A Prayer for protection amid bushfire emergency
Posted on January 3, 2020
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“Archbishop Glenn Davies has appealed for Christians to be in fervent prayer as New South Wales enters a State of Emergency because of bushfires raging around the state.
As the state of emergency was declared, at least 17 people had died in Australia and more than 1,400 homes have been destroyed in bushfires since October. Three bushfire fighters have lost their lives in New South Wales.
Archbishop Davies wrote to churches noting that many, especially in the Wollongong Region have been arranging special prayer meetings as well as practical offers of support to those affected.
“Our January Sunday services will give us all an opportunity for bringing our prayers to God for his mercy to flow, and indeed for rain to fall.” Dr Davies said.
The Archbishop issued a special prayer, which asks for protection for the firefighters…“
– The full prayer is available at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Related: At the time of writing, the CMS Summer School at Katoomba is still going ahead.
Stand your ground (Ephesians 6:10–13)
Posted on January 2, 2020
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“It’s easy to ignore the spiritual realities of life. But Paul reminds us we should live our ordinary, everyday lives in light of spiritual realities. …”
– Lionel Windsor turns to this key passage in Ephesians 6, with a reminder of important spiritual realities at the start of 2020.
2019: A Ground-Breaking Year for GAFCON
Posted on December 30, 2019
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“A lot has happened during 2019, and we give praise and thanks to God for His faithfulness to this growing movement of Global Anglicans. Watch our round up of 2019 here and we hope that you will stand with us as we move forward into the new year …”
– Encouragement from Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council, Archbishop Ben Kwashi.
Bible Reading Plans for 2020
Posted on December 29, 2019
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“Many Christians take the beginning of a new year to evaluate their Bible reading habits and then change or begin a Bible reading plan.
For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of Bible reading plans for you …”
– Ligonier Ministries has published this comprehensive list.
Church Society Best of 2019: Audio
Posted on December 28, 2019
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Church Society in the UK is highlighting some of their most helpful audio from 2019 (and earlier).
Launch: A camp for school-leavers keen to live for Jesus, February 3-6, 2020
Posted on December 27, 2019
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From Two Ways Ministries and Phillip Jensen, here’s something important for school-leavers who are keen to live for Jesus. “Launch” is a strategic camp for young Christians transitioning from school to post-school life.
“Our first Launch in 2019 was so successful that we are expanding and preparing for a bigger Launch group in 2020.
- Connect with others who have finished high school.
- Hear about Christian uni ministries across Sydney and in regional areas.
- Morning Bible talks + discussion groups Develop your ministry skills.”
See phillipjensen.com for more information, including a video and a downloadable flyer.
There’s also a Facebook page.
Related:
On this week’s The Pastor’s Heart, Dominic Steele spoke with Rowan Kemp from the Sydney University Evangelical Union and Geoffrey Folland from Power to Change USYD about the value of being involved with a Christian group on campus.
The gospel for the boss (Ephesians 6:9)
Posted on December 26, 2019
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“Authority implies responsibility. Christians, who have a heavenly Lord and Saviour, have a special reason to be responsible in the way we use our authority.”
– Lionel Windsor turns to the exhortations in Ephesians 6:9 and their application today. At Forget the Channel.
Church leaders use Christmas message to spread hope for the new year
Posted on December 26, 2019
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“Millions of Australians have today celebrated the spirit of Christmas with family and friends.”
– Report and Image from Seven News Sydney (on Facebook).
‘God is with us’: Anglican Archbishop’s Christmas message to us
Posted on December 25, 2019
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“The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has told Mark Levy no trouble, bushfire or any other event can separate people from the love and comfort of God in Jesus.”
– Archbishop Glenn Davies was interviewed on Sydney’s 2GB this morning.
Bishop Mark Calder’s Christmas message 2019
Posted on December 23, 2019
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Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has released his Christmas message for 2019 –
“Christmas – that time when God turned up on earth as one of us.
That is what Christmas is about and it’s worth celebrating!
It’s the sure sign that God cares enough about us to turn up, loves so much that he would come and live among us in humility; that he died and rose again so that we could be forgiven and have eternal life if we put him back in control of our lives.
So despite living in a drought ravaged land, a land deeply impacted this year by bushfires, we have in Jesus a sure sign that God loves us, cares for us, is with us, is alongside of us, wants to know us, wants to be in relationship with us and promises us a glorious future.
Friends, have a happy Christmas!”
You can also watch Bishop Calder’s Christmas sermon, on Luke 2:1-4.
It’s all a good reminder to pray for the people of the Diocese of Bathurst, which covers the region bordered by Oberon, Cowra and West Wyalong in the south; Cobar and Bourke in the west; across the north-west to Coonamble and Coonabarabran; and Coolah, Mudgee and Rylstone in the east.
Gary Koo consecrated as Bishop of Western Sydney
Posted on December 22, 2019
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“A warm smile and a ready handshake was everywhere as the new Bishop of Western Sydney was consecrated at St John’s Cathedral in Parramatta on Friday night, 20th December.
The Reverend Gary Siew Leong Koo was one of their own and many western Sydney clergy and congregation members came out to see him consecrated at the regional Cathedral. …”
– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net has the story and some photos.
Losing a job for believing that biological sex is immutable
Posted on December 21, 2019
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“An astonishing decision from an Employment Tribunal in the UK has ruled that it is acceptable to dismiss an employee because of their view that sex is biological and immutable (unable to be changed).
In a preliminary ruling in Forstater v CGD Europe (18 Dec 2019; Case No 2200909/2019, Employment Judge Tayler) this view was found to be ‘incompatible with human dignity and [the] fundamental rights of others’ (para [84]), and hence not a protected ‘belief’ for the purposes of a claim of “belief”-based discrimination under the UK Equality Act 2010.
While this case is not based on a religious belief, it brings into sharp focus a number of issues connected with religious beliefs and the workplace. …”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster looks at a case which might have been unthinkable a very short time ago.
‘Tis The Season to Be Jolly, So What If I’m Feeling Sad?
Posted on December 20, 2019
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The song playing in Target will tell you “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, but you might feel like screeching back “For who?”
A light up display on Santa’s belly in Kmart will tell you how many sleeps are left, but to you it might feel strangely reminiscent of a ticking time bomb.
And if you’ve managed to suppress all that by the time you get home, you may be fortunate enough to have a three-year-old who regularly shouts “Hey Siri! How many days ‘til Christmas?” to refresh your memory/increase your blood pressure. …
– At The Australian Church Record, Jocelyn Loane considers what we mustn’t forget at Christmas.
Bishop of Bathurst’s Christmas Sermon 2019
Posted on December 19, 2019
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Newly installed Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, is sharing his sermons from Bathurst Cathedral by video as an encouragement to people across his far-flung diocese.
Here’s his Christmas sermon, on Luke 2:1-4.
Why would God do the Christmas thing?
Posted on December 19, 2019
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“Why would God do the Christmas thing? It’s commercial, it often brings out the worst of consumerism, it stresses people, promotes greed and jealousies among children, and rekindles moments of bitterness and family frictions among adults.
Sadly for most people there is just a confusion about the purpose of Christmas. Christmas for many has become like a statue in the park where observers wonder why it is there and pigeons find it convenient for all the wrong reasons.
So why would God do the Christmas thing in the first place? …”
– Bishop of Armidale, Rick Lewers, has been writing about Christmas in his In Focus column.
Here’s the latest, “Why would God do the Christmas thing?”.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…