Friday August 28: Prayer day for Connect09
In a letter to Rectors and Curates-in-Charge, Archbishop Peter Jensen has called for another day of prayer –
“Dear Friends,
We received very positive feed back after the prayer day which was held on Friday May 22, and this has prompted me to hold another. I am pleased to announce a special Day of Prayer will be held on Friday August 28 commencing at 10am in the Chapter House, St Andrew’s Cathedral, concluding at 2.30pm.
The first and most vital aspect of Connect09 is prayer. I invite you to be present on that day. You might like to encourage at least two people to represent your parish. Let’s make this a priority as we pray for our diocese in this year of great opportunity for the gospel.”
Here’s an outline of the day as planned –
1000-1030 Bible Study
1030-1100 Jesus All About Life (JAAL)
1100-1130 Inspiring People (CBD events)
1130-1200 Georges River Region
1200-1230 Northern Region
1230-1300 Western Region
1300-1330 Wollongong Region
1330-1400 South Sydney Region
Graham Wade 1931–2009
SydneyAnglicans.net reports that Graham Wade, pioneering Christian cartoonist, filmmaker and illustrator of the Jungle Doctor books, has died at the age of 78.
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” (Revelation 14:13).
See also these entries at Christian Cartoonists International and OzComics (which also tells of Graham’s involvement in the founding of Pilgrim International).
(Photo: Christian Cartoonists International.)
Study theology?
Want to be better equipped to live for Christ? Interested in studying theology? Here are some opportunities to investigate further –
The Presbyterian Theological Centre in Burwood has an Open Night this Wednesday 26th August from 7:00pm.
Sydney Missionary and Bible College has an Open Evening on Monday 7 September, 2009, 6:45pm for 7:00pm.
Moore College is holding an Open Day and Spring Carnival on Saturday, 26 September, 9:30am – 2:30pm in the College grounds. Families welcome. (Photo: PTC.)
ACL Centenary Dinner — bookings close Monday 24th
All members and friends of the ACL are invited to celebrate 100 years of the Anglican Church League at the Centenary Dinner on
Thursday 3rd September 2009
7:00pm for 7:30pm
Moore College Dining Room
1 King Street Newtown
Download your Invitation here (230kb PDF file).
The closing date for bookings is Monday August 24.
Mark Driscoll at the Crystal Cathedral
Mark Driscoll is the guest speaker at the Crystal Cathedral on this week’s Hour of Power ‘television church’ and he gently introduces a topic not normally addressed there: sin. The video is available here. h/t Justin Taylor.
Related: So much for Possibility Thinking.
Lutherans adopt statement on sexuality
Updated:
“The Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) by a two-thirds majority August 19 approved a theological statement addressing human sexuality, setting the stage for an anticipated vote Friday on whether to allow pastors in committed same-sex relation ships to serve in local congregations…”
– The Episcopal News Service reports on the ECLA’s moves paralleling those of TEC. (The ECLA and TEC are in ‘full communion’.)
See also the voting results and text of ‘Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust’ from the ELCA website.
As the meeting was taking place, a tornado touched down, knocking the cross from the steeple of Central Lutheran Church across the street. It was, of course, nothing more than a coincidence. Or was it? John Piper has some thoughts about what happened in his own town:
“The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction. Reaffirm the great Lutheran heritage of allegiance to the truth and authority of Scripture. Turn back from distorting the grace of God into sensuality. Rejoice in the pardon of the cross of Christ and its power to transform left and right wing sinners.”
Worth reading it all. (Pictures: top – ELCA, bottom – Joe Bjordal.)
Archbishop’s address at Civic Commemorative service for William Cowper
“2 Timothy 4:7,8:
‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.’
It was this text that Bishop Barker chose for the funeral sermon of Archdeacon William Cowper in July 1858. It was an apt summation of a great man, a man who helped lay the foundations of our national life and lay them strong and true. He had a vision of what it is to be human and Christian, a vision which still offers us a challenge as to who we should be in our generation. Our city owes a huge debt to Cowper…”
– Archbishop Peter Jensen spoke at yesterday’s Civic Commemorative Service for Archdeacon William Cowper, at St. Philip’s Church Hill, York Street.
