COVID crisis at Oakhurst
“Our brothers and sisters in Oakhurst need us. They need our prayers.
The pastor of the parish’s South Sudanese congregation, the Rev Samuel Majok, is aware of 15 families in the congregation and wider community whose lives and livelihoods have been turned upside down by contracting COVID. …
This has been especially distressing for the family of his assistant pastor, John Deng …”
– An urgent call for prayer – from Judy Adamson in Southern Cross magazine, September 2021. (Full PDF file here.)
Consultations begin on post-lockdown plans
“The Archbishop, through his Regional Bishops, is convening a series of meetings for rectors and churchwardens to discuss plans for re-opening of churches amid uncertainty about timing and government regulation.
The COVID-19 outbreak is yet to reach its peak, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian forecasting that worst will come in the next fortnight. Beyond that, Premiers and the Federal government are working to vaccination targets before restrictions can be eased.
New South Wales is expected to reach 70 per cent double dose vaccination by October 18 and 80 per cent by November 1.
No detailed plan for re-opening of mass gatherings has yet been announced and appears to be some weeks away.
…
Archbishop Raffel called on churches to pray for the community, especially the LGAs hit hard by COVID, health and emergency workers, and for the Gospel witness of churches at this time.
He commended the prayer meetings being held in various churches and the diocese wide opportunity to pray at 7pm on Wednesday 22 September 2021. Churches, groups and individuals can join the ‘Lifting our Voices to God’ online event of prayer, song and word.
Registration is not necessary and further information can be found at praytogether.online. Archbishop Raffel will speak at the event.”
Southern Cross for September 2021
Anglican Media’s Southern Cross magazine for September 2021 is now online.
Much encouragement to pray.
And do see the Archbishop’s column “Putting Coronvirus in its place” on pages 14 and 15.
“Amid the tremendous upheaval we have experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is so good to look to the Lord who is risen, reigning and returning. Nothing takes God by surprise and the ministry he has entrusted to his people remains the same – ‘this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world’. Jesus is not unaware of the suffering of his people in a world of wars, famines and earthquakes.”
Read online (or download the PDF file) at magazine.sydneyanglicans.net.
Weddings back on!
“After weeks of lobbying, the NSW Government has announced that restrictions on weddings have been eased.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel and the chairman of the Diocese COVID Taskforce, Bishop Gary Koo, have been making the case to the government for a relaxation of restrictions. …”
– Some good news via SydneyAnglicans.net.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on TEN’s The Project
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel was a guest on Network TEN’s The Project this evening, speaking about refugees from Afghanistan.
Watch here (Twitter).
Related:
Christian leaders urge Morrison to take more Afghan refugees – Sydney Morning Herald, 22 August 2021.
Pray with us for Afghanistan
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has called for prayer for the troubled nation of Afghanistan.
In a video issued today, he addressed the situation after the withdrawal of western forces and prayed for the nation, its people, especially the women facing persecution and repression and Christian churches.
He also prayed for Australian defence personnel who had served in that land, saying “for soldiers who returned from there bearing the scars of war, and their families, these have been days of anger, grief and disbelief.”
See the video from the Archbishop, and download the prayer written by the Rev Mark Charleston at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Lockdown brings us to our knees
“Prayer is everywhere, and not just for the pandemic. Extended periods of isolation at home have meant that people, stripped of a busy life of commuting, events and travel, are putting prayer at the forefront of their day. …
Last week the Archbishop and bishops organised regional meetings of leaders of churches across the Diocese to pray for our locked-down communities.
Archbishop Raffel is also joining other church and community leaders in a special prayer event in Wednesday, 18 Aug (click here to register on zoom). The group, organised by Family Voice, includes former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, and former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones. …
On twitter, the Archbishop also called for urgent prayer for the nation of Afghanistan, especially for vulnerable people, after the takeover by the Taliban.”
– Russell Powell writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Should Christians accept the COVID-19 vaccine?
In an updated piece at SydneyAnglicans.net, Dr. Megan Best addresses the question “Should Christians accept the COVID-19 vaccine?”.
