Read the latest...
- From the Bishop's desk
- Media releases
- Administrative Circular
- Safe Church Communities
- Our bi-monthly magazine: Tasmanian Anglican
- Our Diocesan Mission Action Plan
- Bishop John's blog
From the Bishop's blog
Click here to catch up on
Bishop John's blog.
Here are some recent posts...
- Parliament of Religions–Review
- Parliament of Religions-Prayer
- Parliament World Religions Day 7
- Parliament World Religions Day 6
- Parliament World Religions Day 5
- Parliament World Religions Day 4
- Parliament World Religions Day 3
- Parliament World Religions Day 2
- School Chaplaincy on “Sunrise”
- Parliament World Religions Day 1
- “Christian Mission for Tasmanians”
- Mission to seafarers
Bible Study & Preaching Material
Stressed out with no time to write bible studies? Try ‘Growing Disciples of Jesus’, our new Lectionary-based study outlines for home and church-based study groups and personal study; will also help preachers. To have a look, click here: http://www.anglicantas.org.au/lec_based_study/
Preaching Resources
This resource is provided to help guide, encourage and resource the preachers in our diocese, be they new or experienced. It’s new and evolving, so we recommend that you drop in from time to time.
David Roger-Smith has been busy updating our Diocesan Preaching Page. Our thanks to David for all his effort. Further installments will appear in the next few months. Please have a look at our new version and let David know what you think:
- Click here for the first installment: Biblical Preaching and Teaching
- Click here for the second new installment: Ensuring Our Preaching Is Christian
A PRAYER FOR transformingLIFE
Transforming God,
as we meet together
fill us with your wisdom.
Give us the capacity
to work boldly
and with humility,
embracing the challenge of mission.
Use us to bring transforming life
to our Christian communities and
all Tasmanians
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Download the transformingLIFE document
Will the Imagine Project change your life?
Have you heard of Kiddliwinks?
Archive of Home Page: 2009 November
Click here to return to archive listing.
Thinking about prayer...
[fri 27.nov.09 rob] As a missionary diocese, we continue to be drawn to prayer for our diocese and for our bishop(s). As a minister myself, I am always looking for resources on prayer. Things to help my congregations as they contemplate and reflect upon their own personal prayer lives.
One item I came up with is this video which offers a humorous look at our prayer life. It reflects upon our expectations of prayer, what we might think would improve prayer, and ultimately, the beauty and wonder of prayer within the context of a loving relationship with a caring, mighty, merciful, creator God and Father. Have a look, and email us to let us know what you think.
The latest From The Bishop's Desk
[fri 27.nov.09 rob] Just to hand, we have the latest from the Bishop's desk (FTBD 30/09). Click here to have a read and stay up to date.
Once you have read FTBD, you may like to click here and read the latest on the Bishop's blog on one of many topics... multi-faith society, climate change & even read up on some Tasmanian history. (...and that's just this week!)
"This study is a gift..."
[wed 25.nov.09 rob] While Andrew & Pam Lake have been visiting over 24 parishes in the Diocese before heading to the posting in Damascus, Andrew has been busy. He has released this short book called Christian Mission for Tasmanians. This is a very personal approach from Andrew on this important topic of Mission written for the Missionary Diocese of Tasmania. Andrew says of the book,
"My hope and prayer is that this study will help put mission front and centre of the church’s agenda. I make no claim to infallibility and will have achieved my aim if this has helped start some fruitful conversations about mission."
We offer our thanks to Andrew, having served in the Diocese as an Archdeacon and Mission Support Officer. But now we offer our thanks for this impressive gift to the church in Tasmania.
Of particular interest to you, dear reader, is the freely available nature of this book. In fact, you can click here to read it right now. So is it free? Andrew explains in his Forward:
"This study is a gift to the Tasmanian church. It is freely available on the diocesan website but I invite you when you use it for personal or group study to make a donation of $10 per person to the Church Missionary Society of Tasmania."
Recent reading...
- Administrative Circular 10-2009 November from the Registrar's office on Thursday 19th.
- FTBD or From The Bishop's Desk 28.09 (for short!) from Tuesday 17th.
- From The Bishop's Desk 29.09 from Monday 16th.
CMS Commissioning for Andrew & Pam Lake
[tue 24.nov.09 rob] THIS SUNDAY!
Revd Andrew and Mrs Pam Lake are shortly to leave for Damascus, to serve as CMS Missionaries, representing the Tasmanian Branch. This is the first time for a few years, now, that we have had CMS missionaries serving from Tasmania.
Come and help celebrate, and send the Lakes off with our prayers and support, at a Commissioning Service for Andrew and Pam. This will be at St David’s Cathedral, Hobart, on Sunday, November 29th, at 4:30pm. There will be lots of singing, prayer, fun and well-wishes, as well as refreshments to follow.
Lectionary-based Study Outlines
[tue 24.nov.09 rob]
Stressed out with no time to write bible studies?
Try ‘Growing Disciples of Jesus’, our new Lectionary-based study outlines for home and church-based study groups and personal study; will also help preachers.
To have a look, click here: http://www.anglicantas.org.au/lec_based_study/
School Chaplaincy Extended :-)
[mon 23.nov.09 rob] The rumours have been going around over the weekend, but a search on Google found an article in the Brisbane Times. Essentially, the article states that funding from the Federal Government will now continue until December 2011. This is a wonderful answer to prayer, particularly if you are a chaplain with a family to feed or a school who has been blessed with this vital support. However, this is not unlimited. This is one more year. So, please keep praying for the government's support to continue and please keep asking those positively affected by chaplaincy to sign the petition for government support.
