries.
Broughton was a theological person, whose mind and heart was focussed on the living God as He has made himself known. …”
See also:
Broughton Knox: servant of Christ Jesus – Dr Mark Thompson, May 15, 2017.
The Legacy of David Broughton Knox – October 24th 2018.
Expository Preaching on the wane? — David Cook, August 20th 2020.
Man articles by D B Knox – at Matthias Media’s The Briefing website.
A quote from Dr Knox’s address at the Annual General Meeting of the Anglican Church League in July 1993:
“We mustn’t limit the gospel to the feudalism of the past. Our present territorial boundaries, like a diocese or a parish, are feudal. … where the gospel is needed to be preached, we ought to be preaching it.”
Shortly before he and Ailsa left to help establish George Whitefield College in Cape Town in 1989, he spoke at Moore College on “What is a Christian?” – and prefaced his address with some comments on what he hoped to do in South Africa. (While the Vimeo page has the date as 12/10/1980, the year is almost certainly 1988.)
Thanks to Moore College’s Donald Robinson Library for making this available.
2024 Summer Prayer Diary
“Our summers are filled with camps, conferences and missions. People across greater Sydney are diving deep into God’s word and taking it out to those who need to hear it.
So we’ve put together a 10-day prayer diary featuring some of the great kingdom initiatives that could use our prayer.”
– A great resource from Tara Sing at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Photo: Sans Souci swimming baths, Summer 1957.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s Christmas sermon 2023
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel shared the good news of the Lord Jesus at the 10:00am service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney this morning.
Speaking of the Lord Jesus, he reminded us, “There is no other Saviour. … No other has provided purification for sins.”
Watch here. (Link should go to the start of the sermon – or see the service from the start here.)
Related:
Two Ways to Live – a very helpful outline of the Christian message.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…