Image: Dr Best with Chase Kuhn and Dominic Steele on The Pastor’s Heart in August 2020.
Sandy Grant to be Dean of Sydney
“The Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, has appointed Canon Sandy Grant, of St Michael’s Cathedral Wollongong, to be the new Dean of Sydney.
He will be the 13th Dean of Sydney, a post with a history stretching back to 1858 when William Macquarie Cowper was appointed as the first Dean.
Canon Grant has been the Senior Minister of St Michael’s in Wollongong since 2004 and will take up his ministry at Sydney’s St Andrew’s Cathedral in December. …”
– Read the news from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Southern Cross for August 2021
Once more, it’s not possible to distribute printed copies of Southern Cross magazine (in fact, it wasn’t printed this month) – but Anglican Media Sydney has posted the full issue online.
From Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s column (Sickness, COVID and the hope to come, page 15):
“John’s Gospel records an episode in the life of Jesus that is both deeply personal and powerfully universal.
As far as Scripture records, Jesus never experienced illness himself. He did, however, experience hunger, thirst, the barbarous physical cruelty of flogging and crucifixion. And of course, Jesus experienced death.
Jesus is famously recorded on numerous occasions being swamped by people who were ill or suffering from some mental, physical or demonic affliction. His reputation as a healer was documented even by non-Christian ancient sources.
In John chapter 11 we are given a window into how Jesus was affected by the sickness of others. …”
Thanks to Jane Tooher, there’s also a profile of “A woman who did not give in to fear” – Dorothy Mowll. (page 16).
Read online (or download the PDF file) at magazine.sydneyanglicans.net.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s message for churches for Sunday 1st August 2021.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has recorded this message for churches for their online gatherings on Sunday, 01 August, 2021.
We’re sure you’ll find it an encouragement.
Russell Powell has more at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Sydney Synod 2021 postponed
Due to the uncertainties of the current COVID outbreak, Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel has postponed the forthcoming session of the Synod which was to have to commenced on 6th September.
At this time a new date has not been decided. However elections to boards, councils and committees will continue as planned.
The Importance of Children’s and Youth Ministry
“It is no surprise to ACR readers that Australia is radically and rapidly changing as a nation.
Whether or not it is accurate to describe the initial colonies or federated states as a “Christian” nation, it is abundantly clear that as we enter the third decade of the 21st Century, Australia is increasingly a post–Christian and post–church society.
In 2017 45% of Australians identified as Christian and 25% of Australians were described as ‘cold’ towards Christianity. Only 15% stated that they attend church monthly or more.
As confessional Anglicans, we are not specifically concerned with Australia being a culturally Christian nation. However, we are passionate about Christ and his Kingdom. We are passionate about making disciples of all nations by evangelising the lost and discipling the saints …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Tim Beilharz writes to encourage clarity on Children’s and Youth Ministry.
Cling to God, care for each other
“We were hoping COVID lockdown wouldn’t happen again in NSW but, once the cases kept coming, it was not surprising when the Premier extended the stay-at-home order yesterday for Greater Sydney.
Just like 2020, our work and life patterns have been mucked up. And, just like 2020, anxiety and depression have reasserted themselves in the lives of many people – if they ever went away.
‘For people who have still not recovered from last year, this has pushed all sorts of buttons,’ says the Rev Dr Keith Condie, co-director of the Mental Health and Pastoral Care Institute and Mary Andrews College. …”
– Encouragement amidst COVID restrictions from Judy Adamson at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The Election of Archbishop Mowll: A Decision with Consequence
“The Conservative Evangelicalism which permeates the diocese of Sydney today has not always characterised the diocesan leadership. Although Sydney may always have had an Evangelical flavour, in the early 20th century the leadership of the diocese represented a more liberal emphasis.
The election of H.W.K. Mowll as Archbishop (1933-1958) changed the trajectory of the diocese toward a more conservative theological position. The significance of Mowll’s leadership was not merely a result of his duration in office, but rather the growth, innovation and theological consolidation which he instigated. …”
– Dr. Ed Loane, Warden of St. Paul’s College, University of Sydney, reflects on a turning point for the Diocese of Sydney.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…