Click here for a copy of the Chaplaincy petition which is for the Australian Parliament. This is located on Guy Barnett's website.
Click here for the Brisbane Times article.
Click here for the Sydney Morning Herald article.
Update [mon 23.nov.09 rob]: Bishop John wrote about this news in his blog yesterday. Our Bishop is always worth reading, so click here to read more.
Business: Meetings & Agendas
[mon 23.nov.09 rob] Our 'Minutes of Committees' page is about to be enhanced. This page is for information relating to agendas and minutes of meetings. Agendas for the Property Board and Diocesan Council will be placed here a week before each meeting, and the minutes of these meeting will be placed here immediately following their adoption at each group's subsequent meeting.
The Diocesan Council agenda (meeting 27 Nov) is now available. Click on this link: http://www.anglicantas.org.au/boards_committees/
To find it, select the RESOURCES menu above, and then select the BOARDS AND COMMITTEES page.
Appellate Tribunal
[mon 23.nov.09 rob] Below is an advertisement concerning a new reference to the Appellate Tribunal and giving notice that written submissions must be lodged by 21 December 2009.
Click here to read the Appellate Tribunal advertisement.
The Barnabas Column returns...
[mon 16.nov.09 rob] The Barnabas Column features stories of encouragement of what God is doing in His church in the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania. Upon reading them, we can then rejoice together as we see the many ways the good news about Jesus Christ is finding its way into the hearts of Tasmanians.
Woodbridge
Here is a good news story from Woodbridge written by Bishop John after his recent visit for their 125th anniversay celebration! If you have a good news story about your church that you would like to appear here, send an email to: registry@anglicantas.org.au
Click here to go to the Woodbridge story on Bishop John's blog.
Click here to go to the new Barnabas Column. You can also find it under News & Publications in the menu.
FTBD
[mon 16.nov.09 rob] The latest edition of From The Bishop's Desk (FTBD) is now available for your reading pleasure. Click here to view.
An Invitation
[mon 16.nov.09 rob] You are invited to an Ordination of Priests and Deacons:
At St. David's Cathedral, Hobart
On Saturday, 21st November, 2009 at 2pm.
The Bishop of Tasmania, The Right Reverend John Harrower, OAM will be ordaining and The Dean, The Very Reverend Richard Humphrey will be preaching at this very special event. Refreshments will be provided after the service in the Cathedral Close where the ordinands will have the chance to meet the congregation. For your information and for your prayers, here are photos and biographies of those who will be ordained.
Luke Isham (left) will be made a Deacon on Saturday. Please pray for him. If you would like to find out more about Luke, please click here to see his biography.
Ann Whittle (right) will be ordained Priest on Saturday. Please pray for her. If you would like to find out more about Ann, please click here to see her biography.
Christina Campton (left) will be ordained Priest on Saturday. Please pray for her. If you would like to find out more about Christina, please click here to see her biography.
Jeanette Brett (right) will be ordained Priest on Saturday. Please pray for her. If you would like to find out more about Jeanette, please click here to see her biography.
Media Release: Four Anglican To be Ordained (Fri 20th November, 2009) Download the document here or go to the Media Release section.
Unfashionable!
[wed 04.nov.09 rob] Tullian Tchividjian, Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida has just released his new book ‘Unfashionable’.
"I wrote 'Unfashionable' to make the case that Christians make a difference in this world by being different from this world; they don't make a difference by being the same." (from the video)
Click here to watch a video of Tullian telling us about his new book.
In September of this year, Dr Michael Horton included this book in his program 'White Horse Inn'. Dr Horton says:
"Is it possible that the contemporary church has been so caught up in the quest for relevance that it has ceased to be noticeably different from the world? That's the thesis of Unfashionable, a new book by Tullian Tchividjian, grandson of Billy Graham, and pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Michael Horton talks with Tullian about his important new book on this edition of the White Horse Inn."
Click here to listen to this edition of Dr Horton's White Horse Inn.
The Mystery Plays: The Greatest Story Ever Told
[wed 04.nov.09 rob] As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of All Saints Anglican Church, South Hobart, a production of 'The Mystery Plays' will be staged in All Saints Church.
The play will be held on four nights: Wednesday 11th - Saturday 14th November at 7:30pm. Door sales on the night or bookings on 6223.1795. Tickets $20 adults and $15 concession. Click here for further information.
CMS Commissioning for Andrew & Pam Lake
[tue 03.nov.09 rob] Rev. Andrew and Mrs. Pam Lake are shortly to leave for Damascus, to serve as CMS Missionaries, representing the Tasmanian Branch. This is the first time for a few years, now, that we have had CMS missionaries serving from Tasmania.
Come and help celebrate, and send the Lakes off with our prayers and support, at a Commissioning Service for Andrew and Pam. This will be at St. David’s Cathedral, Hobart, on Sunday, November 29th, at 4:30pm. There will be lots of singing, prayer, fun and well-wishes, as well as refreshments to follow.
The prayers of the saints!
[tue 03.nov.09 rob] What a wonderful blessing it is to know that you are being prayed for. :-)
Recently we have received postcards from Truro Cathedral (Bermuda) and more recently from Canterbury Cathedral, advising us that they have been praying for our Diocese. How great it is to see our Anglican Communion at work, supporting each other in prayer. Praise God! Have you been praying for our brothers and sisters throughout the world?
Click on these links to view the postcards:
Truro Cathedral (Bermuda): Front and Back
Canterbury Cathedral: Small and Large
This makes me think back to a video we posted here recently: