Newsletter No 62
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newsletter o )( &arch (&,- ISSN 1836-511 WEBSITE: www.anglicanstogether.org MOORE THEOLOGICAL ARCHBISHOP GLENN COLLEGE NEWTOWN DAVIES APPOINTS NEW HAS A NEW LOOK RECTOR TO ST Moore Theological College’s new ALBAN’S PARISH ultra-modern building, (picture EPPING below) now dominating the corner Bishop Ross Nicholson has been of Carillion Ave and King Street appointed as Rector of the Parish of Newtown was dedicated by St Alban’s Epping. Archbishop Glenn Davies and Ross Nicholson was formerly officially opened by the Governor Rector and Area Dean of Bishop Lin said: “The numbers of of NSW His Excellency General Willoughby and more recently people migrating from China are the Honourable David Hurley, AC Bishop Missioner in the Diocese of rapidly increasing and Mandarin is DSC on 11 February 2017. Tasmania and part-time Rector of St now the second-most spoken John’s Launceston, Tasmania. language in Sydney after English. “Canon Wong will also be ENC’s Speaking to the Southern Cross Chinese Ministry Consultant – a magazine, Bishop Nicholson said position funded entirely by he and his wife, Jenny, are really donations. looking forward to engaging with the Epping congregation and the “David’s role will be to plant, grow For the occasion, hundreds gathered local community. He said “I had a and strengthen Chinese-speaking in the main assembly hall named look at the demographics of Epping congregations and ministries the Marcus Loane Hall after a and something like 25 percent of the throughout the Diocese former Archbishop of Sydney and a population is Mandarin speaking, “These new congregations and former Principal of the College. so there’s the potential for reaching ministries will start alongside The new enlarged Library will be out into that community. Children’s English-speaking ministries, known as the Donald Robinson ministry is another area I’d like to whether it’s a fresh church plant or Library, also after a former engage in – it was one of the thing it becomes part of an established Archbishop of Sydney and a Vice we also did in Tasmania”. English-speaking church.” principal of the College. sydneyanglicans.net Bishop Ross Nicholson is being ST JAMES' INSTITUTE inducted into the Parish by the HAS A NEW DIRECTOR- Right Reverend Chris Edwards, Christopher Waterhouse has been Bishop of North Sydney at a ANGLICAN CHURCHES IN AND AROUND SYDNEY ARE USING THE appointed Director of St James’ Commencement of Ministry Service on Friday 24th March 2017. FORTY DAYS OF THE LENTEN Institute, Sydney. SEASON AS A TIME OF SPIRITUAL Christopher, a former parishioner at PREPARATION FOR THE GREAT St James’ Church, King Street, CELEBATIONS OF THE DEATH & commenced in late January 2017. CHINESE CHURCH RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree GROWTH IN SYDNEY PARISH CHURCHES ARE PROVIDING in history from the University of The Rev David Wong, Rector of OPPORTUNITIES FOR Tasmania, and has a background in Granville (pictured), has been PARTICIPATING IN LITURGIES, theatre and music event appointed Canon of St John’s PRAYER, BIBLE STUDY, management. He returns from the Cathedral, Parramatta by Bishop REFLECTION & MEDITATION. UK where for part of his time there, Ivan Lee, with special For information, see the Anglicans Together website; he was on the staff of Christ Church responsibilities for Chinese WWW.Anglicanstogether.org Cathedral, Oxford. church planting in the Diocese. 1 ‘ORA ET LABORA’ Greetings in Christ Easter is the Principal Festival rationalise away the emptiness of of the Christian Year. the tomb. After all, very few It is the time we proclaim, people in the time of Jesus 'Christ is risen!' - a declaration believed in resurrection, except of the triumph of love, the hope perhaps in the vaguest of spiritual of resurrection, and the terms. A physical resurrection of resurrection today. possibility of new life. It is also was considered a most unlikely Nevertheless, people continue to a statement about the nature of possibility. However, the empty experience the resurrected Christ God, humanity and the created tomb suggests to us that the and come to believe in him, even world around us, for it resurrection was not just a today. So, what do people see? acknowledges that we are in a 'spiritual' thing, but was also process of change and that we 'physical'. Symbols of Easter need to make good and healthy Matthew's Gospel describes the Easter worship brings together decisions in this process. These two ‘Marys’ going to Jesus' tomb several important symbols and three words, and the festival from and becoming the first witnesses actions that provide an insight which they come, stand at the to the resurrection. They came into the Christian life-journey, or centre of our faith. and expected to find a secure pilgrimage. Indeed, they