Via Media

“Via Media” is the Newsletter of Anglicans Together Inc, Sydney NSW Australia. The title is “borrowed” from Anglican Church Reformers who sought to walk “the middle way”. Anglicans Together includes a diverse membership of people from within the Anglican Diocese of Sydney who seek to work together in order to maintain, foster and develop our common life in the Diocese and the wider . We are a “broad” group with a diversity of beliefs and practices, reflective of our Anglican Church. We promote unity and co-operation with one another, and encourage one another in mission.

From Ashes to Fire A prayer for Our Country, in drought and fire.

From the Pastoral Letter of Bishop Mark Short, Our heavenly Father, creator of all things and Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn (3rd Jan 2020): “’To especially the creator of this land and its original you, O LORD, I cry. For fire has devoured the pastures peoples, we call out to you in these desperate times as of the wilderness, and flames have burned all the trees fires have swept across several parts of our country. of the field. Even the wild animals cry to you because Our hearts cry out to you for those who have lost loved the watercourses are dried up, and fire has devoured ones, and those who have lost properties in the wake the pastures of the wilderness.’ (Joel 1:19-20). The of these ravaging fires. Father we pray, in your mercy, words of God’s prophet express the cries of our restrain the forces of nature from creating hearts. We grieve with and for those who have lost catastrophic damage; in your mercy protect human property and loved ones. We groan with and for life. creation as it waits for rescue. Parts of our country still Guard those volunteers, rural fire service personnel long for quenching rain and relief.”’ and emergency services who selflessly step into the breach to fight these fires. Guide police and authorities With our brothers and sisters in Christ we too cry and who help evacuate and shelter those who are yearn, holding in our prayers all who are affected by displaced. Bring comfort and healing to all who suffer fire and drought across our nation, and pray for wise loss. actions and policies to bring about change and Remembering your promises of old that seedtime and stewardship of all creation. harvest will never cease, we pray that you would open As we enter Lent we recall that out of the ashes and the heavens to send refreshing rain upon our parched fire, new life is made possible through Jesus Christ, land. In your mercy, we pray for drenching rain. and so we particularly pray for those faithful people We pray that despite the forecasts, in your miraculous (ordained and lay) who minister in those communities power you would bring forth rain to quench these fires and towns where people seek to recover and rebuild and to bring life back into the earth, so that crops may their lives. grow and farmers may bring forth the harvest of the

It has been wonderful to see the generous responses land again. of many across our Churches. We give thanks for the We bring these requests work of the many agencies of our Church, noting the before your throne, in the efforts of Anglicare (Sydney, NSW South East) and name of your Son, who died Anglican Aid in raising funds and providing assistance and rose again for our deliverance, Amen. on the ground. (Written by The Most Rev’d Dr ) Membership of A.T. St Paul’s College, Sydney – Membership of Anglicans Together Installation of New Warden affirms your desire to be a part of a The Reverend Dr Ed Loane was diverse Anglican Church in the installed as the as 12th Warden of Diocese of Sydney, working St Paul’s College by the Right together across our Diocese to Reverend Dr , Bishop share the good news of Jesus Christ, of South Sydney, on Saturday 29th who is the one that unites us. February. Dr Loane was raised in

