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Handle with prayer!
News – ANiC and AEN
Register now for ANiC’s annual synod and conference, November 2-4 in Victoria
Registration
is now open for ANiC’s synod and conference in beautiful Victoria, BC, November
2-4. This year’s theme is Jesus Christ
the same, yesterday, and today, and forever – Hebrews 13:8. Take
advantage of current airfare sales and plan to attend. For information on the
synod and conference see the ANiC website. To
register go to www.onlineregistrations.ca/synod.
Please pray for synod
Recognizing that ANiC is
utterly dependent upon God, those planning and preparing for Synod 2011 are
asking you to join them in praying for this important annual meeting. We would
be very grateful if ANiC churches offered the following prayer each week during
Sunday worship services after the collect. Could you also please print the
prayer in your bulletins so that parishioners can use it at home? Thanks!
May this prayer ignite a
fresh wave of dependent prayer across ANiC from coast to coast, in parishes
small and large, so that our synod may be a launching pad for deep renewal in
our churches and revival in our land. How we
desperately need both!
A New Prayer for Synod 2011
in Victoria, BC
Almighty God, our
heavenly Father, whose only Son, our Lord Jesus, never wavers or changes, but
is constant and steadfast in His covenant love and mercy toward the Church,
meet with us in power at our upcoming synod we pray. Give wisdom and strength
to those who are seeking You for direction and
strategy. Endue our bishops with the courage of the Apostles as they seek to
lead Your people in the power of the same Spirit that
was given at Pentecost. Protect us from making any decision that is not in
keeping with Your perfect will for ANiC, and forgive us for the many times in
the past year that we have ignored the promptings of the Spirit and relied on our
own strength and human wisdom. May our eyes be firmly fixed on Your blessed Son, the author and finisher of our faith –
who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. This we fervently ask in the
name of that same Son, our Saviour and Coming King, Jesus the Christ. Amen
Welcome!
To the Rev Dr Brent and Karen Stiller of Port Perry
Ontario. Bishop Don Harvey recently welcomed and licenced the Rev Dr Brent Stiller
of Port Perry Ontario. Dr Stiller and his wife Karen, a well-know Christian
writer, would like to plant a church in the vicinity of Scugog Township on the
shore of Lake Scugog about 75 kms north-east of Toronto. They would very much appreciate
your prayer support as they seek God’s direction and provision.
To the Rev Bruce and Marcia McCallum of Oshawa, Ontario.
Bishop Don also gave the Rev McCallum an ANiC licence this week. The Rev McCallum
has been retired but continues very active in
ministry and is part of a church plant team.
Updates and thanks for
praying
Ceri Hynes – The Rev Howard Hynes, rector of St
Stephen the Martyr, wishes to convey his gratitude for your prayers for his wife
Ceri. She recently had a large tumor removed. Praise God, the surgery was successful
and much less complex than anticipated. Ceri is recovering at home.
All Saint’s (Rutland, Vermont) – Following
the devastating floods caused by Hurricane Irene, many of the roads serving Rutland, Vermont where ANiC’s All
Saint’s Anglican Church is located, are washed out and or closed. Many residents
in the area have been forced out of their homes. Others are without power and phones.
Stores and businesses have closed – some permanently. However, the Rev Dwight McPherson writes, “We have made contact with our All Saints’
flock and, thanks be to God, everyone is fine. Thank you for all your love,
prayers and support.”
The
people of All Saints are pitching in with
the relief efforts. Parishioners are providing bottled water, drinks, non-perishable
food, cleaning materials and clothing for those in need. They also are helping their
neighbours with cleaning up flooded basements and first floors. Please continue
to pray for them.
ANiC priest requests prayer for grieving Sudanese
diocese
The Rev Emmanuel Sadarak (St John Surrey) asks that we
join him in prayer for the people of his home area of Wonduruba, Sudan who are
grieving the death on August 24 of their bishop, the Right Rev Francis Lugga. Please
also remember Bishop Lugga’s family.
