A Moderate Argument for Paper Bulletins

Posted on October 7, 2024 
Filed under Opinion, Resources Comments Off on A Moderate Argument for Paper Bulletins

“For many, the idea of paper bulletins in church is archaic. …. Yet the mediums we choose can shape our worship in subtle ways.

Here are six reasons paper bulletins, while far from essential, are useful in corporate worship.

It’s been well-documented that reading something on a page rather than a screen encourages clarity of thought and greater comprehension. When we hold a book (or bulletin) in our hands, it engages more of the senses and helps us remember what we read or sing. …”

– At 9Marks, Mike McGregor suggests some advantages in taking a step back to printed church bulletins and orders of service.

Church Society’s St Antholin Lecture 2024 set for 7th November

Posted on October 6, 2024 
Filed under History Comments Off on Church Society’s St Antholin Lecture 2024 set for 7th November

“This year’s St Antholin Lecture on Puritan Divinity will be delivered live on the Church Society Facebook page by Dr Rachel Ciano, who is the Dean of Academic Development at Mary Andrews College and lecturer in Christianity in History at Sydney Missionary and Bible College in Australia.

Recently, she was a 2023 Anglican Deaconess Ministries Senior Fellow. She speaks locally and internationally on the intersection between history, theology, and everyday life. Her research and publications are wide-ranging and particularly focus on the sixteenth-century Reformation period.

The subject of this year’s lecture is ‘Evangelicals before Evangelicalism: The use of evangelical in the early English Reformation.’ This is a fascinating topic on how the much-disputed word evangelical first came to be used by enemies of the Reformation, and Dr Ciano will explore what it meant and implied during this formative period in our history. Can you guess who was the first English person to describe people as evangelical? …”

– Details at Church Society.

Who am I? The search for identity

Posted on October 5, 2024 
Filed under Moore College, Resources, Theology Comments Off on Who am I? The search for identity

At Moore College on Wednesday, 23 October 2024:

“Our culture is obsessed with identity: we’re often told, ‘You do you’ and encouraged to live according to our ‘true and authentic self’, expressing publicly how we feel about ourselves internally.

However, the very concept of personal identity is inherently slippery. It encompasses things like ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, religion, belief, educational background, profession and personality, but it’s not fixed: it can change through time, circumstance and even self-invention.

How should Christians regard identity? …”

– All the details are here.

Why so many new Anglican denominations?

Posted on October 4, 2024 
Filed under GAFCON, GAFCON Australia Comments Off on Why so many new Anglican denominations?

“There are multiple Anglican denominations all over the world and even here in Australia – that is nothing new. For instance, have you ever heard of the Free Church of England in Australia, or the Anglican Independent Communion Australia or The Traditional Anglican Church in Australia? …

In March this year, I was in Rwanda for a meeting of the GAFCON primates’ council. In the room were church leaders, some recognised by both GAFCON and by Canterbury, together with another group of leaders whose churches are only recognised by GAFCON. …”

– Bishop Malcolm Richards answers the question of “Why so many new Anglican denominations?” – at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Image: SydneyAnglicans.net.

Rev Dr Dan Cole appointed as next Principal of Trinity Theological College, Perth

Posted on October 4, 2024 
Filed under People Comments Off on Rev Dr Dan Cole appointed as next Principal of Trinity Theological College, Perth

“Trinity Theological College is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev Dr Dan Cole as the next Principal of the College. Dan, who currently serves at Trinity as Senior Lecturer in New Testament and Greek, will take over from Rev Dr Don West who has been Principal for 21 years. …”

– Good news from Perth. Read the full announcement here.

Books of the Reformation: a Sydney Rare Book Week event

Posted on October 4, 2024 
Filed under History Comments Off on Books of the Reformation: a Sydney Rare Book Week event

“Printing played a pivotal role in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. The development of the printing press enabled the mass production of written materials, which made it possible to disseminate ideas and religious texts rapidly and widely throughout Europe. The easy access to printed materials allowed people to share theological ideas, which sparked a transformative era in European history.

Take a closer look at early editions of key Reformation texts in Moore Theological College Library with Moore College’s Principal Rev Dr Mark Thompson and Head of Church History Rev Dr Mark Earngey.

Due to its interactive nature, this event will not be livestreamed.”

– from Moore College.

Anglican Aid’s 2023-24 Annual Report

Posted on October 3, 2024 
Filed under Resources, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Anglican Aid’s 2023-24 Annual Report

The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid recently published their 2023-24 Annual Report.

If you haven’t already seen it, download your copy here – food for your prayers and cause for thanksgiving.

The lessons Bluey can teach greedy developers and politicians about resurrecting the true Australian dream

Posted on October 2, 2024 
Filed under Opinion Comments Off on The lessons Bluey can teach greedy developers and politicians about resurrecting the true Australian dream

“Australian politics is not family friendly – and it’s time the major parties woke up to this. …”

– At Sky News Australia, Kel Richards shares some thoughts after watching a popular kids TV show.

