Rector bashed outside Sydney church (updated)
Posted on November 13, 2013
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“The Rector of Naremburn/Cammeray, Canon Rick Smith, is recovering after being bashed by a group of drunken youths at the weekend.
The incident happened at the front of the church building at 9.30 pm on Saturday night, after several youths had held up a pizza delivery boy and stolen pizzas. …”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Please pray for Rick and his family.
Update: Police media release, “Anglican minister assaulted – North Shore”, 13 November 2013.
Your spiritual appetite
Posted on November 13, 2013
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“This day was the best that I have seen since I came to England.… After Dr. Twisse had begun with a brief prayer, Mr. Marshall prayed largely two hours, most divinely, confessing the sins of the members of the Assembly, in a wonderful, passionate, and prudent way. Afterwards, Mr. Arrowsmith preached an hour, then a psalm … Dr. Twisse closed with a short prayer and blessing.”
‘So wrote Robert Baillie, one of the Scots commissioners at the Westminster Assembly, about one of the best days he had in England.’
– Food for thought. Read the whole post by Jeremy Walker at Reformation21 for a challenge, and then, over at the Proc Trust, see Adrian Reynolds brief words.
(Image: University of Glasgow.)
Chapel Messages from the RTS
Posted on November 13, 2013
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Lots of helpful and encouraging Chapel Messages from the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson (including the John Reed Miller lectures – speakers include Mark Dever, Steve Lawson, Kevin DeYoung).
Chris Edwards to be Bishop of North Sydney
Posted on November 12, 2013
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“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has announced that a church planter, with experience in Australia and overseas, is to be the next Bishop of North Sydney.
The Rev Chris Edwards was the founding minister of Holy Trinity Adelaide Hills, in South Australia, which grew more than tenfold under his leadership. He later led St Paul’s Anglican Church, Tervuren, Belgium and was chairman of its school. He is 52 years old.
Since returning to Australia, Mr Edwards has been the Mission Director of Anglican Retirement Villages, ARV, in Sydney.”
– Announcement via SydneyAnglicans.net.
And from Moore College:
Moore College graduate Rev Chris Edwards has been appointed the new Bishop of North Sydney. Moore’s Prinicipal Dr Mark Thompson moved the motion at last night’s Diocesan Standing Committee to confirm the Archbishop of Sydney’s appointment of Rev Edwards.
In his speech Dr Thompson remarked: “Many of us here might not know him — that’s true, he has spent 17 of the last 20 years outside of this diocese — but those of us who do will be confident that he will continue the good work done by Glenn in the northern region of our diocese.”
“He is a son of this diocese who understands us and will champion what we stand for. He values our heritage, loves our College, understands both our strengths and our weaknesses”
North West Australia could opt out of weddings
Posted on November 12, 2013
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“The Bishop of North West Australia has warned that if the state or federal governments legalize same-sex marriage, Anglican clergy in his diocese would no longer serve as marriage registrars.
The statement by the Rt. Rev. Gary Nelson follows the decision last month by the Australian Capital Territory to legalize same-sex marriage…”
– George Conger reports for The Church of England Newspaper.
Don’t go it alone!
Posted on November 11, 2013
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“It is no accident that so many of the commands given in the New Testament letters involve ‘one another’:
welcome one another; care for one another; bear with one another; forgive one another; submit to one another; admonish one another; exhort one another, and so on. Don’t judge one another, deprive one another, lie to one another, speak evil of one another, envy one another…etc, but do comfort one another, encourage one another, edify one another, and – above all – love one another.
The reason for all these injunctions is quite obvious: clearly, we need one another! …”
– William Philip at The Tron Church in Glasgow with a great reminder about the importance of church. (Photo: Russell Powell.)
At 95, Billy Graham’s ‘last’ message is the same as his first
Posted on November 8, 2013
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“Come to the Cross, by repentance and faith.” – Billy Graham’s Message.
29 minutes. Watch it and pass it on.
This is currently being shown across the United States in a national outreach as Bill turns 95.
Remembrance Day resources
Posted on November 8, 2013
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Remembrance Day is Monday November 11th.
The Defence Anglicans website has resources which may be useful for you.
Why we are contributing to Greenfields land
Posted on November 8, 2013
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Through the Sydney Synod, the Anglican churches of Sydney have resolved to work together to purchase land in ‘Greenfield’ areas.
If we don’t get in early, it will be too late to purchase land to build centres where Christ’s people can gather and be beacons of light in their new communities.
Dominic Steele at The Village Church Annandale has kindly shared this video he made for his own church. He speaks with Stuart Starr at Oran Park. It’s ideal to show in your church to help everyone get behind the vision.
Render unto Caesar or unto God? Government funding and the crisis of Conscience
Posted on November 8, 2013
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“There is truth in the claim that Sunrise Children’s Services, along with thousands of similar organizations and institutions, will have to face a hard choice: serve Caesar or serve God. This becomes inevitable once an entity becomes dependent on financial support from the government …”
– Albert Mohler writes about a local (to him) example of the crisis coming to many Christian organisations.
New Westminister nominees list is out
Posted on November 7, 2013
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The names of those nominated for the position of Bishop of New Westminster, in the Anglican Church of Canada, have now been released. Anglican Essentials Canada Blog have helpfully added links to the CVs and videos of the candidates. Lots of talk of diversity.
The Synod begins 30th November, to replace Michael Ingham, pictured, who retired in August. Bishop Ingham famously declared that J I Packer and David Short had abandoned Christian ministry.
How can Systematic Theology enrich and energise preaching?
Posted on November 7, 2013
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Canon James Packer spoke recently for The Charles Simeon Trust in the US.
Classic Packer. Set aside an hour and be encouraged and strengthened in your preaching (or in encouraging others in their preaching).
On Vimeo. (h/t Justin Taylor.)
9Marks Journal on Evangelism — part 2
Posted on November 6, 2013
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The latest 9Marks Journal is free to download. It’s packed with articles of interest to Sydney Anglicans as we plan for the ‘Jesus Brings’ outreach… articles include:
Evangelism in the Workplace
Reaching the “Converted”
Evangelism across Economic Boundaries
How can Churches Evangelise their Neighbourhoods?
Three Lessons for Cross-Cultural Evangelism
Evangelising the Nations at Home
The Gospel for a Gay Friend
Bathurst Synod this weekend
Posted on November 6, 2013
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“The annual meeting of the Synod… of the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst will meet in Bathurst this weekend (November 8-10).
Originally scheduled for September, the meeting had to be postponed to allow preparation of up-to-date financial information following the sale of Orange Anglican Grammar School and Macquarie Anglican Grammar School. The sales were finalised at the end of September.
This will be Bishop Ian Palmer’s first Synod as Bishop of Bathurst, and will involve some difficult decisions as the diocese faces very daunting financial challenges. …”
– from The Diocese of Bathurst.
Our friends in Bathurst would be glad of your prayers. Please pray that the outcome of the decisions made will glorify Christ and that many more in the region will find saving faith in him.
Preachers hungry to be mentored
Posted on November 5, 2013
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“[A] growing number of pastors are seeking to develop their skills through mentoring networks like that offered by the Centre for Biblical Preaching.
The Centre and its programmes are run by Mike Raiter, a passionate local and international preacher, former missionary and former Principal of Melbourne School of Theology and former Head of Missions at Moore College in Sydney…”
– Story from Eternity Newspaper.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…