Is “Church Online” Church? (Lionel Windsor, Mikey Lynch, Andrew Heard)

Posted on May 17, 2020
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Lionel Windsor writes:

“In this discussion for the Reach Australia network’s podcast, I join Mikey Lynch (leader of Tasmania’s Vision 100) and Andrew Heard (lead pastor of EV Church on the Central Coast of NSW) to think theologically about the current realities of church life, church approximation and online church.”

– Watch or listen here.

The perfect storm: how COVID-19 unleashed chaos inside Newmarch House

Posted on May 17, 2020
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“If Grant Millard could have his time over again, he’s clear on one thing. He would not have kept Newmarch House’s elderly COVID-19 patients at the Anglicare-run facility for treatment but would have sent them all to hospital.

‘Absolutely, no question, I would say that now,’ he told the Herald in his first in-depth explanation of the calamity, which began unfolding inside the residential aged care home from April 11 after a staff member was first diagnosed with the killer virus. …”

– The Sydney Morning Herald provides some insight into the outbreak in western Sydney.

See also: Anglicare’s Response to Coronavirus. Photo: Anglicare.

‘Every person counts’

Posted on May 17, 2020
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“The Sydney Anglican Diocese and Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT have strongly recommended churches stay closed. …

Anglican bishop for Western Sydney Gary Koo who chairs the Sydney diocese COVID-19 taskforce, said churches had become more accessible to the community ‘than ever before’. He said people with chronic illnesses and those who felt self conscious about walking into church felt comfortable with anonymous attendance. …”

– Story from The Sydney Morning Herald.

Public Statement from the Bishops of NSW and ACT, 12 May 2020

Posted on May 16, 2020
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“The Diocesan Bishops of the Province of NSW meet regularly for prayer and fellowship throughout the year, but have been in greater contact by email and zoom meetings these past few months. The outcome of these meetings was our Public Statement on 18 March 2020 which announced the closure of our church buildings and the suspension of normal church services in early March, in the interests of public health and safety.

We met again this week to discuss the Prime Minister’s release of the three Step Roadmap for a COVIDsafe Community. While we acknowledge the lifting of restrictions on public gatherings, allowing up to ten persons at a religious gathering, we believe that Step 1 is not the time to recommence meeting in person for Sunday public worship.

There are various reasons for this decision which will be communicated to each diocese by their Bishop. We are grateful for the patience of our congregations as they endure the continuation of church online, rather than in their familiar church surroundings, but we believe the health and safety of our own community, as well as others, should be paramount.

Yet we welcome the increased flexibility for gatherings in private homes and would therefore recommend that small groups of people take advantage of this liberty, perhaps gathering for prayer and Bible study or meeting together to join in watching online church. However, in such cases social distancing and hand hygiene must be observed, as we should remain vigilant in preventing the spread of COVID-19, acknowledging the health guidelines that our State and Territory Governments have issued.

We continue to pray for the leadership of our Prime Minister, Premier and Chief Minister of the ACT as they lead the nation in these challenging times. We also pray for our health workers as they care for those affected, and for those seeking to develop a vaccine. We continue to urge all Christians to pray that our heavenly Father may be gracious to us in stemming the spread of this disease in our land and throughout the world.

The Rt Rev. Mark Calder (Bishop of Bathurst)
The Most Rev. Dr Glenn Davies (Archbishop of Sydney)
The Rt Rev. Dr Murray Harvey (Bishop of Grafton)
The Rt Rev. Donald Kirk (Bishop of Riverina)
The Rt Rev. Rick Lewers (Bishop of Armidale)
The Rt Rev. Dr Mark Short (Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn)
The Rt Rev. Dr Peter Stuart (Bishop of Newcastle).”

– Via the Diocese of Armidale.

How to Pray for your Pastor during Lockdown

Posted on May 15, 2020
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“If you pray for your pastor, as I hope you do, how will you pray for him during this coronavirus lockdown?

Of course, this global lockdown affects us all differently. We live under widely varying regulations in different countries or even in different counties within the same country.

But there are some things you can pray for your pastor – regardless of his circumstance. Consider these six. …”

– Some encouraging thoughts from Christopher Ash, at 9Marks.

(Photo: Christopher Ash at the 2016 Moore College graduation.)

Church Seating & Stage Three – the implementation – with Michael Stead

Posted on May 14, 2020
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“Today we get totally nitty gritty/extremely practical and we are talking church seating in stage three.. with the Bishop of South Sydney Michael Stead.

The road map – from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison – indicates that there is going to be a moment that the government is calling ‘stage three’, probably/potentially mid July when meetings of up to 100 people will be able to take place.”

– Another very helpful edition of The Pastor’s Heart.