Good Shepherd Vancouver embarks upon an ambitious
fall program
All are invited to the special
events at Good Shepherd Vancouver, 189 W 11th Avenue, Vancouver.
September 18 – Gospel Sunday evangelistic service at both 9am and 11am –
and again on September
20 at 10:30pm for the restaurant workers fellowship at Good Shepherd
Richmond. The speaker is Peter Wong. Peter
was born in Hong Kong and lost his sight when he was fourteen. He holds three
master degrees and has worked in Microsoft for many years. He is now chairman
of Rainbow Missions and a licensed marriage and family therapist.
September
23-25 – Cantonese Revival Conference with Dr Stephen Lee, on the topic
of “I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church: Church Doctrine of
the Gospel”. Services are from 8-9:30pm on both Friday and Saturday and from 11am
-12:30pm on Sunday.
October 1, 7:30pm – Short-term
mission trip reports. Both the Thailand and China teams will report on their missions this past summer. Pot-luck at 6pm,
team reports at 7:30pm.
October 22, 7:30pm – From Thy
Bounty fundraising concert. The musical program will include instrumental, voice
and choral music. As well, there will be presentations by members of two short-term
mission teams which visited the projects for which
money is being raised. Good Shepherd hopes to raise $20,000 for:
| • |
A project to help the Karen refugees in the Thai border area, working in
partnership with the Anglican Church in Thailand. |
| • |
Care
for disabled orphans in Changsha, China, working with the International China Concern
Community Outreach Project.
|
Asian Mission in Canada (AMiC) welcomes first staff
member
AMiC is welcoming its first full-time staff member. Kaman
Ng will begin working with Bishop Stephen Leung in AMiC on October 1.
First Canadian
joins Anglican 4th Day board
The Rev
Gary Stobbs of Saint Matthew’s Abbotsford is now on the ACNA Anglican 4th Day (A4D)
board of directors. A4D just completed its annual Grand Ultreya conference in Pennsylvania.
This time of spiritual refreshing and challenge featured Bishop John Rodgers of
the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) speaking on the importance of
holding fast to the Truth of God’s Word.
Anglican
4th Day Ultreya in Hamilton
An Anglican 4th Day (ACNA’s version of Cursillo) Ultreya is planned for St Peter’s by the Park, Hamilton
on Friday, September 23 at 7pm. This regional gathering, under the leadership
of the Rev St Clair Cleveland, is open to all Christians. For more information,
call Marg Gordon at 905 545-8681 or email Zandra Pennylegion. Ultreya
is a term used in the Cursillo movement for Christian gatherings for
inspiration, fellowship and mutual encouragement in your walk with God.
Parish
news
Saint
Matthew’s (Abbotsford, BC) asks that you note the new contact information for the church:
Address:
2087 McMillan Road, Abbotsford, BC V2S 4Y3
Phone:
604.853.6746 Fax: 604 853-9606
Email: office@stmatthewsanglicanchurch.com
St
John’s Vancouver is on the move. The parish recently issued a news release updating
media on the congregation’s plan to begin meeting at a new site – 5350
Baillie Street, Vancouver (near Cambie & 37th Ave) – effective
September 25. Their last services at their current location will be on September
18. Full information is available on the St John’s
Vancouver website.
St
Aidan’s (Windsor, ON) – Immediately upon the release of the unfavorable
court decision, the Diocese of Huron changed the locks on St Aidan’s
facilities. Since that time the people of St Aidan’s have been holding their
services in church buildings graciously provided by Christian churches in
Windsor. On its website you can find St Aidan’s statement upon being locked out.
Celebration
Church (Barrie, ON) has an arresting new “welcome” video posted on its website and also on Vimeo. Check it out!
Emmaus
Church (Montreal, QC) proudly announces the launch of its new website.
Christ’s
Church Oceanside, BC also has an attractive new website. The
congregation will hold their second annual “Great Garage Sale Give-Away” on
September 10 where “Everything is free like Jesus' love for you!”
