Mandatory masks in latest COVID changes
Posted on January 2, 2021
Filed under COVID19, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Mandatory masks in latest COVID changes
“New restrictions have been announced for indoor venues, including churches, as a result of COVID-19 transmission on the Northern Beaches and across Greater Sydney.
The measures take effect from Sunday, 3rd January, for Greater Sydney including Wollongong, Central Coast and the Blue Mountains.
Face masks are mandatory for shopping, indoor entertainment, public transport and places of worship…”
– Story from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
See also the Diocesan COVID-19 FAQ page for church workers.
Review of ‘Peter Akinola: Who Blinks First? Biblical Fidelty Against the Gay Agenda in the Global Anglican Community’
Posted on January 1, 2021
Filed under Anglican Communion, Culture wars Comments Off on Review of ‘Peter Akinola: Who Blinks First? Biblical Fidelty Against the Gay Agenda in the Global Anglican Community’
“In the early 2000s, Nigerian Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola was twice recognized by Time magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential People” on earth. He had distinguished himself as the leader of the Global South’s revolt against the normalization of homosexuality by the Global North’s contingent within the worldwide Anglican Communion.
As the decennial Lambeth Conference loomed in the summer of 2020, Nigerian journalist and media consultant Gbenga Gbesan was enlisted to tell the story of Akinola’s campaign, which spanned his decade of service as archbishop, 2000-2010. …”
– At Books at a Glance, Mark Coppenger reviews Peter Akinola: Who Blinks First? Biblical Fidelty Against the Gay Agenda in the Global Anglican Community.
Our New Year’s resolution – humility?
Posted on January 1, 2021
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Our New Year’s resolution – humility?
“If 2020 has taught us anything, it is surely that things are not always as they seem. We are generally more fragile than we like to admit. And with a sudden realisation of fragility there often comes frustration, anger, a claustrophobic feeling perhaps – and definitely a lack of tolerance. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Ben George proposes a New Year’s resolution.
Bible Reading Plans for 2021
Posted on December 31, 2020
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Here are some Bible Reading Plans to help you read the Bible more consistently in 2021:
The Bible Reading Plan I Recommend for 2021 – challies.com
2021 Bible Reading Plans – Ligonier Ministries.
See also:
Want to Read Your Bible Well in 2021? Don’t do it Alone – The Gospel Coalition.
My year in the Bible with My Conversation Partners – Dave McDonald.
One Big Idea: The Pilot Episode
Posted on December 30, 2020
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on One Big Idea: The Pilot Episode
From The American Anglican Council:
“The American Anglican Council is happy to begin sharing with you One Big Idea, a new video series with thoughts from Canon Phil Ashey to help leaders at every level view the church and culture from a biblical lens. This is the pilot episode!”
– Watch here.
Lift Your Eyes free resource — How it works
Posted on December 29, 2020
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on Lift Your Eyes free resource — How it works
In this video, Lionel Windsor at Moore College introduces his free online resource, Lift Your Eyes: Reflections on Ephesians.
“Lift Your Eyes is a series of reflections in both text and audio podcast format covering every sentence in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.”
Amazing Place: The place of ‘Place’ – with Matthew Sleeman
Posted on December 28, 2020
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“What is a biblical theology of place?
Matthew Sleeman is a lecturer in New Testament at Oak Hill Theological College in London. …
Matthew says place is more than point on a map. Place contributes to making us who we are. And we contribute to making the place what it is. We are shaped by our places and we paint ourselves onto places.
Places are locations for ministries, discipleship and living for Jesus.”
Also from The Pastor’s Heart this week, a very sobering topic:
Processing the Ravi Zacharias sexual abuse scandal – with Dan Paterson.
Heaven — Rejoicing in Future Glory
Posted on December 25, 2020
Filed under Encouragement, Theology Comments Off on Heaven — Rejoicing in Future Glory
The latest 9Marks Journal is out, with a focus on Heaven.
Plenty of encouraging and stimulating reading.
John Anderson speaks with John Lennox
Posted on December 24, 2020
Filed under Evangelism, People Comments Off on John Anderson speaks with John Lennox
John Anderson speaks with Professor John Lennox in Oxford.
They discuss Christ’s birth and life as one of historical truth, the Christian foundations of the modern scientific method, and the current religious climate.
