Prayer: the heart of evangelism (Ephesians 6:17–20)

Posted on January 15, 2020 
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“One of the best things we can pray for is that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ will go out to the world, both through us and through others.”

– Lionel Windsor nears the end of Ephesians and comes to a key passage.

(Photo: GAFCON.)

Canterbury Cathedral hosts Award Ceremony for ‘top UK Abortionist’

Posted on January 15, 2020 
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“Ann Furedi, head of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), Britain’s largest abortion provider, was made an Honorary Doctor of Science at a ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral on Nov. 22.”

– Report from Church Militant.

A Service of Prayer for those affected by the Bushfires

Posted on January 14, 2020 
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St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney is holding a service of prayer for all affected by the Bushfires.

It’s this coming Sunday, 19th January 2020 at 10:30am.

(The Cathedral is located at the corner of George and Bathurst Streets in Sydney.)

Abuse in the marriages of ministry leaders

Posted on January 14, 2020 
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“This week on the Pastor’s Heart, we address the complex issue of domestic abuse within the relationships of ministry leaders.”

Dominic Steele speaks with Jenni Woodhouse, pastoral care coordinator for the Church Missionary Society NSW & ACT, and previously chaplain for the Sydney Anglican Church’s Professional Standards Unit.

The Recruitment Problem

Posted on January 13, 2020 
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“While I was training at Moore Theological College (2012- 2015) the constant rhetoric was that the Sydney Anglican Diocese was oversupplied with full-time gospel workers. We were warned from the very beginning of the need to be creative in funding our own Sydney Anglican positions if we were to stay in Sydney.

From one perspective, this was a great win for the Kingdom! It forced many people to consider full-time gospel ministry outside Sydney and caused those who wanted to stay in Sydney to consider the cost of staying. …”

– The Australian Church Record has republished this article by Mike Leite in the ACR’s Journal for Summer 2019.

Photo: Moore College, 1956.

GAFCON ‘Life up your hearts’ devotions continued

Posted on January 12, 2020 
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GAFCON has been continuing to publish “Lift up your hearts“, a devotional which began in Advent.

See all that have been published here.

Douglas Murray interviewed by John Anderson

Posted on January 10, 2020 
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British author and journalist Douglas Murray is interviewed by John Anderson in the latest in his series of Conversations.

Very helpful for anyone seeking to understand the collapse of western culture. Watch right to the end. 109 minutes.

Watch here.

Patient leadership required

Posted on January 9, 2020 
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“What has become of our culture that we, who are sown into the fabric of the culture, have become so impatient? The computer, by comparison with the old typewriter, is quick. But when I turned it on just now, the time this piece of genius took to awake from its slumber had me impatiently complaining. …”

– Bishop Rick Lewers of the Diocese of Armidale writes his regular column. Very timely.

‘The Anglican Church of Canada extinction event’

Posted on January 9, 2020 
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“Recent attendance statistics from the Anglican Church of Canada predict that it will cease to exist by 2040. …

The new Primate, Linda Nicholls, sees this as a ‘wake-up call’ and asks, ‘what might need to be tried’ to reverse the decline? I would be tempted to suggest ‘Christianity’ if I thought it would fall on any but deaf ears. …”

– In Canada, The Anglican Samizdat comments on responses to the Anglican Church of Canada’s attendance forecast. It’s no laughing matter.

The importance of being a struggling Christian (Ephesians 6:14–16)

Posted on January 8, 2020 
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“Do you ever feel like the Christian life is a struggle? Struggling is normal for Christians. In fact, it’s not just normal. Christians should be struggling!”

– Lionel Windsor continues his exposition of Ephesians.

Showing your church the beauty of 1 Timothy 2, with Simon Manchester

Posted on January 7, 2020 
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“Simon Manchester explains to Dominic Steele how he prepares to teach at a major conference and how to show your congregation the beauty of 1 Timothy 2. …

Simon is opening the Bible this week … at the Church Missionary Society Summer School in Katoomba in Sydney’s bushfire impacted Blue Mountains.”

– Watch or listen at The Pastor’s Heart.

Church Society Best of 2019: Written Word

Posted on January 7, 2020 
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Ros Clarke, Acting Director of Church Society in the UK, writes,

“While audio and video continue to expand their reach, at Church Society we have not abandoned the written word!

We were excited to publish Gospel Flourishing in a Time of Confusion, Fight Valiantly! and Reach Build Send …

We’ve published a number of excellent articles on the blog this year. Among the most widely read and shared were…”

– Read the list (with links) at Church Society’s website.

Anglican Aid NSW Bushfire Appeal

Posted on January 6, 2020 
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“The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has launched an appeal to allow immediate response to the devastating bushfires raging in NSW.”

Image: worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/

NSW/ACT CMS Summer School under way

Posted on January 5, 2020 
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The CMS Summer School is under way at Katoomba.

For anyone planning to go, but who missed the first couple of talks (on 1 Timothy) by Simon Manchester, CMS has made them available here.

Pastoral letter from Bishop Mark Short to the Anglican Parish of Cobargo

Posted on January 4, 2020 
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Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Mark Short, has sent this pastoral letter to the Anglican Parish of Cobargo. In this fire season across Australia, each loss is locally felt, and this is one.

January 1 at 12:27 PM ·

Dear sisters and brothers of the Parish of Cobargo,

I write as your Bishop at a time of shared loss and grief.

You have lost treasured buildings, valued homes and beloved friends and neighbours. Many of you have faced overwhelming situations and have worked selflessly to care for others .

The Bible assures us that God is close to the broken-hearted and it is right and healthy to grieve. The Bible also assures us that in Jesus Christ God is able to bring restoration and hope. This journey of hope will take time, and it is a journey we will make together. Be assured of the prayers of the rest of the Diocese and our readiness to work with you as, with God’s help, we renew and rebuild.

Almighty God,
In your wisdom you have so ordered our earthly life
that we must walk by faith and not by sight:
give us such trust in your fatherly care
that in the face of all perplexities
we may give proof our faith by the courage of our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. APBA, p465

In the love of Jesus,

+Mark Short

The Bishop’s pastoral letter includes the prayer, written by the Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral, The Very Reverend Kanishka Raffel, to be read on Sunday:

“Lord of all days and years, and time and eternity, You made this land and have blessed us with its riches and beauty.

You are a refuge to all who seek your shelter, our strong defence in trial and tribulation.
Send rain we pray to extinguish flames and heal our land.
Mercifully protect life and property.
Give help and hope to our neighbours assailed by fire.
Comfort and provide for those who grieve.
Uphold those who suffer loss,
Give peace and hope to those bewildered and broken-hearted.

We thank you for men and women of courage and selflessness.
We thank you for brave communities of care and support, We thank you for those who share your comfort and hope, We thank you for those at a distance giving and praying.

Lord, you sent your Son so that we would know your power to save, your presence with your people in this world of turmoil, and your promise to renew the whole creation. Turn our hearts to you, that we may have faith for this day and hope for eternity.

We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

“St Saviour’s Church Quaama in the Parish of Cobargo. Locals tell me that the bell-tower always appeared to be the most rickety part of the structure. Yet it still stands [top photo]; a reminder that in the most challenging circumstances our call to summons people to find comfort and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ endures. Thank you for your prayers as the communities of the Diocese face a difficult weekend.”

(With thanks to Ramon Williams for forwarding this letter and images.)

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