Christ
The King (Toronto, ON) is holding its first anniversary service
on October 16 at which Bishop Charlie Masters will induct the Rev Jonathan Wong
as priest-in-charge and the Rev Robin Guinness as associate priest. All are
invited to celebrate with them.
Church of the Ascension
(Langley, BC) is looking for a college or university student to join the
pastoral team as a part-time, short-term ministry intern. For information, see the ANiC website.
Calendar
of upcoming events – for your interest and prayer support
Sept 12-14 – Simeon Fellowship annual gathering in Dallas, TX (of ACNA clergy & church planters)
Sept 15-17 – ACiC national
conference in North Vancouver, BC
Sept 17 – Bible-in-a-Day seminar,
St John’s Vancouver, BC
Sept 18 – St John’s Vancouver last service in old building
Sept 22-25
– A traditional silent retreat is planned for ANiC’s clergy in New
England
Sept 23-25 – Good Shepherd Vancouver revival conference with Dr Stephen Lee
Sept 25 – St John’s
Vancouver first service in its new facility
Oct 1, 7:30pm – Good Shepherd Vancouver missions evening with reports from Thailand & China
Oct 8 – Bible-in-a-Day seminar,
Christ’s Church, Oceanside, near Parksville, BC
Oct 22, 7:30pm – Fundraising concert for
missions at Good Shepherd
Vancouver
Oct 29 – Bible-in-a-Day seminar,
St John’s Richmond, BC
Nov 2 – ANiC Clergy Day, Victoria, BC
Nov 2 – ANiC lay conference,
Victoria, BC
Nov 3-4 – ANiC synod, Victoria, BC
Nov 10-11 – Anglican1000’s Liturgy &
the Arts conference, Durham, NC
Mar 6-8 – Anglican 1000’s 2012 Church Planting Summit in Plano, TX.
June 7-10 – ACNA Provincial Assembly,
Ridgecrest, NC
ANiC in the news
Church of England Newspaper – August 24 2011
– Damages paid
in New Westminster case
Church of England Newspaper – August 25 2011 – Court loss
for Ontario parish in property fight
On the
front lines: Growing and planting churches
ANiC parish profile: St
John’s Surrey, BC
St John’s Surrey is unique
among ANiC parishes. Most of its parishioners are refugees from Sudan or South
Sudan. The Anglican Church is strong in South Sudan – a land that has
seen decades of war and persecution – so many refugees have Anglican
roots.
St
John’s parishioners are faced with the challenges of first generation
immigrants, struggling to learn the language and adapt to the culture while
working in entry level jobs and living in a high cost
region. Yet, with all the hardship, the Rev Emmanuel Sadarak emphasizes how
grateful they are to live in Canada. Like most of his parishioners, Emmanuel
came to Canada, having gone through terrible times, with nothing but hope for a
better future for his family.
Currently
the congregation meets in rented facilities in Surrey on Sunday afternoons.
Although discouragement seems to have dogged the parish and attendance has
declined. A recent development is lifting spirits and offering hope of a better
future. “We are going through difficulties,” says Emmanuel, “but God is doing
good things for us.”
Encouraged
by ANiC’s multi-cultural ministries dean, Dean Archie Pell, Emmanuel will begin
full-time studies at Christ for the Nations Bible College in Surrey, BC, where ANiC priest the Rev Dr Ken Deeks is academic dean. Emmanuel,
who has had to hold a full-time job in addition to his pastoral work at St
John’s Surrey, was kindly allowed by his employer to take a leave of absence. This
will be the first formal Bible training Emmanuel has been afforded. Such
training wasn’t available in Sudan and since coming to Canada, he has had neither the time nor the means to further his pastoral training.
“I am
praising God. This is such an encouragement, not just to me and my family, but
to so many people in the church,” says Emmanuel. It has created a “buzz” in the
Sudanese community, says Emmanuel. By providing their pastor with the opportunity
for Bible training, parishioners see that ANiC cares for this very special
parish with its unique struggles.
Please
pray for St John’s Surrey; for God’s blessing,
provision and encouragement. And pray that this community will grow together in
grace and spiritual maturity.
