The Religion of the Self
Posted on October 14, 2013
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At Jesmond Parish Church in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, the Rev. David Holloway explains why the church-sponsored brownie and guide units are refusing to make the new Girl Guide promise.
“There was a problem at the beginning of last month. On 1 September 2013 the Girl Guide promise, “the beating heart of guiding” according to the Chief Guide, was to change. The promise that was being discarded was as follows:
I promise that I will do my best
To love my God
To serve the Queen and my country
To help other people
And to keep the Brownie/Guide Law
Instead it was mandated from Girlguiding’s central authority that from the 1 September every girl and leader must say these words:
I promise that I will do my best
To be true to myself and develop my beliefs
To serve the Queen and my community
To help other people
And to keep the Brownie/Guide Law …”
Read it all at the JPC website.
Beware of imposters
Posted on October 13, 2013
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Just in case you get any appeals for money –
“It has been ascertained that there are accounts on Facebook purportedly using the name of the Primate of the Anglican Church in Nigeria Most Rev. Nicholas D. Okoh asking for funds for various projects. This is no doubt the handiwork of fraudsters to extort money. To link the name of the Primate with these clandestine activities on the Internet is deceitful. Primate Okoh will not ask for this, never.
We therefore warn people of questionable character to desist from these illegal acts or face the wrath of God.”
– from the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.
Update: Scam warning for Anglican Communion members.
New church plant in Adelaide
Posted on October 13, 2013
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“An Anglican Church in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs is so packed to the rafters it’s spawned the need for a new church nearby — in a bowling club.
Regulars at St Matthew’s Church Sunday morning congregation in Kensington began to find it increasingly hard to find a seat, prompting the radical move to transform a local sporting mecca…”
– from The Adelaide Advertiser. St. Matthew’s Kensington.
Euthanasia bill to be debated in Tasmania on Tuesday
Posted on October 13, 2013
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Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower, has been working hard to prevent the introduction of Euthanasia in Tasmania. See his blog.
Euthanasia: My letter to Tas MHAs 9 Oct 2013 –
“Last Wednesday I wrote the following letter to all 25 Members of the House of Assembly of the Tasmanian Parliament briefly stating my reasons for asking them to oppose the euthanasia legislation to be voted on this coming Tuesday.
Please pray that our politicians will oppose this deadly legislation.”
Also:
Depression, disability & ‘safe’ euthanasia.
A Response to Giddings & McKim’s euthanasia proposal.
Euthanasia: Pastoral Letter 3 Oct.13.
Related:
On the elimination of the suffering – Dr Megan Best.
Euthanasia lives again.
Anglican sale a blessing
Posted on October 12, 2013
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“The Orange Anglican Grammar School is counting its blessings after the sale of the school by the Bathurst Anglican diocese was finalised before news of the bank closing in on the church’s debts broke. … The sale of the Orange school to the Sydney Anglican School Corporation went through last week and principal Len Elliott is excited to get capital works programs off the ground.”
– report and picture from The Central Western Daily.
A Life Already Started Conference
Posted on October 11, 2013
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“With one in three women under 40 in Australia having had an abortion, it’s a rare church that has not been touched by this issue.
For this reason, Fervr invites you to the A Life Already Started Conference.
Connect with other rectors, youth ministers, women’s workers and chaplains. Hear about the options available for women faced with an unwanted pregnancy. Get equipped to lovingly respond to and support these young women.
Valuable speakers include author Dr Megan Best, representatives from Diamond Pregnancy Support and Women’s Forum Australia, and also two women who will share their personal stories of God’s healing after abortion.”
The conference is on Saturday 2nd November at MBM, Rooty Hill – Registration: $40, includes morning tea, lunch and a free copy of Dr Best’s new book.
Animals blessed at Melbourne Cathedral
Posted on October 11, 2013
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“Archbishop Philip Freier and the Dean of Melbourne, the Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe, hosted one of their more unusual congregations at St Paul’s Cathedral on 10 October when the threat of inclement weather forced the first Blessing of the Animals service indoors.
The service, celebrating St Francis of Assisi, had been intended for Federation Square but Cathedral authorities opted for their wet-weather option with Melbourne’s spring weather at its most fickle as the 5.10pm starting time approached.
