Peter Jensen: Why I am still a Christian

“I still remember learning to swear. It was in my first year at secondary school. I was aged 13. My parents never used bad language – at least, not in front of their children. I did hear my father say “bloody” once, but that was when I brought him my final school report. But in order to impress my peers I had to speak their language and so I did.

Not the greatest sin in the book, and the experience of virtually all of us. Not worth remarking on, except for one thing. When, after a while, I tried to rein myself in and stop, I found that I was powerless to do so. It was not the fact of a relatively trivial sin but the power of sin which impressed itself on me. It was as if I had given up my freedom to join a club. When I read the words of Jesus, ‘Whoever commits sin is a slave to sin,’ I understood them at once. …”

– Dr Peter Jensen, now Editor of Churchman, shares his story – at Church Society.

Most encouraging and good to share. (Image from The Pastor’s Heart.)

Hamlin Fistula Australia Newsletter — Tribute to Dr Catherine Hamlin

The latest (Autumn 2020) newsletter of Hamlin Fistula Australia Limited is a special tribute to Dr Catherine Hamlin.

It’s a 5.5MB PDF download from their website.

Archbishop Glenn Davies’ term extended to March 2021

“Archbishop Glenn Davies will continue to lead the Sydney Diocese until March next year, after his term was extended in the emergency circumstances of the Coronavirus.

Archbishops must retire at age 70. Dr Davies turns 70 in September and in order to allow a smooth transition had given notice that he would retire two months early, in July. This would have allowed an election Synod in August and the new Archbishop to chair the next Synod in October. The COVID-19 emergency means that the election synod will now not be held as scheduled.

The Standing Committee of the Diocese met on Monday night and voted unanimously to ask Dr Davies to withdraw his resignation to allow him to continue until March 2021.

Several Standing Committee members spoke strongly in favour of the move, saying it would allow stability of leadership through troubled times and help the Episcopal team remain at full strength to care for their regions.

Dr Davies absented himself during the debate and returned to applause as the decision was announced.

‘My wife and I have served Christ together in ministry for many years and are happy to continue to serve wherever we are needed,’ Dr Davies said. ‘I am humbled and grateful for the support of the Standing Committee. More than ever, I am thankful for the many people who uphold us in prayer.’ ”

– With thanks to Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Please continue to pray for Archbishop Davies and the members of his team as they preach Christ, and encourage churches to continue to be faithful in these trying times.

Women’s health advocate Catherine Hamlin dedicated her life to preventing birth trauma and maintaining dignity and hope

“At a time when the world is facing uncertainty and fear, the remarkable compassion of this selfless Australian woman’s life shines a light into the darkness.

Gynaecologist and obstetrician Catherine Hamlin dedicated more than 60 years of her life to the care of vulnerable and marginalised Ethiopian women suffering horrific birthing injuries. …”

– Jennifer King writes at ABC News.

Dr Catherine Hamlin: A Beautiful Life

“In all the media turmoil surrounding COVID-19, you may have missed the passing of Dr. Catherine Hamlin, aged ninety-six.

Dr. Hamlin’s gynaecological work in treating Ethiopian women suffering from obstetric fistula was so remarkable that even The Sydney Morning Herald referred to her as ‘the saint of Addis Ababa’.”

– Mark Powell gives thanks for Dr Catherine Hamlin.

Further:

“In 1959, Drs Reg and Catherine Hamlin arrived in Ethiopia, intending to spend three years there, helping in any way they could.

In May 2019 Dr Catherine celebrated 60 years in that country as a pioneering surgeon and humanitarian, who has seen the scourge of obstetric fistula significantly reduced, and the lives of thousands of women and their families changed for the better.”

– from the Christmas 2019 newsletter of Hamlin Fistula Australia. (PDF file).

Thanksgiving service for Dr Noel Weeks

Dr Noel Weeks, well-known to many in Sydney and around the world, was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday March 8th, 2020.

Dr Weeks had a very long association with the Christian Schools movement in Australia. He was the founding Chairman of the Sutherland Shire Christian School’s board from 1971.

He also had a lifelong interest in the Ancient Near East and the Akkadian language. Dr Weeks had been a senior lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Sydney, and continued as an associate in the Department of Classics and Ancient History.

A Memorial Service was held last Saturday at Shire Christian School.

See also:

Old, Bewhiskered Wimp Who Cannot Stand a Little Pain or Beloved Christian Mentor: Stumbling Through the Valley of Death – Noel Weeks.

Photo: Presbyterian Theological College of Victoria.

“A woman of profound faith who has left an indelible mark upon modern medicine

“World-renowned Christian obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Catherine Hamlin AC has passed away at her home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the age of 96.

Dr Hamlin, together with her husband, the late Dr Reg Hamlin OBE, created a network of treatment centres for women suffering from obstetric fistula. The crippling condition results from complications in childbirth and leads to social isolation in poor African communities. …”

– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.

Related:

Hamlin Fistula Australia Limited.

