A brief guide to the Coronation Service
Posted on May 3, 2023
Filed under Church of England, Resources Comments Off on A brief guide to the Coronation Service
“The Coronation Service for each monarch is put together using set elements, some of which are legally required, and others that can modified or updated over time. The structure of the service draws on the Old Testament, and has developed over many centuries of use in England, and later the UK. The last significant overhaul, especially of the oaths, came for the coronation of William III and Mary II in 1689 …
At the coronation, he does not become king. Rather he is acknowledged as King, not by the state, but by the Church and in the eyes of God. The promises he makes are not that he will rule, but how he will rule. The service is a reminder throughout that he is only King by the will of God and with the consent of the people. He is not our ultimate authority, and he himself is subject to another king, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. …
It is notable that in the Proper Preface, Charles will be referred to as ‘the Defender of thy Faith’, not as he once hoped, ‘Defender of Faiths’.”
– At Church Society’s website, Ros Clarke provides some helpful background to the Coronation coming up this weekend.
See also the Liturgy to be used in the Coronation Service.
Image: Royal.uk.
David Livingstone brought the Gospel to my Country
Posted on May 2, 2023
Filed under History, People Comments Off on David Livingstone brought the Gospel to my Country
“David Livingstone (1813–73) is known as a missionary, explorer, and abolitionist.
He was the first missionary to bring the gospel to my beloved country, Malawi, in 1859…”
– Confex Makhalira gives thanks to God for David Livingstone on the 150th anniversary of his death. (At The Gospel Coalition.)
Photo: David Livingstone by Thomas Annan, 1864.
Bible Time with Pre-schoolers
Posted on May 2, 2023
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on Bible Time with Pre-schoolers
“I’m so thankful that my daughter is taught at pre-school by wonderfully experienced Christian teachers… so when a list of recommended Bible resources from one of those gifted and thoughtful teachers finds its way into your child’s book bag, it is something to be treasured!
I come back to this list every time I want to add to our library. Clearly, it’s far from exhaustive (there are so many good things out there) and seasoned pre-school teachers and parents will no doubt be familiar with a lot of these books, but I thought I’d share this treasured list here anyway, with a few of my own favourites added in along the way. …“
– Here’s some encouragement and practical help from Kirsten McKinlay at The Australian Church Record.
Trekking through Tanzania
Posted on May 1, 2023
Filed under GAFCON, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Trekking through Tanzania
“On a trip to honour veteran CMS Missionary Helen Hoskins and to visit Sydney’s Anglican Aid projects, Archbishop Raffel is travelling through Tanzania.
Soon after the final session of GAFCON IV in nearby Rwanda, the Archbishop was on his way to a series of engagements in the Diocese of Mara. …”
– Story from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
GAFCON 101 – everything you need to know
Posted on May 1, 2023
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on GAFCON 101 – everything you need to know
From David Ould:
“I wrote this brief article last week for my church newsletter. It’s a basic primer on what GAFCON is, how it came about, what happened at Kigali and why it was necessary.…”
– Read here.
Photo: Bishop Glenn Davies at GAFCON IV in Kigali.
The Most Radical Thing I Do
Posted on May 1, 2023
Filed under Encouragement Comments Off on The Most Radical Thing I Do
“As I left our small church this morning the crowd sitting outside at the café opposite stared at me. I smiled back and waved. They had no idea of the fundamental treasons I’d been committing, of the revolution I participate in. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Mike Flynn has some counter-cultural encouragement.
A 3 minute report on GAFCON IV to play in your church
Posted on April 29, 2023
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on A 3 minute report on GAFCON IV to play in your church
From The Pastor’s Heart.
Download link just above the video on that page.
What now after Canterbury’s leadership implosion – with Sydney Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
Posted on April 29, 2023
Filed under Anglican Communion, Encouragement, GAFCON Comments Off on What now after Canterbury’s leadership implosion – with Sydney Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
Just released from The Pastor’s Heart – while visiting Bunda Bible College in Tanzania, Dominic Steele speaks with Archbishop Kanishka Raffel.
“Sydney’s Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has responded to Gafcon’s Kigali Commitment which says the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s continued leadership of the Anglican Communion is entirely indefensible.
Leaders representing 85% of the Anglican Communion say they have no confidence in the Archbishop of Canterbury or the other instruments of the Anglican Communion.
In his first interview, since the release of Gafcon’s Kigali Communique, Archbishop Raffel sits down with Dominic Steele while on a tour of Anglican Aid projects in rural Tanzania.”
Also much encouraging news on the impact of Anglican Aid.
How the Original Languages can benefit the African Church
Posted on April 29, 2023
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on How the Original Languages can benefit the African Church
“It’s very important in our promotion of the original languages not to make people think that they cannot trust their translated versions. However, I have personally experienced the joy and value of reading the Bible in the original languages. This is something I wish for many more to experience for themselves. …”
Ikho Poswayo serves at George Whitefield College in Capetown.
Top Centre magazine 23.1 from the Diocese of the Northern Territory
Posted on April 29, 2023
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on Top Centre magazine 23.1 from the Diocese of the Northern Territory
The latest issue of Top Centre magazine (23.1) from the Diocese of the Northern Territory is available on their website.
A great reminder to continue to pray for the ministry of the gospel in the Top End and Centre.
Chinese Christians forced to register for church
Posted on April 28, 2023
Filed under World news Comments Off on Chinese Christians forced to register for church
“There is concern about tracking and persecution in China’s Henan province, where a phone app must be used by worshippers in order to attend church. …”
– Report at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The FAQs: Anglican Group Calls on Church of England’s Leader to Repent
Posted on April 28, 2023
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Comments Off on The FAQs: Anglican Group Calls on Church of England’s Leader to Repent
“…their example is showing Christians around the globe what it looks like to remain faithful to Christ in an age of compromise.”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Joe Carter addresses one of his ‘explainer’ articles to outline what GAFCON is doing and why.
Photo: GAFCON IV in Kigali, cotters GAFCON.
Charles Simeon: a model for preachers
Posted on April 28, 2023
Filed under Encouragement Comments Off on Charles Simeon: a model for preachers
“Charles Simeon was the pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Cambridge from 1782 to his death in 1836 – a period of 54 years. It is difficult to find anyone before Charles Simeon who set about so systematically to teach people to preach.
By 1832 Simeon had published what he called a ‘skeleton’ or sermon outline on the entire bible – over 2,500 in all! They are quite detailed – a lot more flesh and blood than you might expect on a skeleton. But the skeletons were perhaps an outworking of his own experience as a preacher where for the first 7 years he said he ‘did not know the head from the tail of a sermon’.
JI Packer says that the genius of the skeletons was that they showed the preacher how to make sure that it was the text that did the talking throughout the sermon, rather than the preacher loading up the text with his own ideas. They also encouraged the preacher to find and stick to the one big idea of the text. …”
– Encouragement for preachers from Stuart Coulton at The Expository Preaching Trust.
Family, Being and Home
Posted on April 27, 2023
Filed under Australian dioceses, Encouragement Comments Off on Family, Being and Home
“Many people have expressed much care and concern for Elizabeth and myself knowing we have left many close family and friends on the other side of the country to come and live and serve in the North West. …”
– Recently-installed Bishop of North West Australia Darrell Parker writes of being ‘home’.
“The church world has changed because of GAFCON IV”
Posted on April 26, 2023
Filed under Encouragement, GAFCON Comments Off on “The church world has changed because of GAFCON IV”
George Conger shares his experiences of GAFCON IV at Anglican Unscripted.
Spoiler: Very positive and encouraging.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…