You can join our movement through Stormy Start to Lent at Wollongong and completed his an annual membership subscription St Luke’s Mosman undergraduate studies at the of $35 ($30 concession). This can On Shrove Tuesday over 60 people University of Sydney, where he paid by Direct Deposit (Anglicans “nourished-up” for their 2020 graduated with a Bachelor of Together Inc, Commonwealth Bank, Lenten discipline on a meal of Science. He went on to complete 062165 10123708. Please include savoury and sweet pancakes. This his graduate studies at Moore your name in the 'description'). You annual event attracts regular College, followed by a PhD at can register your details at: parishioners and visitors for an Cambridge University. www.anglicanstogether.org/files/ evening of fun and fellowship. page_membership_application.html An Old Pauline, Dr Loane has On a sadder note, the St Luke’s recently lectured in Theology and Or you can be “old school” and Mosman Fincham organ sustained Church History at Moore College send a cheque payable to severe water damage during the and has been a Fellow of the St 'Anglicans Together Inc.' to: recent February storms. The organ Paul’s College Council. Other Secretary, Anglicans Together, PO will need to be completely removed current Fellows of St Paul’s College Box 162, Spit Junction NSW 2088. and repaired before reinstallation. Council include past Anglicans It was originally installed in St Together Presidents the Reverend St Nick @ Hunters Hill Philip’s Presbyterian Church, Andrew Sempell and the Reverend Newcastle in 1905 before being The Parish reported that the Service Philip Bradford, together with our refurbished and installed in St that is growing the most at current President, the Reverend Dr Luke’s, Mosman in July 2013. The St Christmas is Christmas Eve for Max Wood. Families which includes Holy Luke’s Mosman Music Association Communion, traditional Carols, a Inc. has established an Organ Nativity Play by the Children and a Restoration Appeal. visit from St Nicholas. St Nick joins in with Holy Communion, sharing Epiphany in the Mountains with the children his love of Jesus St Luke’s Enmore parishioners as the reason why he delivers gifts, travelled by train and car to Leura and following the service he on 11th February on pilgrimage. remains for a light supper. The Arriving, they were greeted by a Parish used a funny “meme” to typical mountain mist - not smoke advertise this service, which was from the fires burning in the valley! well received. There was a warm welcome from parishioners Lea and Don, the hosts for the occasion. Fr Philip celebrated an intimate and Do you have a short story and reflective Epiphany Eucharist in a picture of an activity or their lounge room. Following the event in your parish? Service, a truly gourmet lunch was We’d love to hear about it, served by the hosts, followed by and share it, send to Noel’s especially home baked [email protected] ‘epiphany’ cake.

Then, sadly we left the clear mountain freshness to return to the smoky plains of Enmore. Primates Resignation Diocesan Episcopal News Lambeth 2020 The Primate The Lambeth Conference is a Vale Bishop of the hugely significant event in the life In October 2019 the Archbishop Anglican announced he was seconding of the Anglican Church. It brings Church of Bishop Ivan Lee to work on together active bishops and their Australia, spouses from the worldwide strengthening church growth in the the Most Anglican Communion – that’s more Diocese, in a new portfolio. Bishop Rev’d Philip than 165 countries. The aim is to Lee has faced significant health Freier of seek God’s direction for the future issues in recent years and sadly he Melbourne, of the Anglican/Episcopalian Church succumb to them on 4th March. announced that he will not seek re- for the decades ahead. We pray for his all who grieve, election as Primate and will stand especially Virginia, Rachel, Sandra The Conference is taking place in down on 31 March 2020. and Jessica. July and August 2020 in Canterbury, Archbishop Freier was elected UK. The theme is “God’s Church for Primate in June 2014. God’s World: walking, listening and

His successor will be elected by a witnessing together”. Board of Electors who held a The Archbishop of Canterbury, telephone conference on 23rd Justin Welby, has sent personal December 2019, prior to their invitations to every eligible bishop scheduled upcoming meeting on and spouse. “It’s my prayer that, 14th March. The Board comprises inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Diocesan Bishops and Bishop Lambeth Conference will representative clergy and laity from On December 20th 2019 the Rev’d reinvigorate the Communion with across Australia, elected at General Gary Koo was consecrated in St the vision and resources to bring Synod. John’s Parramatta as a Bishop in the the transforming love of Jesus The election of the Primate will be Church of God and given episcopal Christ to every level of society. It pivotal in terms of our National oversite by the Archbishop of will be a time of addressing hurts Church, which is scheduled to meet Sydney for Western Sydney. Bishop and concerns; of deepening existing at General Synod from 31st May to Koo follows on from The Rt Rev’d relationships and building new 5th June this year at Ivan Lee (above). Please uphold ones; of grappling with issues that Maroochydore. The Primate usually him, his wife Pearl and children face the Church and the world. We chairs these Synods. Tomas (16) and Annabel (14), in will listen to each other; we will your prayers, and the Western seek God’s wisdom to find ways to Appellate Tribunal Region of our Diocese. walk together; we will build each On 5th September 2019 the other up as leaders.”