Bishop Stephen Leung, ANiC’s suffragan bishop for
multi-cultural ministries, asks that those wishing to contribute to Emmanuel's education
fund do so by sending contribution to the Anglican Network Church of the Good
Shepherd and specifying that it is for "St John’s
Surrey Fund".
News
– Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)
Gaining perspective
The
two-minute weekly Anglican Perspective videos offer great insights and
mediations by Canon Phil Ashey, who will be a keynote speaker at ANiC’s synod
and conference November 2-4.
| • |
The August 24
video talks about the need to take time with God in the business of
life. |
| • |
The September 1
video promotes the vital ministry of the Clergy Leadership Training
Institute. |
Diocese
of the Mid-Atlantic launched; Bishop Guernsey installed
Today
in Truro Church, Fairfax, Virginia, Bishop John
Guernsey was installed as the first bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic, formerly the Anglican
District of Virginia. Bishop Guernsey had led the Diocese of the Holy Spirit
until its member congregations were transferred recently to geographic dioceses
within the Anglican Church in North America.
Anglican
Worship conference will focus on liturgy, formation, mission and art
Anglican1000 is hosting a truly
exciting line-up of speakers at its first ever, Anglican Worship conference in
Durham, North Carolina, November 8-10. The event is designed to equip church
leaders – lay and clergy – with a deeper understanding of the
formative power of Anglican worship. The website states: “We will unfold the ethical, missional, theological, doxological, and
artistic beauty of Anglican liturgy and put it to practice through worship.” You
can learn more and register on the Anglican1000 website.
ACNA bishop appointed chief
justice of the Seminole Indian Nation in the US
The Church of
England Newspaper reports that the Rt Rev William Wantland assisting
bishop in the ACNA Diocese of Fort Worth has been named Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of the Seminole Nation. Bishop Wantland is a member of a Seminole
Nation band and is a trained lawyer. He assisted in drafting the tribe’s
constitution in 1969 and served as Attorney General of the Seminole nation from
1969 until 1977.
Other ACNA news
Pittsburg
Post-Gazette – September 1 2011 – …church in
Anglican Diocese abandons its building
News –
Canada
ACoC
Diocese of Montreal clergy protest ordination
The AEC blog notes that six clergy in the Diocese
of Montreal appealed to their bishop to not proceed with a planned ordination. They
write: “One of the candidates for ordination is in a same gender civil marriage
which is incompatible with scripture and with our canonical definition of
marriage which is to be between a man and a woman. It is also inconsistent with
resolution 1.10 of the Lambeth Conference of 1988 and does not respect the
Archbishop of Canterbury’s request for, among other things, restraint in these
matters for the sake of the Unity of the whole Church. We therefore believe his
manner of life to be unsuitable for the exercise of this ministry, and ask you not
to proceed with his ordination.”
The bishop responded, “As there
is no canonical impediment, it is my intention now, as Bishop, to proceed with
this ordination.”
8th ACoC diocese defies Lambeth,
Communion and Scripture
The Anglican Journal, the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC)
magazine, notes that “The blessing of civil marriages between same-sex couples can now take
place in the Anglican diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island… Nova
Scotia and Prince Edward Island becomes the eighth diocese within the Anglican
Church of Canada to move forward with same-sex blessings.” The diocese’s May
synod cleared the way for this action.
Shrinking churches
VirtueOnline has summarized past news from both
the two largest dioceses in BC which seem to be on a
trajectory of declining attendance.
In a similar article on the decline in the US
Episcopal Church (TEC), David Virtue writes, “A month long investigation by
VirtueOnline into the numerical state of The Episcopal Church reveals that more
than one third of all 6825 Episcopal parishes in the U.S. have an average
Sunday attendance (ASA) of 40 or less… The study undertaken by VOL staff
reveals a church in sharp decline with 2219 churches having congregations of aging
parishioners in their mid 60s with little or no chance of turnaround in the
foreseeable future… What this foreshadows is that within the next 3 to 5 years
more than 2,000 churches across the country will be forced to close, merge or
be sold regardless of cash reserves or endowment because there will simply not
be enough people in them to keep the doors open.” His research reveals that 38
TEC dioceses have average Sunday attendance of less than that of the Anglican
Network in Canada (4000).