Timmy the Dorset cross sheep, Miss Chief the goat and six Labrador puppies, in training with Customs and Border Protection, had places of prominence as representatives of the animal kingdom…”
– Story from Anglican Media Melbourne.
(Lots of similar services around the country last weekend and this week.)
The Smith Lecture, 2013
Posted on October 11, 2013
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The Smith Lecture (named in honour of Bruce Smith, pictured) will be held in 2013 on Thursday 24th October at the Art Gallery of NSW.
This year Prof Patrick Parkinson, will speak on “Child Sexual Abuse and the Churches: A story of moral failure?” Details here. Photo courtesy Ramon Williams.
The Importance of the Printing Press for the Protestant Reformation, Pt 1
Posted on October 10, 2013
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“This article is the first of two that will consider the importance of Johann Gutenberg’s movable type printing technology for the Protestant Reformation and how the new technology was employed effectively by Martin Luther in Germany. Part one will deal with the technology, and part two will consider how it was used by Luther in Germany.”
– with Reformation Sunday coming up, this article is a fascinating insight into an often-overlooked aspect of the Reformation.
How Pornography works
Posted on October 9, 2013
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“We are fast becoming the pornographic society. Over the course of the last decade, explicitly sexual images have crept into advertising, marketing, and virtually every niche of American life. This ambient pornography is now almost everywhere, from the local shopping mall to prime-time television.
By some estimations, the production and sale of explicit pornography now represents the seventh-largest industry in America. …”
– Albert Mohler looks at understanding how pornography works in the male brain – and how that knowledge can be used in the battle against sin.
Related: The Porn-free family – Tim Challies.
Australian Church Record — October 2013
Posted on October 9, 2013
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The latest issue of The Australian Church Record is now out.
“Every now and again ancient institutions can be forgiven for indulging in a little public self-reflection.
On January 1st, 1914, the first issue of ‘The Church Record: A Church Paper for the Commonwealth, Catholic, Apostolic, Protestant, and Reformed’ appeared, sixteen months after a Sydney group first met to float a company to run a federal paper.
As the centenary of this issue draws nigh, it seems fitting to reflect a little on the Australian Church Record as it is poised on the edge of its next one hundred years.”
– as well, there are articles on the General Synod, GAFCON, Archbishop Welby, and there’s a tribute to Bishop Dudley Foord. Downloadable from their website.
And in a reprint of an article from 1972, Bishop Donald Robinson looks at the names behind The Record in the early days.
Christian B&B couple defend marriage policy
Posted on October 9, 2013
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On ITV’s Daybreak programme yesterday, Peter and Hazelmary Bull were interviewed about their decision to appeal to the UK Supreme Court .
Via Anglican Mainstream. Related: Judge rules against Christians in B&B case, but allows appeal. Image: ITV.
Billy Graham prepares ‘perhaps my last message’
Posted on October 8, 2013
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“I watch the news daily and my heart is burdened. When I hear despair in people’s voices, when I see the turmoil on their faces, it tells me that hopelessness abounds. …
This is exactly why I have written the book [The Reason for My Hope: Salvation] and why our ministry is launching ‘My Hope America’ television program this November. It could perhaps be my last message which is this — Christ is our hope for today and our promise for tomorrow — and it is fulfilled in the great work He did for mankind on the cross when He paid the penalty for our sin. He offers salvation to those who will ‘come’ to Him, believe in what He has done and what He has said, and obediently follow Him.”
– Billy Graham was interviewed for NewsMax. Photo courtesy Ramon Willams.
Financial woes leave Bathurst Diocese in a “very difficult place”
Posted on October 8, 2013
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“I am unable to see clearly what the diocese may look like in the future,” [Bishop Palmer] said in a letter read out to parishes across the diocese. … [The debt] is large and we cannot repay the bank in full.”
– Report from The Western Advocate.
This is a good reminder to pray for Bishop Palmer and the people of the Diocese of Bathurst.
Effective Gospel Ministry
Posted on October 8, 2013
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In the next instalment of Preaching Matters from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, William Taylor looks at Acts chapter 20.
Take the time to watch it here. (12 minutes.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…