Primate referred to the Appellate It is noted that at the time of Tribunal questions relating to the printing of this newsletter that blessing of marriages under the none of the leadership of the Marriage Act 1961 (Regulations Diocese of Sydney have taken up 2019) in response to the invitation to attend. determinations made by the Synod of the Diocese of Wangaratta. Since You can find further information at that time the Diocese of Newcastle www.lambethconference.org/ . has also passed similar Ordinances, Archbishop Glenn Davies awaiting consent from their Bishop Our Archbishop, The Most Rev’d Dr based on the outcomes of their self Davies, will retire in July 2020 referral to the Appellate Tribunal. (before his retirement age) to allow a special election Synod to take It is understood that the process for place from Monday 10th to Friday all matters are still in the stages of 14th August 2020. There will be an obtaining and reviewing opportunity to give thanks and say submissions. It is uncertain when farewell at our AT Eucharist and the matters will be determined. Lunch on 23rd May 2020 (see over).

Inaugural Anglicans Together Eucharist & Lunch

Join us as we celebrate the Feast of St Augustine of Canterbury, World Anglican Communion Sunday and Farewell our Archbishop with two special events.

11:00am 23rd May Holy Communion @ St James King Street President & Preacher: The Most Reverend Dr Glenn Davies, Archbishop of Sydney Music: Combined Churches Choir

12:30pm 23rd May Anglicans Together Lunch City Tattersalls Club, Two-Course Luncheon, $60pp. Speaker: Archbishop Glenn Davies.

Luncheon tickets from www.trybooking.com/BJAWU or send a cheque with your contact details to Anglicans Together, PO Box 162, Spit Junction NSW 2088.

Mission in Myanmar especially rural areas, for basic Myanmar). At each of these Lyn Bannerman infrastructure including electricity, projects, we saw how ABM seed I was privileged to travel with a accessible water supplies, and for funding brings whole communities small group of ABM staff and access to health and education together, working to grow the supporters, from Sydney, services, are overwhelming. projects beyond the original limited Melbourne and Canberra, who Progress in five years across these plans. basic areas of life, while visible, is visited Myanmar for two weeks in We also visited the Holy Cross very slow. While the people rejoice February. We visited projects in Theological College in Yangon and villages and towns, funded by ABM in “democracy” (75% of St Peter’s Bible College at Toungoo, (Anglican Board of Mission), and Government are elected both recipients of ABM support. representatives), the Military seem Bishops, clergy, staff and This growth in theologically trained to still dominate well beyond their parishioners across a number of local people will foster the work of reduced numbers would suggest. Dioceses. We saw for ourselves the Church in Myanmar. It was a The people look forward with hope how deep the poverty is in this wonderful and truly life-changing to a further election (no date yet country, but how incredibly experience. resilient the people are. The set) when the power of the Military travellers were truly blessed by the will hopefully be further reduced. warmth of welcome and The ABM projects we visited hospitality. included water and sanitation The country is just 5 years out of provision to a remote village, a being under total Military control, farm which trains men in which lasted 50 years. It is strongly sustainable, organic farming asserted that the Military spent (livestock and crops); and the first primarily on themselves and their pre-school in a major town, which families. The needs across the is teaching English (the need for country in both towns, and bilingualism is immense as no other country in the world speaks

Editorial Policy: We aim to publish a wide range of views and opinions in this newsletter. Publication should therefore not be read as necessarily endorsing or approving a particular view or opinion.

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