ACoC
appoints new general secretary
The
Anglican Church of Canada has announced the appointment of the Ven Dr Michael Thompson, rector of St Jude’s Anglican
Church in Oakville, Ontario as its next General Secretary, effective November
1. He will replace the Ven Dr Michael Pollesel.
Diocese
of New Westminster takes up residence in former ANiC church buildings
The
diocese of New Westminster website reports that clergy have been appointed and
it has begun services in St Matthias
and St Luke’s former building in Vancouver, as well as Saint
Matthew’s building in Abbotsford. Also, it will begin
services on September 25 in the building still occupied by St John’s
Vancouver. Both the ANiC congregations of Saint Matthew’s and St Matthias
and St Luke’s are worshiping in facilities graciously provided by Christian
churches of other denominations.
News
– USA
Cathedral suffers quake damage
The
August 23rd earthquake in Virginia caused damage to the Washington National Cathedral, particularly to its pinnacles; but since
the damage was mostly to the decorative stone work,
9/11 services were set to proceed. However, the 9/11 vigil planned for the cathedral
– which pointedly excluded evangelicals and Catholics from participation
– had to be relocated after a crane working on the quake-damaged
cathedral toppled onto other church buildings.
The now
relocated vigil will showcase clerics from a range of small US religious
organizations. According to The
Daily Caller, “Among the invitees were two Episcopal bishops, a
rabbi, a Tibetan monk, a Buddhist nun, a Buddhist lama, a Hindu priest and a
controversial Muslim imam from a mosque whose former leader was charged with a
terror offense shortly after 9/11… This emphasis on religious diversity
resulted in the exclusion of representatives from mainstream religious groups,
including evangelicals and Catholics. Roughly 35 percent of American believers
say they are evangelicals. Roughly 25 percent say they are Catholics. The
clerics invited to the cathedral represented roughly 5 percent of American
believers...” The Washington Examiner adds, “It is a sad
commentary that in a memorial service for the entire nation remembering a day
that brought us all together, some leftist religious leaders have decided that
half of the country is not welcome.”
Religious freedom under
assault
An article in USA
Today explores the extent to which religious freedoms in the world
are under attack – particularly in the United States. It reports “…we are
seeing a marked erosion of what America's Founding Fathers considered the
"first freedom": the liberty of religious conscience… Placing
religious groups under special legal disadvantages, and forbidding them from
operating according to their own beliefs, is certainly not what the Founders
had in mind…”
News –
International
Covenant
In a paper posted
on the Living Church, the Rev Dr Andrew Goddard argues in favour of
the Covenant but says, “The weakness of the
Covenant lies not in the text and its alleged centralization but in the fact
that many of the Covenant’s drafters and supporters now doubt that the standing
committee and the instruments are sufficiently “fit for purpose.” Numerous
resignations from the standing committee, concerns about the ACC’s new
constitution, and the principled refusal of many to attend both Lambeth 2008
and the Primates’ Meeting in Dublin indicate that major reforms of the
instruments are now urgent, not just for their own sake but for the sake of the
Covenant.” While he hints that these reforms are in the works
for the instruments (which constitute the governance of the Communion), the Rev Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan, the Anglican Communion's Unity Faith and
Order Officer, has indicated that a working group is developing discussion paper on the historic roles and
responsibilities of the instruments which should not affect the Covenant
Speculation
that Rowan Williams will step down next year
The Telegraph
writes that the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams plans to
step down next year in order to return to academia – possibly Trinity
College, Cambridge. The article notes that “…the 61-year-old archbishop… is not
required to retire until he is 70… After presiding over one of the most
turbulent periods in the Church's history, the archbishop has told friends he
would like to give his successor adequate time to prepare for the next Lambeth
Conference – the summit of Anglican bishops held once every decade…
Another well-placed source said Dr Williams plans to take part in the Queen's
Diamond Jubilee next year, but will announce his resignation soon after that…
Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of Dr Williams's promotion to
Canterbury, which would represent a similar period in office to his
predecessor, Lord Carey of Clifton.”
