50 years on: Santa never made it into Darwin, but Christian journo Ramon Williams did
Posted on December 24, 2024
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Fifty years ago, in the early hours of Christmas morning 1974, the city of Darwin was devastated by Cyclone Tracy.
At John Sandeman’s The Other Cheek, Jon Guyer at Panania Anglican Church shares some recollections from Ramon Williams, the grandmaster of Christian journalism, on his lightning trip to Darwin, a city ravaged by Cyclone Tracy.
Also see Ramon’s account of his trip to Darwin in this 2018 interview with The Rev Keith Garner at the Wesley Mission:
Top photo with thanks to Anglican Media Sydney.
Ramon has generously shared many of his photographs with us over the years and we are immensely grateful. See some of them in these posts.
New edition of “The Link” from Armidale — Dec 2024-Jan 2025
Posted on December 24, 2024
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The latest issue of Armidale Diocese’s magazine The Link is now available for download form their website.
On the cover is the Rev. Julie Cook, just announced as the new Diocesan Deacon for Women.
Download your copy here (PDF file) – and do pray for the continued ministry of the gospel in the Diocese of Armidale.
That You May Believe
Posted on December 23, 2024
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Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)
“I feel so strongly that among those of us who have grown up in church and who can recite the great doctrines of our faith in our sleep, and yet who can yawn through the Apostles’ Creed — that among us something must be done to help us once more feel the awe, the fear, the astonishment, the wonder of the Son of God, begotten by the Father from all eternity, reflecting all the glory of God, being the very image of his person, through whom all things were created, upholding the universe by the word of his power.
– In the Desiring God devotional for Sunday 22nd December, John Piper wants to encourage us to recapture the wonder which we may have lost.
Image: John Piper via Desiring God.
O Come, All Ye Wokeful! Now CAROLS are censored by Church of England so they don’t upset other faiths
Posted on December 22, 2024
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“Priests have been told to edit popular carols this Christmas to avoid upsetting other religions.
The Church of England has been accused of ‘losing the plot’ after it urged clergy to alter Advent hymns so that congregations can celebrate the festive season ‘without causing unnecessary offence’.
Christian hymns such as O Come, O Come, Emmanuel have been singled out for depicting other faiths as being ‘outside of God’s grace’. …”
– Story from The Daily Mail.
Image from the Diocese of Birmingham website.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s 2024 Christmas message — God does not leave us alone
Posted on December 21, 2024
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Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has released his Christmas message for 2024 — God with us in our loneliness.
Good to watch – good to share — good to play in church!
See also this post from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net, which includes a link to the text of the Archbishop’s message (PDF file).
The Source of Permanent Joy
Posted on December 21, 2024
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“I don’t want a fix of joy; but its permanent presence. …
What we need is not an injection of joy, but a reason for joy: the announcement of truths that, if believed and received, will build in the base of one’s soul and convictions a stone pier of joy that will remain immovable no matter what the tides and winds and storms of human existence in a fallen world.
In Luke’s Gospel, Mary and Elizabeth’s meeting is filled with loud greetings, hearty hugs and kisses, in utero leaps, and exuberant blessings. It dances with light and joy…”
– At AP, Campbell Markham turns to Luke chapter 1 for the reason for our joy.
Province of the Indian Ocean Elects Gilbert Rateloson Rakotondravelo as Seventh Archbishop
Posted on December 20, 2024
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“The Rt. Rev. Gilbert Rateloson Rakotondravelo, Bishop of Fianarantsoa, was elected as the Province of the Indian Ocean’s seventh primate and archbishop by the provincial synod on December 14.
He succeeds Archbishop James Wong, who has led the province of eight dioceses in Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion, and the Comoros, since 2017. The province, also known as the Anglican Church of the Indian Ocean, has about 505,000 members. …”
– Report from The Living Church. (Photo: Berthier Lainirina, via The Living Church.)
Church Society announces Digital Subscriptions to The Global Anglican
Posted on December 20, 2024
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From Church Society:
“We are delighted to announce that our theological journal, The Global Anglican, is now available to purchase in both print and digital subscriptions.
