Syrian Patriarchs denounce ‘Dangerous Escalation of Violence’ as hundreds of Alawites and Christians are killed
Posted on March 10, 2025
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Food for prayer:
“In recent days, Syria has witnessed a dangerous escalation of violence, brutality, and killings, resulting in attacks on innocent civilians, including women and children. Homes have been violated, their sanctity disregarded, and properties looted—scenes that starkly reflect the immense suffering endured by the Syrian people.
The Christian Churches while strongly condemning any act that threatens civil peace, denounce and condemn the massacres targeting innocent civilians, and call for an immediate end to these horrific acts, which stand in stark opposition to all human and moral values.
The Churches also call for the swift creation of conditions conducive to achieving national reconciliation among the Syrian people. They urge efforts to establish an environment that facilitates the transition to a state that respects all its citizens and lays the foundation for a society based on equal citizenship and genuine partnership, free from the logic of vengeance and exclusion. At the same time, they reaffirm the unity of Syrian territory and reject any attempts to divide it.
The Churches call on all concerned parties within Syria to assume their responsibilities, put an end to the violence, and seek peaceful solutions that uphold human dignity and preserve national unity.
We pray that God may protect Syria and its people and that peace may prevail throughout the land.
JOHN X
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East MOR
IGNATIUS APHREM II
Syriac Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church
YOUSSEF ABSI
Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East”
– Details and links to more information here.
“The Christians of Syria are one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Today, however, that community faces the very real possibility of being extinguished altogether. …”
CEEC stands with the Evangelical Alliance in calling for a ‘national day of prayer’ against proposals to legalise assisted suicide
Posted on March 9, 2025
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“The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has commended the Evangelical Alliance’s call for a ‘national day of prayer’ on Tuesday 25 March, against proposals to legalise assisted suicide in the UK.
CEEC joins with the Evangelical Alliance, CARE, the Christian Medical Fellowship, Affinity and the Christian Institute, in asking people to call on the Lord’s mercy and protection for those who will be deeply impacted should the law pass in Holyrood and Westminster. …”
– from The Church of England Evangelical Council.
Do your Sunday Songs pass the test?
Posted on March 9, 2025
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“How does a pastor decide which songs to introduce? Why one song and not another? Here are a gauntlet of questions I ask when considering a new song for my church.
If we’re going to sing a song on Sunday, it’s got to pass all the way through. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Brandon Ryan addresses an important question.
Repeating the Basics — The Cross and the Resurrection
Posted on March 8, 2025
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“Friends in Christ, today I am going to repeat the basics!
When the Apostle Paul summarises the central gospel truths he preached, he writes of what he…
‘…passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…’ (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
It is what you should hear of again and again at any decent church – in our preaching, in our songs, in our confessions, creeds and prayers:
- of the cross, and its meaning (atonement ‘for our sins’), and
- of the resurrection and its meaning (forgiveness, hope and the resurrection of the body, which he unpacks in the rest of 1 Corinthians 15). …”
– In the Cathedral Newsletter, Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, reminds us of what we must not forget.
A short reflection on the significance of Lent
Posted on March 8, 2025
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On the Bathurst Diocese Facebook page, Bishop Mark Calder has a short reflection on the significance of Lent (which began on Wednesday).
– Watch here. (May require a login to Facebook.)
Guides to Focussed Personal and Corporate Prayer
Posted on March 7, 2025
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“One Sunday last year a member of our church, a dear sister who is intentional about her faith, came to me with great joy and shared that over morning tea there had been a deep Christian conversation at her table. It had unfolded quite naturally and everyone on the table was involved.
I suspect this may have happened because everyone at that table has been involved in a church-wide project, using a book in the Five Things to Pray series…”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Meredith van der Klip highlights a ‘simple but brilliant” (says Sinclair Ferguson) resource.
Concerns raised over ‘poor process’ and ‘lack of transparency’ around appointment of new Archbishop of Canterbury
Posted on March 6, 2025
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“The process by which the next Archbishop of Canterbury will be appointed has been criticised at points as being ‘confusing’ and ‘lacking in transparency’, proper process and clarity, according to one academic.
Revd Dr Andrew Goddard, a member of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), has raised major questions and real concerns about the process by which the new archbishop will be appointed. …”
– from The Church of England Evangelical Council.
Exploring and Celebrating the Nicene Creed
Posted on March 6, 2025
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“This year is the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, which is an important part of our liturgy for a number of our services, in particular for the Eucharist. We encourage you to mark this year by devoting some time to focussing on the creed, both personally and as a congregation. …”
– The Ministry Development Committee of the Diocese of Ballarat is seeking to help church members think about what they mean when they say the Nicene Creed on Sundays.