(Image courtesy William Cowper website.)
Ministry changes in Canberra & Goulburn
Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Stuart Robinson, has announced a number of ministry appointments in the diocese. Key among these is the invitation to Trevor Edwards to become a full-time Assistant Bishop.
Trevor has been Rector of St. Matthew’s Wanniassa and, since 2004, also part time Assistant Bishop with responsibilities for outreach and renewal in the diocese. Trevor’s many friends in Sydney will wish him well as he continues to serve the Lord Jesus in this new ministry.
Details from Bishop Robinson’s letter on the Canberra and Goulburn website.
Jesus: Connections for life
Dominic Steele has produced a booklet to spell out Jesus’ answers to the questions raised by Jesus All About Life campaign which starts in Sydney on September 7.
Details from Christians in the Media.
A Further Look into ECUSA Finances
“The attorneys for ECUSA approve the expenditure of missionary funds in the areas of San Joaquin, Fort Worth and Pittsburgh. These ‘dioceses’ are not — and probably will never be, unless and until they win their respective lawsuits and gain access to the funds of the majorities who voted to leave — self-supporting, even though the dioceses which left each allowed those remnants to keep their own properties and bank accounts. But that is inadequate for them to keep their own clergy paid while the suits are pending — because all of the individual parish pledges and plate collections must go 100% to the payment of the cost of maintaining the current lawsuits. Thus there are no local funds available to pay clergy, and the helpful DFMS must step in. …”
– Christian lawyer A S Haley has been gleaning information about the Episcopal Church’s finances and over the weekend posted this article at Anglican Curmudgeon.
The United Church of Canada’s uncertain future
‘
It’s not the only religious organization in Canada to suffer from a lack of interest. But more than others, perhaps, the United Church has tried to find relevance and attract attention by offering what many complain is an all-inclusive, interpretive and ‘watered-down’ brand of faith. …
At least one church has become a virtual no-God zone.
Gretta Vosper is the minister at West Hill United Church in Toronto and author of With or Without God: Why the way we live is more important than what we believe. …’
– read the full article at the religion blog of the National Post.
(Photo courtesy West Hill United Church.)
Why FCA UK and Ireland?
“Let me start with my nightmare: in my negative moments it seems not just realistic but likely.
In my nightmare the Church of England, Church in Wales, Church of Ireland and Episcopal Church of Scotland continue on their gradual drift towards the apostasy of The Episcopal Church in America, so that within twenty, or maybe only ten years, it becomes virtually impossible for orthodox Christians to be ordained…”
– Vaughan Roberts, Rector of St Ebbe’s Church in Oxford, spoke at the launch of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans in the UK and Ireland last month.
His talk has now been posted at the GAFCON website. (Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)
New Director for ‘Unity, Faith and Order’
From the Anglican Communion News Service:
“The Secretary General, Canon Kenneth Kearon, has announced the appointment of Canon Dr Alyson Barnett-Cowan as Director for Unity, Faith and Order at the Anglican Communion Office. The post is a new one in the Communion… Canon Barnett-Cowan is currently Director of Faith, Worship and Ministry of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada…”
– full report from the ACNS. (Emphasis added.)
However, see also The Anglican Church of Canada: Tearing The Fabric to Shreds!
(Photo of Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan: Bruce Myers, Anglican Journal.)
Bishop Stuart Robinson — encouragement in connecting
Bishop Stuart Robinson in the diocese of Canberra and Goulburn has begun recording regular video messages to help keep in touch with people across his diocese.
You can see the first one (July 2009) at YouTube.
Let’s swap bank accounts
“I once heard the following illustration from one of the finest preachers in Wales:
Two brothers were talking one day. One of them had made a great success of his business career and had amassed a fortune. The other brother had made one bad decision after another and in the end racked up debts that he had no way of paying for. …”
– A useful sermon illustration at Martin Downes’ Against Heresies.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…