Reflections on the Thanksgiving Service for Billy Graham

Posted on March 9, 2018 
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St. Andrew’s Cathedral was packed for this afternoon’s Thanksgiving Service for Billy Graham.

Anglican Media Sydney’s Russell Powell spoke with some of the attendees.

Diocese of Sydney Media Statement on Redress Scheme

Posted on March 9, 2018 
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Anglican Diocese of Sydney – Media Statement

“We welcome the decision of the New South Wales Government to join the Commonwealth Government’s Redress Scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse.

The Diocese of Sydney continues to be committed to meeting its responsibilities towards those who have suffered because of the appalling acts which have been perpetrated on vulnerable children in our care.

For many years, the Diocese has had a redress policy offering care and assistance for survivors of child sexual abuse and payments continue to be made from that scheme.

The maximum amount available from our scheme is already $150,000 which is in line with the Prime Minister’s announcement today.

The Diocese looks forward to receiving further details of the arrangements of the scheme and working constructively with both State and Federal Governments on this issue.

9 March 2018.”

– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net

Facebook rant vs. facing up: Which would you choose?

Posted on March 8, 2018 
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“Facebook now has over 2 billion active users. More than a quarter of the world’s population now has an active account. Clearly, they are doing something right!

But of course, there are cons to every pro. So it’s not surprising that my newsfeed contains a few of these every day:

“I was at / doing this ____ today and a person said / did ______. How terrible / insensitive / hurtful!”

Living in a fallen world where things aren’t perfect, it’s inevitable that there will be many things that upset, sadden and hurt.…”

– At The Australian Church Record, Susan An writes about counter-cultural use of social media.

Modern Slavery Bill 2018 — Diocese of Sydney media statement

Posted on March 8, 2018 
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Anglican Diocese of Sydney – Media Statement

“The Bill against modern slavery being tabled today by Paul Green MLC deserves the wholehearted support of the Parliament and the people of NSW”, says Archbishop Glenn Davies, who will be present in the Legislative Council for the occasion.

Human Trafficking is an abhorrent form of modern slavery. It is a transnational crime which preys upon the most vulnerable. Human trafficking should be abolished in all its forms from our world, along with other practices of enslavement, such as servitude, forced labour, debt bondage, organ trafficking, deceptive recruiting, as well as forced marriage and childhood brides.

“Such practices are a blight on our society, as they were in the days of William Wilberforce, and I urge all people, especially Christians, to join the fight to eradicate slavery in all its forms.” the Archbishop said.

– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net

Moore College Public Events for 2018

Posted on March 8, 2018 
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Moore College has published a one-page guide (PDF) to the public events they are running in 2018.

Note, for example, that Os Guinness is speaking at a CCL event in May!

‘Intersectionality, the Dangerous Faith’

Posted on March 7, 2018 
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“The demise of religion among American youth is greatly exaggerated. It turns out that America isn’t raising a new generation of unbelievers.

Instead, rising in the heart of deep-blue America are the zealots of a new religious faith. They’re the intersectionals, they’re fully woke, and the heretics don’t stand a chance. …”

– David French in The National Review.

Related:

Student mob smashes window in protest against Jordan Peterson – LifeSite. (Language warning in associated video.)

Wearing the Rainbow Badge

Posted on March 7, 2018 
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“Christians in Ancient Rome were regarded with deep suspicion.

In a nutshell, they did not attend the pagan temples or participate in their rituals and activities.

These were the centres of community. Participation made you ‘one of us.’ It was a seal of acceptance in society.

To walk away from it all was practically an act of subversion.

These people did not belong. They weren’t part of the fraternity. They were not part of society.

They were the subject of suspicion and rumour.…”

– Martyn Iles, Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby, writes this commentary.

(Photo: The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP / Facebook.)

EPIC Australia/New Zealand — Tim Challies

Posted on March 7, 2018 
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Tim Challies was in Australia and New Zealand a week or so ago. He’s posted his video blog here.

The New Heart — Lent reflections from Dr Peter Jensen – Part 4

Posted on March 7, 2018 
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In the fourth of seven videos during the season of Lent, GAFCON General Secretary Dr. Peter Jensen asks ‘How’s your heart?’, looking at the new heart.

Do whatever makes you holy

Posted on March 5, 2018 
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“We all face the struggles of living in a world that doesn’t know Christ.

