Archbishop Glenn Davies’ Christmas message 2013
The first Christmas message from Dr Glenn Davies as Archbishop of Sydney.
Read it below – or download the text as a PDF file (2 x A5 format suitable for copying) here.
What is it about our society that ‘selfie’ is the landmark word for 2013?
Many of us cringe at the self-centredness of these self-portraits, as much as the bad photography, but many ‘selfies’ will be taken over the Christmas period and inflicted upon others, along with the usual array of awkward family photos.
But at Christmas time we should remember that there is an ultimate self-image, the image of God, which far outweighs the supercilious picture of a face filling our screen. We are all stamped with the image of God and it is this image that makes us precious in his sight.
Incarnation is the theological word which describes God’s coming to earth as a human being, with all the vulnerabilities associated with being born as a baby in that Bethlehem crib.
But so often we tend to leave Jesus as a baby in a stall, cute and inoffensive, and forget that he grew up as a fully developed adult, so that he might live the life we could not live and die the death that we deserve.
Christmas without Easter is not the full story. We fail to appreciate Christmas if we fail to appreciate the reason why he came – to suffer death upon a cross on Good Friday, rise again on Easter Day so that the bonds of death may be broken and new life become a reality for all who put their trust in him.
As you look at the pictures you take this Christmas, some will be joyful and some scenes may be sad, but you will look at faces that have the self-image of God – those for whom Jesus came to offer new life.
What shall we give him in return?
We can give him nothing, but we owe him everything.
Happy Christmas.
Dr Glenn N Davies
Archbishop of Sydney
Christmas 2013
Source: SydneyAnglicans.net
Vale Ron Patfield
“We note with sadness the death of Ron Patfield on Friday December 20, 2013. Ron graduated from the College in 1948. He then was used by the Lord in a succession of ministries at Wahroonga, Normanhurst, Annandale, Wentworthville, Seaforth and too many positions as locum to mention.”
– from Moore Theological College.
Live stream on Christmas Eve from Sydney Cathedral
St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, will live stream this year’s Christmas Eve service so friends in Australia and around the world can watch.
From 8:00pm AEDT on Christmas Eve. The theme is “The Romance and the Reality of Christmas”. The video stream should start around 7:50pm.
Watch it at new.livestream.com/audioadvice/christmas. (The time shown on the Livestream page is US East Coast time.)
Hundreds of talks from St Matthias and University Ministries
From the Administrator of Phillip Jensen’s website –
“Phillip has been preaching God’s word for over forty years. It has been his aim to preach the gospel by prayerfully expounding the Bible to the people God has given him to love.
As talks given prior to 2003 are currently being added to the website it is hoped that listeners will be enriched, refreshed and challenged by these talks.”
– An amazing resource. Thank you! (Photo: Matthias Press 1996.)
Two (more) reasons to give thanks for Moore College
Two (more) reasons to give thanks for – and to pray for – Moore College:
1. Now is the moment of opportunity for Moore graduates.
2. Moore College distance education goes viral.
Australian Church Record December 2013
The latest issue of The Australian Church Record is now online.
This issue kicks off by interviewing Bishop-elect of North Sydney, Chris Edwards, “The Bishop from Belgium”.
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
Media Statement November 28, 2013
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
The Steering Committee for the Sydney Diocesan response to the Royal Commission on Child Sexual Abuse says a file review of material relating to child abuse complaints stretching back to the 1930’s is almost complete.
“The Committee has commissioned a thorough review of all complaints, notifications and files which are relevant to the Royal Commission. This has been done carefully and has involved reviewing a significant amount of material” said Steering Committee spokesman Dr Robert Tong.
“Some media reports have misrepresented evidence given to the Royal Commission by equating the number of files with complaints or current investigations. Some outlets reported that there were 600 current investigations of complaints. This is not correct.” he said. Read more
Jesus Brings video promo
Worth taking two minutes 30 seconds to watch.
Click the image to play the video.
‘Archbishop Glenn Davies: At ease in his world and it’s still in fashion’
“Archbishop Glenn Davies makes no apologies for his conservative stand on the ordination of women, gay marriage and sex outside marriage. …”
– The Sydney Morning Herald has this piece today on Archbishop Glenn Davies.
(h/t SydneyAnglicans.net.)
‘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.
Curtain falls on another Moore year
“Moore College has finished yet another academic year – its 157th to be exact.
A series of events have been held to mark this occasion including a special dinner, chapel service and a community barbecue. The highlight was last night’s Graduating Students’ Dinner which included an address (PDF) from Principal Mark Thompson.…” – from Moore College.
Rector bashed outside Sydney church (updated)
“The Rector of Naremburn/Cammeray, Canon Rick Smith, is recovering after being bashed by a group of drunken youths at the weekend.
The incident happened at the front of the church building at 9.30 pm on Saturday night, after several youths had held up a pizza delivery boy and stolen pizzas. …”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Please pray for Rick and his family.
Update: Police media release, “Anglican minister assaulted – North Shore”, 13 November 2013.
Chris Edwards to be Bishop of North Sydney
“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has announced that a church planter, with experience in Australia and overseas, is to be the next Bishop of North Sydney.
The Rev Chris Edwards was the founding minister of Holy Trinity Adelaide Hills, in South Australia, which grew more than tenfold under his leadership. He later led St Paul’s Anglican Church, Tervuren, Belgium and was chairman of its school. He is 52 years old.
Since returning to Australia, Mr Edwards has been the Mission Director of Anglican Retirement Villages, ARV, in Sydney.”
– Announcement via SydneyAnglicans.net.
And from Moore College:
Moore College graduate Rev Chris Edwards has been appointed the new Bishop of North Sydney. Moore’s Prinicipal Dr Mark Thompson moved the motion at last night’s Diocesan Standing Committee to confirm the Archbishop of Sydney’s appointment of Rev Edwards.
In his speech Dr Thompson remarked: “Many of us here might not know him — that’s true, he has spent 17 of the last 20 years outside of this diocese — but those of us who do will be confident that he will continue the good work done by Glenn in the northern region of our diocese.”
“He is a son of this diocese who understands us and will champion what we stand for. He values our heritage, loves our College, understands both our strengths and our weaknesses”
Why we are contributing to Greenfields land
Through the Sydney Synod, the Anglican churches of Sydney have resolved to work together to purchase land in ‘Greenfield’ areas.
If we don’t get in early, it will be too late to purchase land to build centres where Christ’s people can gather and be beacons of light in their new communities.
Dominic Steele at The Village Church Annandale has kindly shared this video he made for his own church. He speaks with Stuart Starr at Oran Park. It’s ideal to show in your church to help everyone get behind the vision.
The Sydney Family Album — 9, T. C. Hammond
“One of the most important of Howard Mowll’s many influential appointments was that of Thomas Chatterton (T. C.) Hammond as principal of Moore College.
Appointed at a time when the College seemed to be shifting its theological position, Hammond, who already had a worldwide reputation as an evangelical preacher, teacher and apologist, would be, it was hoped, precisely the kind of leader who would strengthen the College and set its course firmly in the mainstream of evangelical Anglican theology. He would meet all of these expectations and surpass them. …”
– Moore College Principal Dr. Mark Thompson makes a welcome addition to his series on those who, under God, shaped Sydney Diocese.
See the earlier posts in this series at Theological Theology.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…