‘Repent or You will Perish’ — COVID-19 and God’s Gracious Judgments

Posted on May 14, 2020
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“Every death, every disappointment, every illness, any suffering, any frustration, any loss, any regret, any pain that we experience is a gracious judgment of God. And every one of God’s gracious judgments is a message from God, a wake-up call from God. For every one of them:

reminds us that we live in a fallen world with all its frustrations (Rom 8:18-23);
reminds us of the sinfulness of humanity and our own sinfulness, and calls us to repent (Luke 13:1-5);
reminds us not to put our hopes in this world, but to desire to depart and be with Christ (Phil 1:23);
reminds us to worship God with reverence and awe (Heb 12:26-29);
reminds us to suffer with Christ now, that we may be glorified with him when he returns (1 Pet 4:12,14);
reminds us of the priority of evangelism (2 Pet 3:9);
reminds us that one day we will set aside the ‘earthy tent’ of our body, that we may be ‘further clothed’ in our ‘heavenly dwelling’ (2 Cor 5:1-4);
reminds us to pray fervently for the return of Christ (Rev 22:20);
reminds us to set our hope fully on the grace that Christ will bring us when he returns (1 Pet 1:13);
reminds us that one day we will face the judgment of God and of Christ (Rev 20:12, 2 Cor 5:10);
reminds us of the future glories of the new Jerusalem, the bride of the Lamb (Rev 21,22).

Are not each of these messages that we desperately need today? These gracious judgments can equally well be described as ‘severe mercies’. …”

– Read and share the whole article by Peter Adam at The Gospel Coalition Australia.

(Photo: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)

What is GAFCON?

Posted on May 14, 2020
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Here’s a new two-minute video, giving an overview of what and who is GAFCON.

Short enough to include in your livestream or recorded service on GAFCON Sunday, June 28, or any time.

John Chapman: Encouragement for Evangelism

Posted on May 13, 2020
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“Do you really believe the gospel can convert your friends?”

[We posted this in February 2020. The pandemic is an excellent time to be reminded of this encouragement.]

In June and July 1977, the Sydney University Evangelical Union ran a major campus-wide mission. It was a big undertaking for the members of the SUEU, and a great blessing to many at the university.

John Chapman (Director of the Department of Evangelism in Sydney Diocese from 1969) and Paul Barnett (Rector of Holy Trinity Adelaide since 1973, and previously Rector of St. Barnabas Broadway) were the missioners.

Several months before the Mission, SUEU President Adrian Lane asked Chappo to record some words of encouragement for SUEU members. This 6 minute and 34 second tape is the result. We hope you find it a real encouragement.

Or right click on this link to download the 3.2MB mp3 file.

Phillip Jensen on Chappo, March 2013. – The Briefing, Matthias Media.

The preaching of John Chapman – Simon Manchester, The Briefing.

John Chapman – a personal reflection from Mark Thompson.

John Charles Chapman (Chappo) – by David Cook.

Chappo’s contribution to the Anglican Diocese of Armidale – Tim Stevens.

Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane remembers the beginnings of the SUEU – ACL.

(1980 photo: AFES.)

New resources from Dick Lucas

Posted on May 13, 2020
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St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London has made available a swathe of talks on preaching by Dick Lucas – recorded in the last decade.

They are featured in the most recent talks on their website, as well as in the special Teaching from Dick Lucas section.

The “New Normal” and the Same Old Story: Evangelism in a Virtual World

Posted on May 12, 2020
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“I just want to see my friends!” This was the frustrated – and completely understandable – cry from one of our teenagers as we entered another week of isolation with no clear end in sight.

Although these friends had been chatting (and gaming) online, they knew it was a far cry from seeing each other. Yet this is the “new normal” under COVID-19.

By necessity rather than choice, online interactions are rapidly taking the place of physical contact. And this is all happening in the midst of other serious challenges: uncertainty about finances, job loss, unfulfilled dreams, loneliness, increased anxiety, depression, bereavement, and the ever-present fear of sickness and death itself. …

– Lionel Windsor calls us back to the main game.

COVID-19, the restart & strategic change – The Pastor’s Heart

Posted on May 12, 2020
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On this week’s edition of The Pastor’s Heart, Dominic Steele speaks with Bishop Gary Koo, chairman of the Sydney Anglican COVID-19 Taskforce and Adam Lowe, Senior Pastor of St. Barts Toowoomba, a psychologist by background.

Their topic? “COVID-19, the restart & strategic change”.

Too soon to open doors again — Archbishop Glenn Davies

Posted on May 12, 2020
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“While it is legally possible to have a service for a maximum of ten persons, our strong advice is that Step One is not the time to re-introduce Sunday public worship, especially for senior members of our community who are among the most vulnerable…”