Archbishop
Rowan Williams recounts his 9/11 experience in New
York City
In the current
edition of the Anglican Unscripted news video there are interesting
items on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s experience of being in New York on
September 11, 2001, as well as more about the persecution of Anglicans in
Zimbabwe.
From around the Communion and the
world
Horn of
Africa – Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, Primate of Kenya, in a video interview about the famine and
drought engulfing the Horn of Africa, says “The Church is the only institution
that really remains in our society when everything else fails.” In African
society the faith groups which are established at the
grassroots level are the ones the people turn to in a crisis. He says
the Anglican Church has been working hard and is using its extensive network to
distribute food. However the Church in Kenya needs financial help to continue
its work.
Somalia – According to
the International Christian Concern, the brutal terrorist al Shabab which controls parts of the country is intentionally denying
humanitarian aid to Christians. Reportedly at least 18 have already died of
starvation. Christians in Somalia are now thought to number fewer than 1000 due
to years of systematic killing.
Zimbabwe – Persecution of the legitimate Anglican churches and clergy in Harare
continues with police, acting on the instruction of ex-communicated bishop and
crony of dictator Robert Mugabe, Nolbert Kunonga, arresting clergy on false charges. Other clergy have been severely
beaten. A recent court ruling, which has
been appealed, has emboldened Kunonga’s thugs to illegally, and
sometimes violently, evict clergy from their homes and churches. The Bishop of
Harare, whose clergy have come under attack, was himself
the victim of a robbery and home invasion in which four men stole
his money, computing equipment and cell phones. The Archbishop of Canterbury is
traveling to Africa and has requested a meeting with Robert Mugabe. The Washington
Examiner provides background to the situation in Zimbabwe.
Nigeria – Christian
Today reports that violence against Christians in the region of Jos
is rising. The latest victims, a family of eight hacked to death by Muslim
youths, brought to at least 40 the number of people who have been killed in the
area just in the last few days. The Islamic extremists hope to drive the
Christians out of the area. Earlier violent attacks on Christians are reported to have been carried out with support of the local military,
Malawi –
Because of its stand on homosexuality, this small African country was
threatened with the withdrawal of foreign aid. According to LifeSiteNews,
“This year, close to $350 million dollars of US financial aid was rescinded due
to amendments in the country’s penal code criminalizing sodomy. Ultimately,
Malawi acquiesced to bring its sodomy laws in line with those of the
progressive West, but not without grave concerns about the new cultural
imperialism on this issue.”
Sydney,
Australia – A member of the Diocese of Melbourne has written a polemic
against the Diocese of Sydney. Dr Muriel Porter’s book is entitled: Sydney Anglicans and the
Threat to World Anglicanism: The Sydney Experiment. Recently, the Australian
Broadcast Corporation published an excerpt. In her book, Dr Porter attempts
to portray Sydney Anglicans as deviant because of their evangelical, reformed
theology. Commenting on this vitriolic attack, Julian Mann writes, “But Dr
Porter's ungodly whinge about Sydney Anglicans is not merely an attack upon an
individual diocese that seeks to uphold the biblical doctrine of the 39
Articles but upon all in the world who aspire to practice confessing
Anglicanism.”
In his response to
the book, the president of the Anglican Church League (Australia),
Dr Mark Thompson, notes that “Muriel Porter has been
attacking Sydney Anglicans for years… Unfortunately, [her book is] littered
with factual error, half-truth and the attribution of false or hidden motives
to those with whom she disagrees. Sydney Anglicans might think they are taking a
stand on the teaching of Scripture but in reality, she repeatedly asserts,
their motivation is much more sinister… that Sydney’s experiment with radical
Protestantism… represents a serious threat to faithful Anglicanism in both
Australia and throughout the world. In order to support this contention, Porter
needs to recast the doctrinal, ethical and ecclesiastical innovations of the
past thirty years in global Anglicanism… as faithful discipleship and the
decisions of Sydney’s synod and archbishops… as aberrant, unAnglican and
ultimately a misuse of Scripture… What she casts as a
threat, many others around the world would welcome as a beacon of hope.