Parenting in God’s family

Posted on October 2, 2024 
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on Parenting in God’s family

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“What is Christian parenting?  How do we do family Bible time well?

How can we prioritise church, even when it’s hard?  Navigating social media with teens?

And how to parent teens who are doubting, drifting or deserting?

Parenting is joyous, magical, tiresome, boring, stressful and complicated.

Harriet Connor is editor of ‘Parenting in God’s family: Biblical wisdom for everyday issues.’. Kat Ashton Israel is a contributing author.”

– Watch or listen here.

A prayer for the Middle East

Posted on October 1, 2024 
Filed under Sydney Diocese, World news Comments Off on A prayer for the Middle East

At SydneyAnglicans.net, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has posted this prayer which you could share, and use in your own prayers:

“Lord of the Nations,

We pray for the Middle East.

We pray for women, children and men who have been caught up in a war not of their own making. We pray for people separated, displaced from their homes and grieving the death of family, loved ones and neighbours. May they know your help, comfort and hope.

We pray for the release of those held hostage, for those impacted by rockets and missiles and for those traumatised and helpless. We pray for the restraint of evil, for peace and justice.

We pray especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. Please preserve them in the knowledge and love of your Son. May they be ambassadors of reconciliation among their own people.

We pray for Australians trying to get home from the war zones. We pray for our neighbours, friends and fellow citizens here in Australia who are grieving, anxious and fearful for their loved ones in other places or themselves. Comfort and sustain then, may they know your peace and presence. Help all Australians to live in respect, harmony and peace with one another.

And banish from the leaders of the nations the spirit that makes for war. We ask it in the name of the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel

1 October 2024.”

– from SydneyAnglicans.net, where you will also find a Downloadable PDF file to print and share.

Sovereign Grace Music Podcast with Colin Buchanan (part 1)

Posted on October 1, 2024 
Filed under People Comments Off on Sovereign Grace Music Podcast with Colin Buchanan (part 1)

Sovereign Grace Music has just published Part 1 of an interview with Colin Buchanan for their Sound Plus Doctrine podcast.

“Colin Buchanan is widely known in Australia both as a country musician and a writer of Christian songs for kids. He is extremely funny and a joy to be around, but more importantly loves introducing children to the riches of God’s Word and the gospel through song. We had the opportunity to record two podcasts with him.

In this first episode, David and Bob talk to Colin about his history and how he got connected with Sovereign Grace Music.”

– Watch here.

Church Society Podcast: The Alliance and other issues

Posted on October 1, 2024 
Filed under Church of England Comments Off on Church Society Podcast: The Alliance and other issues

The latest Church Society Podcast has been released:

“At the beginning of a new series of podcasts, Ros Clarke, Lee Gatiss and Chris Moore chat about what is happening in Church of England circles at the moment, what happened over summer and the state of play in various aspects of church politics.”

– Listen here.

Proposed Misinformation Disinformation Bill

Posted on September 30, 2024 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Proposed Misinformation Disinformation Bill

It may be that you are unaware of the Australian Government’s Communication Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024.

Public comment on the bill (unless the time is extended) closes tonight.

From The Australian Christian Lobby:

“Where the government should be safeguarding the free speech of Australians, it will instead require social media to control our public discourse. From public health to politics to the economy and ideology,  how this bill defines harm will determine what you are allowed to say online.

Remember, this isn’t just about protecting our rights; this is about our ability to speak truth in love – unpopular but true messages that challenge what society has accepted, messages that reveal God’s goodness. Christians have many things to say about a range of issues, and when it comes from a place of grace and truth, it’s helpful for society. Our message are not, as the government would dictate, ‘harmful’ nor ‘leading to ‘serious harm’. …”

– Read their whole post and the accompanying PDF file.

Phillip Jensen on The national soul – 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Posted on September 30, 2024 
Filed under Encouragement, Evangelism, Moore College Comments Off on Phillip Jensen on The national soul – 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Phillip Jensen spoke at Moore College chapel last Friday.

He turns to one of the most controversial passages in the New Testament, 1 Timothy 2:1-7.

Do take the time to watch – and share the link with others in your church.

– Watch here.

Christian sexual ethics and the abuse of adolescents: Lessons from the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle

Posted on September 29, 2024 
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on Christian sexual ethics and the abuse of adolescents: Lessons from the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle

“I encourage everyone interested in law and religion issues to read this challenging piece published on the Australian Broadcasting Commission website from Emeritus Professor Patrick Parkinson: “Christian sexual ethics and the abuse of adolescents: Lessons from the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle” (24 September 2024). …”

– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster commends some important, but sobering, reading.

(Image: Assoc. Professor Neil Foster speaks at a Diocese of Sydney Safe Ministry training event.)

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