Related:
Credo Magazine feature: 1700 Years after Nicaea. – January 2025.
A pod for God
Posted on March 5, 2025
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“Before Steve Jobs at Apple invented the iPod, podcasts were called radio shows. As someone who made radio shows for 30 years, perhaps I am not the best person to review podcasts. But then again, maybe I am. Because the basic rules haven’t changed much.
Rule number one is to say something interesting. Rule number two is to be listenable. Sounds simple, right? But not every podcast follows these rules, as just about anyone with a microphone and an internet connection can now be a podcaster. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell introduces a new podcast he has discovered.
The Evangelism and New Churches podcasts page
has links to the Fire Up podcast and all the previous episodes on Apple or Spotify.
Openness to Jesus among young people — The Pastor’s Heart
Posted on March 4, 2025
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“We are hearing reports from the university campuses, from young adult ministries, and from youth groups – that there is an increasing openness to the gospel of Jesus – and there’s a new openness among young men.
There’s a shift in the culture. There’s something happening that is different among young people – Especially among young men.
There’s a greater biblical ignorance in the rising generation. But significantly more openness.
There’s less hostility when compared to a decade ago. Walk up evangelism is easier and people are more open to discussing their views on Jesus.
And people are being saved. And young men are being saved
Andy Stephenson heads the Youth Ministry support team for Anglican Youthworks.
Dave Jensen works with Evangelism and New Churches encouraging and mobilizing churches in Evangelism and is one of the keynote speakers at the Nexus Ministry Conference on 17 March 2025.
Katie Stringer is involved in high school ministry across Sydney’s secular inner west.”
Word in Song Conference Sydney 2025 — 22 March
Posted on March 4, 2025
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From Emu Music:
“Are you passionate about singing that is deeply rooted in Scripture? The Word in Song Conference is a place where worship leaders, musicians, and church members come together to be equipped, inspired, and encouraged – helping you and your church grow in a gospel-centred approach to music and ministry.”
– Details here.
Christ and Creation — Two Ways News podcast
Posted on March 4, 2025
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From Phillip Jensen:
“Dear Friends,
Hello again, thanks for the feedback and encouragement. Peter and I are enjoying chatting over the great themes of the Creator and creation in Genesis 1.
So far, we have been struck by the opening words ‘In the beginning God created’, which take us to the idea of one God and one universe. But yet when we come to John chapter 1 we find that the word by which God created all, became flesh in the person of Jesus. Furthermore, in Colossians 1, the world was created not only through God’s son but also for him.
So, in this week’s Two Ways News we are exploring the place of Christ in creation. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did in making it.”
– Listen here.
Sydney’s link to Chilean ‘blockbuster’ event
Posted on March 3, 2025
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“Supporters from across the globe have travelled to the Chilean capital Santiago for a threefold ceremony that Anglican Aid CEO and former missionary to Chile, the Rev Canon Tim Swan, calls an ‘Anglican blockbuster event’.
The occasion was the retirement of Héctor (Tito) Zavala as Primate of Chile, the consecration of Juan Esteban Saravia as Bishop of Santiago, and the installation of Bishop Enrique Lago as Primate of Chile. …”
– Russell Powell reports at SydneyAnglicans.net.
More than Moralism: Reflections on The Joe Rogan Podcast with Wesley Huff
Posted on March 2, 2025
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“Until recently, I had never listened to The Joe Rogan Experience – one of the world’s most popular podcasts, hosted by American comedian Joe Rogan, who interviews an extensive variety of guests at length. I had also never heard of one of Rogan’s recent guests, Christian apologist Wesley Huff. Despite my unfamiliarity with both, I nevertheless decided to listen to all three hours of their conversation (admittedly with a few breaks).
Their discussion was wide-ranging, covering everything from Mesopotamian mathematical conventions to physics and cosmology, but I want here to reflect on one key issue that emerged at the very end of the episode: the distinction between a moralistic view of Christ and the worship of him, especially in our evangelism…”
– Andy Jansen writes at The Australian Church Record.
Who is Melchizedek?
Posted on March 1, 2025
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“Who is the greatest in the book of Genesis? Abraham? Wrong! The greatest man in Genesis is Melchizedek.
‘Who?’, you say. Even if you have been a Bible reader for a while, your knowledge of Melchizedek may be a little sketchy. Who was he? And why does he matter?
Melchizedek appears in three places in the Bible. We will take these in turn and see how they fit together.…”
– Christopher Ash, Writer-in-Residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge, begins a new series, ‘Curious characters in the Bible’, by exploring questions around the mysterious Melchizedek.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…