South Africa – Following the move by the
Anglican Church of South Africa to begin same-sex blessings, the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate, wrote a
declaration of God’s anathema upon that Church and called on “every
member of this Church to be converted, to repent and to go out from that
spiritual Babylon.”
Writing on Anglican
Mainstream South Africa, Father Dave Doveton, Vice Provost of the Cathedral of St Mary the Virgin in South
Africa’s Diocese of Port Elizabeth, denounces the decision to invite Presiding
Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of the US to the Church of South Africa’s
synod of bishops. Calling the US brand of Anglicanism “increasingly
apostate”, he says, “Eager to cement relationship with the Anglican
leadership in Southern Africa, and in the face of very severe objections, these
false prophets are taking full advantage of the opportunity to distribute largesse
and sow their teachings… the Episcopal Church of North America has placed the
authority of human experience, human desire and human passion above the clear
and unambiguous teaching of holy scripture…
“While
other African Primates have taken a stand against their heresy, Southern Africa
has not. There can be no compromise with clear manifestations of heresy. The
scripture commands us not to invite false teachers into our home… broken
fellowship is the only response. If this is not done they will keep spreading
their poisonous teachings until the whole body of the church is infected.”
Kenya – The Anglican
Communion Office has announced that it will hire a communicator to
be located in Nairobi. The position will be financed by the Trinity Wall
Street, an extremely well endowed church which strategically uses its largesse to gain influence. The position is intended to
help “Anglicans across Africa share their stories”
Ireland – A
senior lay leader in the Church of Ireland has warned that the church’s sanctioning of a cleric’s civil same-sex partnership could
result in a split in the church.
New Zealand – The
diocese of Auckland synod has approved a motion opening ordination and all offices in the church to those in same-sex
relationships
More international news
Church of England
Newspaper – August 19 2011 – Anglican
clergy under siege in Harare
Religion and Ethics
– August 29 2011 – Sydney
Anglicans and the threat to world Anglicanism
Time magazine –
August 31 2011 – New Zealand
cathedral to be rebuilt with cardboard. Seriously.
Just for fun
A little boy came home from Sunday School and went into his room to change clothes. When he came
out again, he asked his mother, "Is it true that we came from dust?"
His mother replied, "Yes, dear. God made us
from dust."
The boy’s eyes widened, “Mom, I just looked under
my bed, and there's somebody either coming or going down there!"
Why
aren’t our churches growing?
An intensive
research project in the Diocese of Sydney has found that the diocese
is doing well, accounting for about “one-third of all Anglican church attenders” in Australia, although it is one of 27 dioceses in the country. However, the
study found that parishes could be doing better. It found:
| • |
A high
percentage of visitors do not return because services are boring and they are
not given a compelling reason to return. |
| • |
There is
a lack of genuine spiritual growth among congregation members. “Churches where
congregation members report strong levels of personal spiritual growth – of
growing in prayer, in knowledge of God, in depth of discipleship – are
also churches which succeed in retaining newcomers. And vice versa… This
relates to the quality of the discipling in our congregations. How effectively
is each member being pushed forward in Christian maturity?” |
| • |
Follow-up
is inadequate. “…ongoing personal follow-up of visitors is rare – phoning
and/or visiting them, sticking with them over time, seeking to understand where
they are ‘at’ spiritually and helping them to make progress, personally
inviting them to our homes and to our small groups, and so on. This sort of
intensive personal follow-up is highly effective, but clearly cannot be undertaken
by the pastoral staff alone – which is why it often does not get done… The
lack of personal follow-up of newcomers, then, is a problem not really of
organization but of training. We have not trained our members for this
ministry.” |
Resources
Churches and social media - An article in Faith
Today discusses “How Evangelicals can change the world with social
media”.