give The celebrations at Easter can tomb where Jesus' body lay, but expression to the occasions upon be very grand and uplifting - instead they found the confusing which we can encounter the while it lasts. The experience of sight of an open and empty tomb, resurrected Christ. many, however, is that the with a man nearby proclaiming * Light - is a sign of mundane realities of life quickly that Jesus had risen. They 'knowledge' and 'understanding', return and the joy and hope of quickly returned to the disciples brought into our spiritual lives Easter fades. Moreover, and who were in hiding, and on the because of the presence of Christ sadly so, for most people in our way met the resurrected Christ. in the world. Seeing may well be country Easter has no meaning Having returned, the women a great aid to believing, but we at all, except perhaps as being became the first evangelists - cannot see while we are in the yet another public holiday. telling the disciples the 'good dark - we therefore need Nevertheless, the spiritual news'. enlightenment. poverty of much of our world Now, the gospel accounts of should not surprise us, for it has God has created us and the resurrection do differ from been forever thus. given us the capacity to each other. Nevertheless, putting understand his presence in the The physical presence of aside the points of view of the world. Jesus himself did not change gospel writers, I wonder what the many people in his own time, women actually saw and what * The Word - which is our nor did the experience of effect it had upon them. It would sharing in God's revelation resurrection. Nevertheless, there seem that the disciples did not through the history of his people, has always been those who have believe their 'good news' and and the message it contains for us seen, believed, understood and needed to see for themselves - today. The story of the people of been changed because of the and what did they 'see'? God is also our story and the experience of resurrection in their story of God's presence in the The good news was shared lives. Easter therefore provides world even now. with the apostle Thomas, but many things for us to reflect he would not believe until he * Baptism - which is about upon, including the narrative, the saw for himself. recognising that we are part of symbols, the mystery and the God's kingdom today, which is to experience. The gospels describe many be found in the church. We sightings of the resurrected The Easter Event describe it as becoming God's Christ; however, not all sons and daughters and What are we to make of the recognised him at first. Just as understand that God's Spirit lives empty tomb? From the earliest Thomas' response to the 'good in each one of us. times, there have been many news' was a sceptical 'seeing is theories as to why the tomb was believing', so too might we * Eucharist - which is a sign empty. Even the ancients tried to reasonably question the message of the process of gathering, 2 offering, transformation and own sufferings with his. (which is an ailment of the self- nourishment of God's people. centred world that we inhabit); Resurrection therefore Through this we remember but rather it is about setting aside becomes a principle for the Jesus in history as well as the desire for power and the Christian life. It acknowledges acknowledging his ongoing exercise of self-interest, and the tragedy of human existence presence through the people of instead working for the well- known through brokenness, sin God in the world today. being and salvation of others. and death, and recognises our Hence, salvation can be found These are signs of process - need for God through through allowing our lives to be reflecting both 'being' and reconciliation, transformation shaped by God rather than by the 'becoming'. Our lives are not and new life. All of this is pursuit of our own desires. static, but instead are in a achieved because of God's love Resurrection is therefore a constant state of change. Part of for his people and through the choice - an act of the will to take our calling is to allow God to self-giving love of Jesus that up our cross and follow Christ. transform our lives so that we found a defining moment for his may become the people that God followers on the cross. The Reverend Andrew Sempell wants us to be. This is part of the President, Anglicans Together At the Greeting of Peace, we mystery of the Christian faith - a proclaim; 'we are the body of faith that is both now but also to Christ: his Spirit is with us'. be experienced more fully in the RESIGNATION OF Through these words, we declare future; a faith that is both present that we are people of the NEWCASTLE BISHOP in the world but is also resurrection continuing the work transcendent - uniting all things The Bishop of Newcastle, the of Christ in the world today.