Christmas video message from Archbishop Foley Beach
Posted on December 24, 2020
Filed under Encouragement, GAFCON Comments Off on Christmas video message from Archbishop Foley Beach
From GAFCON.
Church in Wales issues draft Bill for same-sex blessings
Posted on December 24, 2020
Filed under Anglican Communion, Culture wars Comments Off on Church in Wales issues draft Bill for same-sex blessings
“The Bishops of the Church in Wales have published their proposals to authorise formal blessings in church of same-sex partnerships and marriages.
A draft Bill that would permit the blessing in parish churches of same-sex couples after a civil partnership or civil wedding has been circulated to members of the Church’s Governing Body ahead of a debate in April. …”
– Report from The Church Times.
Image: Archbishop of Wales John Davies, from his 2020 Christmas Message.
See also:
A Bill to authorise experimental use of proposed revisions of the Book of Common Prayer (service of Blessing following a Civil Partnership or Marriage between two people of the same sex) – Church in Wales website.
Christmas is not cancelled, just different
Posted on December 23, 2020
Filed under News Comments Off on Christmas is not cancelled, just different
“The latest outbreak of COVID-19, centred on the Northern Beaches, has wrought havoc with Christmas plans but churches have been working frantically to adapt. …”
– Here’s the very latest from SydneyAnglicans.net.
“NAZARETH” — A Hamilton Parody
Posted on December 23, 2020
Filed under Evangelism, Resources Comments Off on “NAZARETH” — A Hamilton Parody
Simon Camilleri has produced a wonderful video inspired by the musical Hamilton.
Watch here – and below the video is a link to download it if you can use it at a church Christmas event.
COVID shows us something deeper — the great unmasking of God
Posted on December 22, 2020
Filed under COVID19, Resources, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on COVID shows us something deeper — the great unmasking of God
The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has released his Christmas message for 2020. Read more
Bishop Mark Calder’s Christmas message for 2020
Posted on December 21, 2020
Filed under Australian dioceses, Resources Comments Off on Bishop Mark Calder’s Christmas message for 2020
The Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has released a brief Christmas message.
Click this link to watch the video – and the text is below.
Can you imagine the conversation Mary had to have with Joseph?
“Joseph – we need to talk”. (Long pause while she gathers the courage.) “I’m pregnant”.
What a shock! Mary knew she hadn’t slept with anyone. Joseph knew it wasn’t him!
Joseph was a good guy and decided not to make a fuss but simply walk away.
But God had other plans.
“What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit”, an angel told Joseph in a dream. What a dream!! There would have been comfort in that dream – Mary had not been sleeping around. But confusion too – whatever does “conceived by the Holy Spirit” mean?
Put simply, it means that in this baby, God was stepping into our world. He had an earthly mother, but a heavenly Father. God turned up – not in a majestic palace – but as a small, vulnerable baby, laid in a food trough and needing his nappy changed. Astonishing!
The two names given to this boy help us understand something of the significance of his birth.
The first: ‘Jesus’. It means ‘God saves’. Saves from what? The angel explained to Joseph, “You are to give him the name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”. “Sins” is not a word we use today. Ultimately it means shutting God out and living as if he doesn’t exist or doesn’t matter. That attitude breaks our relationship with God. Jesus’ whole mission was to mend that relationship. By his life, death and resurrection, he makes it possible for anyone, should they want to, to be forgiven and come back into relationship with him, now and forever. That is pretty wonderful and overwhelmingly generous.
The second name: ‘Immanuel’. It means ‘God with us’. “What if God was one of us?”, Joan Osborne mused in her hit song. Christmas reminds us that God did in fact turn up as one of us. That means he gets us. He knows life! And he’s still with us – by his Spirit. In all our joys and laughter. In all our pain and grief. God is with us! This too is pretty wonderful.
COVID may dent our plans and indeed may have caused us grief this year.
But it is not so powerful that it can change the meaning of Christmas.
God saves. God with us. Revel and enjoy. (Even if your plans have had to change.)
Watch our traditional Christmas service here: https://tinyurl.com/trad-service
Watch our more contemporary service here: https://tinyurl.com/mod-service
And do pray for the churches right across Bathurst Diocese as they seek to share the saving news this Christmas.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…