COVID-19: Thanksgiving Service for Bishop Ivan Lee cancelled

Archbishop Glenn Davies has written to Western Sydney churches with the sad news that the Thanksgiving Service planned for Bishop Ivan Lee on Saturday March 28 has had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus. He also asks all to continue to uphold Virginia and her family in prayer.

Related:

With thanksgiving for Bishop Ivan Lee – ACL President’s tribute.

“We have lost a great champion for the gospel” – SydneyAnglicans.net.

Thanksgiving Service for Bishop Ivan Lee planned for Saturday 28th March

It’s been announced that a Thanksgiving Service for Bishop Ivan Lee will be held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney on Saturday 28th March 2020 at 10:00am, followed by refreshments.

Bishop Lee was called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday evening.

(2015 photo courtesy Anglican Media Sydney.)

With thanksgiving for Bishop Ivan Lee. ACL President’s tribute

The Anglican Church League notes with sadness the passing of Bishop Ivan Lee last night and will continue to uphold Virginia and the family in prayer for the consolation that can only come from our great shepherd Jesus in this difficult time.

Ivan was elected an Emeritus Vice President of the ACL due to his longstanding commitment to gospel work and the Evangelical cause within the Diocese of Sydney. His passion for reaching out to the lost, including his willingness to try new means of connecting with those outside the churches, was evident in every conversation with him.

Personally, having served on a number of committees with Ivan, I can testify that he could always be relied on to bring a considered and unique perspective to any issue, a perspective that caused us to reflect upon whether we had understood the challenges correctly and whether there were other more creative options open to us to progress the task at hand.

Ivan’s commitment to ‘be at work in his Master’s field’ during the difficult times of his illness was a great encouragement to those who worked with him, and was a reflection of his passion for the gospel and indeed the network of the Diocese of Sydney as a key and effective means of reaching the lost for Christ.

He will be greatly missed – but he is with our Lord, which is better by far.

Andrew Bruce
President of the Anglican Church League.

(Photo: Bishop Ivan Lee at Sydney Synod, October 2019. Courtesy Anglican Media Sydney.)

“We have lost a great champion for the gospel”

“Long-serving Sydney Bishop, Ivan Lee, has passed away more than four years after being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer.

Bishop Lee died last night (4th March) at Greenwich Hospital, where he had been receiving palliative care. …”

– Members of the Anglican Church League (of which Bishop Lee was a Vice-President) are deeply saddened to receive this news, but rejoice that Ivan is now with Christ.

Archbishop Glenn Davies writes:

“Our hearts ache for Virginia and her three daughters in their grief. They have cared for him so well and for so long, and since he entered hospital at the end of January, he has never been alone. May God comfort them in their sorrow.”

And in an e-mail today, Archbishop Davies writes,

“Sad news, yet we do not grieve as others do, who have no hope.
Ps 116:15.”

There will be a private funeral next week, followed by a public memorial service at St Andrew’s Cathedral on a date to be announced.

Speaking with a Pastor in Italy’s Coronavirus “Hot Zone”

“Over the past few years I’ve had a number of opportunities to interact with Pastor Andrea Artioli who pastors Chiesa Sola Grazia in Mantua, Italy.

His recent newsletter told that he lives in the ‘hot zone’ of the coronavirus outbreak in Northern Italy. He told as well that his church has been instructed by local authorities that it may not meet for at least the next two weeks. …”

– Tim Challies asked Pastor Andrea Artioli to share something of what is happening in his church in northern Italy. (Photo source.)

An Appreciation of Archbishop Glenn Davies

“In his recent and final Presidential address to the third ordinary session of the 51st Synod of the Diocese of Sydney, Archbishop Glenn Davies remarked that his primary responsibility was to be a guardian of “the faith that was delivered once for all to the saints” (Jude 3).

The Australian Church Record wishes to thank Glenn Davies for faithfully serving in this, and myriad other ways – especially through the proclamation of the gospel and prayer for gospel ministry – over the past seven years. …”

– Many will echo the words of this appreciation which was first published in the Australian Church Record’s Journal for Summer 2019.

Daniel Willis to be GAFCON Operations Manager

GAFCON General Secretary, Archbishop Ben Kwashi, has announced that Canon Daniel Willis will take on the position of Operations Manager for GAFCON from March 1st.

He succeeds Mr James Stileman, who has stepped down for health reasons.

Many will be aware of Daniel’s key role in organising Jerusalem 2018, as well as his many years of ministry in Sydney, including at Frenchs Forest, the Cathedral, and with the Bible Society, as well as on the ACL’s Council.

(Photo of Karen and Daniel Willis, courtesy of GAFCON.)

Gary Koo consecrated as Bishop of Western Sydney

“A warm smile and a ready handshake was everywhere as the new Bishop of Western Sydney was consecrated at St John’s Cathedral in Parramatta on Friday night, 20th December.

The Reverend Gary Siew Leong Koo was one of their own and many western Sydney clergy and congregation members came out to see him consecrated at the regional Cathedral. …”

– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net has the story and some photos.

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