The Christian life is like an iceberg: one tenth of it is spent at church or with other Christians, and nine tenths is spent in the world where, much like salt water, that world attempts to erode our Christian character. …”

– ACL Council member Mike Taylor writes to urge you to pursue holiness. Read it all, at GoThereFor.com.

Billy Graham’s Australian ministry – a personal reflection

Posted on March 4, 2018 
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“My first encounter with Billy Graham and his team was in Perth in 1959.

I was 22 years old and a youth counsellor at the Perth meetings. His influence was profound and many people owed their faith or its renewal to his ministry.

It’s important to remember it was only 14 years after the end of WWII and our family, like many others, had billeted a young American sailor at our home in 1944 from the submarine base at Fremantle. Sadly his boat went missing protecting Australia. Billy arrived in Australia just six years after the Korean War ended (1950-53) in which many Australians served again alongside US troops under the UN banner, and so we were still in awe of the Americans, their movies, their Coca Cola and their ‘can do’ attitude. …”

– Peter Corney, Vicar Emeritus at St Hilary’s, Kew, shares his memories of Billy Graham, at The Melbourne Anglican.

From around the Anglican Communion – 4th March 2018

Posted on March 4, 2018 
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Here are some stories from around the Anglican Communion – for better, or for worse …

Anglican Diocese of Niagara elects first woman bishop – CBC. (Photo: Diocese of Niagara.)

“On Saturday, the Anglican Diocese of Niagara chose a new leader — the Reverend Canon Susan Bell, who is from Hamilton, will become the first woman to serve as a diocesan bishop since its founding in 1875.”

Minister Talks Climate Dangers With Anglican Leaders – Fiji Sun Online.

World Day of Prayer 2018 focuses on climate change – Anglican Journal (Canada).

“Our exploitative attitude toward creation has separated us from God—but we can restore our relationship with God by being better stewards of the earth, congregants at a Toronto service for World Day of Prayer 2018 heard Friday, March 2.”

Anglican Church’s Christchurch branch votes for acceptance of same-sex marriages – NZ Herald.

Statement from Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews – Scoop NZ.

“…our Diocesan Synod supports the adoption of the recommendations in the Motion 29 Working Group Final Report. These recommendations concern permission for the blessing of same sex relationships to take place in some churches in this province …”

Diocese of Pittsburgh reaches ‘comprehensive agreement’ with breakaway churches – Anglican Journal.

“The US-based Episcopal Church’s Diocese of Pittsburgh and the breakaway Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh have announced a “comprehensive agreement” over the future of nine parishes which seceded from the diocese in October 2008.”

Meghan Markle set to be baptised as an Anglican before wedding – Perth Now.

“The report said she chose to be baptised as a sign of respect for Queen Elizabeth’s role as head of the Church of England.”

(Emphasis added)

Mardi Gras: An opportunity to love and serve others

Posted on March 3, 2018 
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“Thousands of people decked out in glitter and rainbows will be passing Vine Church Surry Hills this Saturday night, celebrating the annual Mardi Gras parade. And as they walk by, they’ll have the opportunity to grab a bite to eat or sit and relax as Vine Church opens the parish grounds to the public. …”

– Read the story at SydneyAnglicans.net – and remember to pray for all involved.

Billy Graham’s funeral to be streamed live at 4:00am AEDT Saturday March 3rd

Posted on March 2, 2018 
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The funeral service for Billy Graham will be streamed live at 4:00am AEDT Saturday 3rd March (Noon US EST Friday 2nd) – with coverage beginning two hours earlier.

If you are up at that time, you can watch it here.

Reflections on “What can miserable Christians sing?”

Posted on March 2, 2018 
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“Of all the things I have written, my little essay, “What Can Miserable Christians Sing?” has provided me with so many delightful surprises over the years.

I wrote it in about 45 minutes one afternoon, infuriated by some superficial comment about worship I had heard but which I have long since forgotten.

And yet this little piece which took minimal time and energy to author has garnered more positive responses and more touching correspondence than anything else I have ever written. It resonated with people across the Christian spectrum, people from all different church backgrounds who had one thing in common: the understanding that life has a sad, melancholy, painful dimension which is too often ignored and sometimes even denied in our churches. …”

– Published at the 9Marks website in 2014, Carl Trueman’s reflection is well worth contemplating. What message do people take away from your church gatherings?

(From the 9Marks Journal issue entitled ‘The Church Singing’.)

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