While print journals continue to have an important place in libraries, archives and personal collections, for many people, a digital format saves space, money and delays due to international posting. Individual issues of The Global Anglican are made available in digital format some years after their initial publication, but now we have the facility to provide this as an annual subscription for the current content. …”
– Perhaps the last-minute Christmas gift you’ve been hoping for.
(As you may be aware, The Global Anglican is edited by Peter Jensen.)
The Astronaut who left NASA to help support healthy churches
Posted on December 20, 2024
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“In spring 2021, Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington, DC, had nine pastoral interns. Eight were 40 years old and under. Seven were coming out of—or would head into—seminary.
And one was NASA’s former head astronaut. Pat Forrester was 63 years old. …”
– Sarah Zylstra has this encouraging story at The Gospel Coalition.
12 Fresh Ways to Read your Bible in 2025
Posted on December 19, 2024
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“A new year offers a new opportunity—an opportunity to rethink and refresh the way you read your Bible.
While some have found a pattern or habit they love and will never deviate from, others like to look for new ways to read, digest, and apply the Word.
For those who may be interested in trying something new, here are a few ideas that may be worth considering. …”
– Tim Challies shares some great ideas to help you read your Bible in the coming year.
Bishop Mark Calder’s Christmas message 2024
Posted on December 18, 2024
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Here’s the Christmas 2024 Video Media Release from Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder.
Text version below:
Joy to the World
We sing it every year, and we hear the familiar words: peace on earth. But as we look around our world, we might ask, where is the joy, and where is the peace?
The peace that Jesus came to bring was not the end of wars and strife in the world. It is a far deeper peace—peace with God. This peace comes through the forgiveness of sins, which Jesus made possible through his death and resurrection.
Because of this peace—a peace that goes beyond our understanding—we can be people of great joy. When we come to God, say sorry, and receive his forgiveness, we can know that everything we’ve mucked up in the past has been dealt with and forgiven.
This Christmas, my hope is that you will experience the peace that Jesus came to bring—a peace that leads to lasting joy.
Wishing you a joyful and peaceful Christmas.
– Good to share.
Christmas isn’t Pagan
Posted on December 18, 2024
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“Growing up I was taught that the date of Christmas, December 25th, was a borrowed pagan festival. I couldn’t tell you exactly when or where, but I remember being told (more than a few times) that there were a myriad of ancient pagan festivals like Sol Invictus, Saturnalia, Brumalia, and European feasts like Yule, that also took place on the 25th of December.
‘The Christians,’ the narrative went, ‘moved the celebration of Christ’s birth to the place of these other pagan festivities in order to make it easier for converts and/or to encourage pagans to convert.’
In many ways this story made sense. …”
– Published two years ago at Gospel Coalition Canada, Wes Huff sheds some light on the alleged origins of Christmas.
Parents, Talk to your Teens about Pornography
Posted on December 18, 2024
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In his The Briefing broadcast for Tuesday 17th December 2024, Dr Albert Mohler looks at why pornography is immoral and what opposition to restrictions on porn reveals.
He underlines the importance of Christian families.
William Taylor: What to do when the denomination around you is imploding?
Posted on December 17, 2024
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“It is difficult times in the Church of England.
Having previously publicly betrayed his ordination and consecration vows – the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby – has now resigned over his handling of a safeguarding matter, following the release of the Makin report.
The Church of England is tearing itself apart over sexuality.
There are more apostate bishops than faithful bishops in the English House of Bishops.
And there is now a massive group within the Church of England called The Alliance, representing 42% of the denomination’s attendance, basically pleading to the house of bishops to repent.
William Taylor has served since 1998 as the senior pastor of St Helen’s London. Taylor is paralleling the difficult times faced by Evangelicals today to those faced by the Apostle Paul at the time of writing the Pastorals.”
Related:
Southern Cross December 2024 – January 2025
Posted on December 17, 2024
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The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine is now available from the Diocese of Sydney.
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