Glory of Christ – Part 2
Posted on July 25, 2020
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“In the second of these short reflections on the glory of Christ, I want to draw attention specifically to the constitution of his person in two natures, fully divine, and fully human. As a truth it is something that can be stated with relative ease. …”
– Andrew Leslie continues his series on the Glory of Christ – at The Australian Church Record.
Update on rules for NSW churches under COVID restrictions
Posted on July 24, 2020
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“Following my previous comments on the operation of Public Health Orders (PHO’s) in NSW on churches and religion groups, this post reports on the latest amendment to the rules, which commenced operation today, Friday 24 July.”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster takes a close look at the latest NSW Public Health Order and what it means for churches.
Church restrictions tighten in COVID snapback
Posted on July 24, 2020
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“The COVID emergency in Victoria as well as several outbreaks in Sydney, including in a Maronite congregation, has led to tighter controls on churches, including a requirement to register as COVID-safe businesses.
In a public health order issued on Thursday 23 July, church meetings are now capped at 100, regardless of the size of the building. Previously, there was no cap and the numbers were constrained only by how many could fit with 4m2 distancing. Weddings and funerals also have caps, with funerals at the general 100 person limit and weddings permitted to have 150 people. …
All places of worship must register with NSW Health as a COVID Safe business. They must also have their plan available for inspection.”
– Russell Powell has the latest – including relevant links – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
See also:
COVID-19 Safety Plan for places of worship.
Funeral Service for J I Packer — 4:00am Friday 24th July Sydney time
Posted on July 23, 2020
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The Funeral Service for J I Packer will be held at St. John’s Vancouver (his church for 37 years) at 11:00am Thursday 23 July 2020, Vancouver time.
That’s 4:00am Sydney time on Friday 24th July.
The order of service can be downloaded here.
Update:
Notice of ACL Annual General Meeting 2020
Posted on July 23, 2020
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The Anglican Church League hereby gives notice to its members of the 2020 Annual General Meeting.
Date/time: Thursday 13th August, 6:00pm.
Location: St Peters Anglican Church, 187 Princes Highway, St. Peters. Read more
Colin Buchanan ‘Strong & Courageous’ concert live online tonight from 7:30pm
Posted on July 23, 2020
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With the support of The Gospel Coalition Australia, tonight (Thursday, 23 July 2020) at 7:30pm, Colin Buchanan is ‘singing some songs echoing God’s grace in the COVID-19 season’ – live on his Facebook page.
Hagia Sophia and the Signs of the Times
Posted on July 22, 2020
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“The Byzantine Cathedral Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) was built in 537AD by Emperor Justinian and remains one of the world’s most recognised and beautiful buildings. It is deservedly a Unesco World Heritage site: a museum of immense beauty and historical significance.
Although I have never had a chance to visit Istanbul and to walk inside this magnificent building, I have long dreamed of wandering along its marble floors, admiring the mosaics and being entranced by the dome above.
But this museum is no more. …
What is happening in Turkey should serve as a reminder for churches not to take for granted the time we have to live and serve and to preach Jesus Christ as Lord. …”
– Murray Campbell sees an important lesson for churches in current events.
We Preach Christ Crucified — J. I. Packer at the 1978 Moore College Lectures
Posted on July 22, 2020
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The Donald Robinson Library at Moore College has digitised and made available the videotapes of Dr. J. I. Packer’s 1978 Moore College Lectures.
His topic? “We Preach Christ Crucified.”
Wallace Benn’s Tribute to J. I. Packer
Posted on July 21, 2020
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“It was announced on Friday 17th July that Dr. Packer had passed away.
It is a sad day for Reformed Evangelicals because we have lost our champion, but not for him as he is now with the Saviour he honoured throughout his life.
He was the best Anglican Evangelical theologian of his generation, and a brilliant communicator of warm-hearted and big-minded classical evangelicalism. His wonderful books will live on, and as they are read by a new generation, will, please God, give them a deeper and more profound understanding of the Christian Faith, and deliver them from a weaker and more muddled modern version…”
– Bishop Wallace Benn shares his tribute to J. I. Packer, and Lee Gatiss links to many of Packer’s articles in Churchman – at the Church Society website.
New Anglican archbishop welcomed to Shrine of St Margaret Clitherow
Posted on July 20, 2020
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“The Catholic Bishop of Middlesbrough welcomed the newly elected 98th Anglican Archbishop of York to pray alongside him in the shrine of St Margaret Clitherow in the city. …”
– Report from The Catholic Universe. Image: Church of England.
Forgiveness in Three Images
Posted on July 20, 2020
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“Christians always want to understand the world better than it understands itself in order that we can comment on it with light and understanding.
However, we are members of another kingdom (Phil.3:20-21) ruled by a king who is not from our earthly world (John 18:36-37).
For sinners, one of our first issues must be that of forgiveness – which is probably not first on the list of world priorities.…”
– Encouragement from Psalm 103, and the Rev. Dr Peter Barnes, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.
J I Packer: An evangelical lion
Posted on July 19, 2020
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Earlier today, Dominic Steele spoke with Peter Jensen and Mark Thompson to remember and give thanks for J I Packer.
Mentioned in the discussion:
Why I Walked: Sometimes loving a denomination requires you to fight (PDF file).
A voice focussed on the authority of the Bible and the glory of Jesus Christ
Posted on July 19, 2020
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Crossway has a very encouraging tribute page to J I Packer.
There’s a 15 minute documentary video, a download of his book “Weakness is the Way”, and links to other resources.
Reformation Theology in the Hands of a Servant
Posted on July 18, 2020
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“J.I. Packer wrote a postcard to me dated December 18, 1990, which included this sentence in his tiny handwriting: ‘Creep up behind your wife, whisper in her ear Ellis Peters, Elizabeth Peters, Andrew Greely, Ralph McInerny, William Kienzle, Charles Merrill Smith, and see how she reacts.’…”
– John Piper shares his tribute to J I Packer – at Desiring God.
Photo: The Gospel Coalition.
Don Carson Pays Tribute to J. I. Packer
Posted on July 18, 2020
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“James Innell Packer, known in his writings as J. I. Packer and by his friends as Jim, has today learned by experience what the apostle meant when he said that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, which is far better.
His influence on worldwide evangelicalism, especially through his writings but scarcely less through his far-flung lecturing, can scarcely be measured. …”
– D A Carson writes at The Gospel Coalition.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…