In times of crisis
Posted on July 28, 2020
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“In times of crisis what holds your world together? Perhaps some diagnostic questions would help. What is your worldview? Do you even have one? If you do, what are the limits of its capacity to sustain you through crisis?
At least four things are crucial to every worldview: origin, meaning, morality and destiny. Miss one of these and you will have a worldview that cannot sustain you in a crisis. …”
– Bishop of Armidale, Rick Lewers, writes in his regular column on the diocesan website.
Two new episodes of The Pastor’s Heart
Posted on July 28, 2020
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Dominic Steele and the team at The Pastor’s Heart have been busy, already producing two episodes this week:
1 – “Thousands of people attended Grace Community Church in Los Angeles [on Sunday, US time], the evangelical megachurch led by Pastor John MacArthur junior.
And the church elders have put out a statement defending their decision …
Moore Theological College’s New Testament lecturer Dr Lionel Windsor and Northmead Anglican Church’s Senior Pastor Adrian Russell join us to discuss the decision.”
2 – “After three years of researching the pornography problem and what to do about it, Marshall Ballantine-Jones has a message of hope.”
– Watch both at The Pastor’s Heart.
Review: Spurgeon on the Christian Life: Alive in Christ
Posted on July 26, 2020
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“Michael Reeves has gifted us an excellent addition to the ‘Theologians on the Christian Life’ series, which is clearly written and a joy to read. …”
– At Church Society’s website, Ben Sear provides a brief and encouraging review of “Spurgeon on the Christian Life: Alive in Christ”.
(The book is available locally from Reformers Bookshop.)
Memorial service for J I Packer now online
Posted on July 25, 2020
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After some technical problems with the livestream, St. John’s Vancouver has now posted the video recording of the Memorial Service for Dr. J. I. Packer.
Even though, due to COVID-19 restrictions, only a relatively small number of people were present, many around the world continue to thank God for Dr. Packer.
Canon David Short (pictured) delivered the sermon.
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.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…