Discover God’s purpose
for your church – Writing in the September 2nd
American Anglican Council enewsletter, Canon Phil Ashey addresses
challenges congregations face, such as an aging demographic, meeting in rented
facilities, a lack of church volunteers, and low levels of tithing. He writes,
“One of the most helpful
leadership and discipleship resources in the last decade is Henry Blackaby's Experiencing
God (Lifeway, 2007). One point in particular stands out: If
you and I want to know and do God's will, discover where He is already at work
and join him in that work.” In
order to discover where God is already at work in your congregation, look at
your church’s ministry commitments and core values – “the unique commitments and priorities that a particular congregation
has.”
Calling – Dr Tim Keller
discusses discerning God’s calling in our vocation. Among his themes
are:
| • |
“All
forms of work are participation in God’s work” |
| • |
“All
work according to God’s design is service” to others… “Work is taking the raw
material of creation and developing it for the sake of others… We are God’s
ministers in our work…” |
| • |
“All
forms of work are based on God’s gifting.” |
He
proposes a three-part method for discerning a call – to “secular” or
church work: knowing what “people needs” resonate with you; realistically
assess your abilities and limitations; and listening to my leaders / community
when they tell me of opportunities where I am needed.
Making church more accessible – Writing on the Sydney
Anglicans website, Steve Kryger encourages us to think through how
we can make our churches more accessible to non-church-goers. And he provides
some suggestions on how we can give them a preview of what to expect.
Food for thought
A
stingy man hastens after wealth, and does not know that poverty will come upon
him. Proverbs 28:22 ESV
One
gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give,
and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who
waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:24-25 ESV
Please pray...
For the people of All Saint’s, Rutland, VT who have
been devastated by flooding and are helping their neighbours clean up and
recover from Hurricane Irene.
For ANiC churches in Ontario involved in property
disputes: St Aidan’s (Windsor). St George’s (Burlington), St Hilda’s (Oakville)
and Good Shepherd (St Catharines).
For ANiC’s Vancouver area congregations in
transition, leaving long-time church buildings and settling into new
facilities. Praise God for His provision and for the generosity and outpouring of love from
other Christian churches in their communities.
For ANiC synod planning and preparations.
For our bishops,
clergy and lay leaders, and their families – especially those in
need of healing.
For ANiC
projects, church plants and parishes, and for their proclamation of the
Good News to those in their communities who desperately need new life in
Christ.
For ARDFC’s new Congo project which is helping
war-torn communities become reestablished and promoting peace-making.
May God use it to bless
Congolese and bring many to Christ.
For peace and an end to the killing in the Sudan. For God’s hand of protection to cover His Church. For comfort for the people of Wonduruba who are grieving the death of their
bishop.
For persecuted Christians in Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Zimbabwe and China –
and especially for those suffering unimaginable abuse and atrocities in North
Korea, Eritrea & Somalia.
For those ministering in the famine areas in the Horn
of Africa. Pray that the Islamist militias in Somalia will relent and allow aid
to safely enter territories where people are starving.
For the nation of Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
For the GAFCon Primates & Fellowship of
Confessing Anglican leaders as they plan meetings of Biblically faithful
Anglicans in 2012 & 2013. Pray also for the new Anglican Mission in
England.
For all
those in positions of leadership and influence in the Anglican Communion, that they would seek to honour and obey God
above all else.
For repentance and revival in our hearts and in our nation, for a
hunger for God and His Word.
And now
a word from our sponsor
“…scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following
their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming?
For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were
from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that
the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through
water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed
was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth
that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day
of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
But do
not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a
thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to
fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not
wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the
day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away
with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the
earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since
all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be
in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the
day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and
the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are
waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore,
beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him
without spot or blemish, and at peace… You therefore, beloved, knowing this
beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless
people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both
now and to the day of eternity. Amen
2 Peter
3: 3b -18 ESV
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