ACL Synod Dinner 2023
The Anglican Church League invites all members of the Sydney Synod to the 2023 ACL Synod Dinner.
It will be held on Monday 11th September from 5:30pm (or when Synod rises), at the Bishop Barry Centre, 51 Druitt Street, Sydney. The cost is $30.
Hear Archdeacon Simon Flinders on The Importance of the Local Church.
Simon Flinders is Archdeacon to the Archbishop of Sydney. He has served in parish ministry in Georges Hall, North Sydney and Northbridge.
Dinner bookings are absolutely essential as space is limited.
Sorry – the dinner is sold out.
Societas 2023 from Moore College
Societas, the magazine produced annually by the students at Moore College, is now available.
Always interesting, and a great reminder to pray for the College.
You can read online or download your copy here.
August – September 2023 Southern Cross out now
The August – September 2023 issue of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now out.
Printed copies will be available in parishes shortly, and you can read it on the web right now.
In his column this month, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel reflects on Our True Spiritual Condition –
“Recently I was walking through the city and, as I crossed Martin Place, I noticed the usual queue of men and women lining up to receive their evening meal, while others set up plastic folding tables and baskets of plastic cutlery and paper serviettes ready for that night’s food distribution.
The Sydney City Council says there are about 300 people sleeping on the streets of the CBD each night, with close to that number in city-based crisis accommodation. Across NSW, the number of people without adequate housing is more than 30,000. I am deeply grateful for the work of Anglicare and a number of city and suburban churches that provide assistance to people experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of homelessness in their local area.
As I continued on my walk, I soon passed another queue. This time it was a queue of people waiting to enter the Louis Vuitton store on George Street. It made for a jarring contrast, though the two queues were barely 500 metres apart. …”
Read it all on pages 13 and 14.
One & All is all for Jesus
“As Christians around Sydney – and around the world – sing songs written by composers and music groups from Sydney Anglican circles, it’s always exciting to discover another addition to the mix.
One & All, a group born out of the parish centred on Christ Church, Springwood, started in early 2020…”
– Judy Adamson writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Remembering Arthur Stace 56 years on
Like a broken record, we’ve mentioned Arthur Stace on our website once or twice over the years.
In some ways, you might call him Sydney’s best known evangelist, chalking the word Eternity on footpaths across the city for more than 35 years. He inspired thousands to wonder at the meaning of that word – hopefully to contemplate where they would spend eternity – and to be attentive to the gospel.
In addition, Arthur was an open-air evangelist, though few were aware he was also ‘Mr Eternity’.
Arthur was called home to be with the Lord Jesus on this day (30th July) in 1967.
He was eventually buried at Botany Cemetery, now part of Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park.
As we remember this humble man, let’s also be encouraged by his example as he laboured to bring the good news of salvation to his fellow Sydney-siders.
See also these two tributes in song – by Nathan Tasker (video below) and Colin Buchanan.
Former Engadine Anglican Church youth leader Karen Darda – a missionary in Japan for 26 years – farewelled after death at 58
“About 300 people have packed Engadine Anglican Church to farewell Karen Darda, a former congregation member and youth leader, who passed away after a life of service as a Christian missionary, including 26 years in Japan.
A similar number of mourners watched online as there was no more room in the church. …”
Remembering Howard Guinness
We are poorer when we forget those who have gone before us – those who laboured for Christ over many decades.
One man we should not forget is Dr Howard Wyndam Guinness 1903-1979, pioneer in student evangelism and university ministry in the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere.
He was key in founding the Sydney University Evangelical Union in 1930, as well as much else. He was also responsible for launching the Crusader Union in Sydney and Melbourne.
In 1949, Archbishop Mowll invited him to return to Australia to become the Rector of St. Barnabas’ Broadway and Chaplain to the University of Sydney. Generations of students were discipled through that ministry.
Howard Guinness’ funeral was held at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on 31st July 1979. Then Archbishop of Sydney, Sir Marcus Loane, preached, and Bishop Donald Robinson led the prayers.
You will be blessed by setting aside 25 minutes to hear this excerpt from a recording of the service – with the sermon, the hymn Now thank we all our God, and the prayers –
or download the 12MB mp3 audio file by right clicking on the book cover.
Photo: The cover of Howard Guinness’ autobiographical book Journey Among Students, published in 1978 by the Anglican Information Office, Sydney.
Ban Sports Bet Ads ASAP — Dean of Sydney
“Long-time campaigner for poker machine reform, the Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, has welcomed a unanimous report from federal Parliament, “You Win Some, You Lose More”.
From St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney, Dean Grant said …”
– Read last week’s full Media Release at the Cathedral website.
Moore College’s New Curriculum
“Moore College launched its new curriculum at the start of the 2023 Academic Year. Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson unpacks the key features of the new curriculum in this new video.”
– Watch here.
Southern Cross, June-July 2023
The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now out in churches – and also available online.
Moore College end-of-financial-year appeal 2023
Watch former Archbishop of Sydney and Moore College Principal Dr Peter Jensen:
“If you’re asking, ‘What should I support? How should I support?’, I would say, never forget your need to support Moore College…”
Anglicans among those honoured in the first King’s Birthday list for more than 70 years
“A firefighter, an historian and a bell ringer are among Sydney Anglicans honoured in the King’s Birthday honours. …”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
‘Parents fight back after principals told to sign statement opposing same-sex marriage’
“Parents at a major regional Anglican school are fighting back against a controversial requirement that their new principal and board members sign a document stating they believe marriage is just between a man and a woman.
Frustrated parents at The Illawarra Grammar School have formed a group to oppose the rule which will force incoming heads of Sydney Anglican diocese-run schools to sign a statement of faith opposing gay marriage. …”
– Story from The Sydney Morning Herald.
Image: First Anglican school in New South Wales.
Moore PTC 2023 Graduation Celebrates God’s Work
“On the evening of Friday, 26th May 2023, Moore Theological College held its graduation for the Moore PTC.
The Preliminary Theological Certificate is our long-standing non-accredited course designed to help people from all backgrounds grow in their love and knowledge of God and his word.
The live event, which was also livestreamed, celebrated the successful conclusion of three different levels of PTC studies for 68 graduands and showcased the benefits of studying the Moore PTC for people of many ages and stages of life. …”
– Encouraging report from Moore College.
Please pray for 2023 Presbyters
“The ordering of Presbyters will take place on Tuesday 27 June 2023 at 7pm in St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Please pray for those to be ordained.”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…