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From the Bishop
Click here to catch up on
Bishop John's blog. Here are some recent posts...
- Euthanasia: points to clarify
- New year! Eternity? Whatever.
- New Year reflection 4 action
- Annual spiritual check-up
- Sex: waiting improves marriage
- Christmas Day Sermon 2010
- Christmas greeting in art
From the Bishop's Desk is the bishop's regular email newsletter. Click here to see his recent newsletters or to join the mail list.
Bishop John's recent publications, Addresses, letters, reflections, messages: click here.
Bible Study & Preaching Material
Stressed out with no time to write bible studies? Try our Lectionary-based study outlines for home and church-based study groups and personal study; will also help preachers. To have a look, click here.
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.
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?
CMS: This study is a gift
While Andrew & Pam Lake visited over 24 parishes in the Diocese before heading to the posting in Damascus, Andrew had been busy on another project. 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."
Archive of Home Page: 2010 December
Thanks for the ministry
Thank you Mark for serving God's church so powerfully over so many years.
Thank you Jesus for blessing Tasmania with Mark's gifts.
If you have been blessed by Mark's ministry, drop in and thank him in the coming weeks. We hope to see Mark back here in Tasmania very soon.
A New Year's Resolution #2
[fri 31dec10 rob] With new year resolutions being made, what about me? This video by Christian musicians Casting Crowns encourages Christians to consider their lives and think hard about challenging our behaviours as we enter a new year.
With thanks to the Casting Crowns label who allow this video to be available on YouTube. If you are interested, you can buy the video on iTunes, or the CD at your local record shop or at Koorong. Click here to check out Casting Crowns on YouTube. They have some wonderfully thought provoking videos... They are more than singers, they want people to know Jesus.
A New Year's Resolution
[thu 30dec10] The new year is approaching and resolutions are in the air. What is a resolution my church can make? This video by Casting Crowns brought a few to mind. I hope it helps you as you think about your own New Year's resolution. May it be one which blesses the church of Jesus, your local community and ultimately... you.
Another New Year's resolution video tomorrow. See you then!
With thanks to the Casting Crowns label who allow this video to be available on YouTube. If you are interested, you can buy the video on iTunes, or the CD at your local record shop or at Koorong. Click here to check out Casting Crowns on YouTube. They have some wonderfully thought provoking videos... They are more than singers, they want people to know Jesus.
Bishop John's Christmas Sermon
Click here to read Bishop John's Christmas sermon which he has posted on his blog.
Luke 2:1-7
[sun 26dec10 rob] "...And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth..."
A short video by Mark Driscoll on site at the 'traditional site' of Jesus birth.
Like it? Here is the next in the series titled, "Luke 2:8-21",
"...and they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby..."
The Bishop's Christmas Message for 2010
[sat 25dec10] Bishop John Harrower, Anglican Bishop of Tasmania
WikiLeaks and Jesus Christ
The secret thoughts of diplomats and national leaders have been pouring out at a great rate from WikiLeaks, and Australians are divided whether they are heroes or villains.
If revelation is the name of the game, then WikiLeaks and Jesus Christ have a lot going for them: both seek to reveal what is hidden; both want truth outed; both seek the welfare of the city.
But it is also true that both founders are persecuted; both make enemies of the powerful; both are attacked; both attract condemnation and affirmation; both founders are brought to trial.
Will the founders receive a fair trial? Does the revealing of new information bring benefit or harm? WikiLeaks may benefit the people by increasing the accountability of political and powerful leaders through the fear of the truth being made known.
But some feel that WikiLeaks may harm the reputations or even imperil the lives of people and agencies by revealing stupidity, deceit and pettiness.
I see a deeper meaning behind it all. I see WikiLeaks as a metaphor for divine meaning. Jesus Christ may benefit the people by inviting them to be reconciled to God and to one another through the revealing of their true spirituality, centre of being, identity and purpose.
Jesus Christ may harm the religious establishment by revealing the true centre of God and showing the falsehood of empty religious ritual and legalistic religion. Jesus Christ may harm the powerful by revealing the power of sacrifice and love.
Where is truth to be found? WikiLeaks says by revealing all the information. Christ says that in his own person, the way, the truth and the life are found.
How is transformation achieved? WikiLeaks proposes the information highway. Christ proposes spiritual renewal through turning from ego to Christ and love of God and neighbour.
Christmas is the self revealing of God, through Christ.
Take time to discover the Christ of Christmas.
John Harrower
Anglican Bishop of Tasmania
Have a flash mob Christmas!
[thu 23dec10 rob] I do love a good flash mob! What is a flash mob? According to Wikipedia,
"A flash mob (or flashmob) is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual act for a brief time, then disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails."
This time? The Hallelujah Chorus in a Food Court. This is over a month old, so it has already been viewed 25 million times. Hopefully, you will enjoy it!
R/T to Bishop John who posted this earlier today on his blog.
Click here to read Bishop John's blog.
Recent releases from the Diocese
From the Bishop's Desk 32.10 for December 23, 2010. Click here to view.
Christmas is coming... #6
[mon 20dec10 rob] (R/T Bishop John and others...)
We are now up to our sixth video in the "Christmas is Coming" series. While "The Digital Story of the Nativity" is pretty much like 'A Social Network Christmas', it is different. It simply tells the Christmas story, although with great humour. "Joseph just bought a donkey on Farmville" :) ...or the wise men 'following' the star on Twitter! :) Enjoy!
This video is made available on YouTube by many people, but this is the oldest link to the video I could find.
This Series: Christmas is coming...
For a pastor, planning for Christmas began some time ago. But what of that elusive illustration that might help engage the Christmas visitor who feels like a fish out of water and disengaged? Have you found it? Over the next couple of weeks, we will see videos which have achieved notoriety for their ability to engage. These are not sermons, but merely illustrations.
Previous videos in this series: 1. God Pie (19nov2010), 2. The Good-o-Meter (25nov2010), 3. That's Real Love (06dec2010), 4. Amazing Grace II (12dec2010), 5. A Social Network Christmas (20dec2010), 6. The Digital Story of the Nativity (20dec2010).
Christmas is coming... #5
[mon 20dec10 rob] (R/T Carolyn Gates)
Today we have the fifth of our "Christmas is Coming" video series. (Although this one breaks the rules, being only 5 days old on the Internet, one viewing will reveal why it is here) "A Social Network Christmas" considers the personal aspect to Mary & Joseph's role in the birth of Jesus Christ. The question: What does it mean to play a part in the plans and purposes of the most holy God? Or, just how 'out of this world' was the birth of the Messiah?
This video is made available on YouTube by igniter media, who make videos to sell. Have a look at the link to see other great videos.
This Series: Christmas is coming...
For a pastor, planning for Christmas began some time ago. But what of that elusive illustration that might help engage the Christmas visitor who feels like a fish out of water and disengaged? Have you found it? Over the next couple of weeks, we will see videos which have achieved notoriety for their ability to engage. These are not sermons, but merely illustrations.
Previous videos in this series: 1. God Pie (19nov2010), 2. The Good-o-Meter (25nov2010), 3. That's Real Love (06dec2010), 4. Amazing Grace II (12dec2010), 5. A Social Network Christmas (20dec2010), 6. The Digital Story of the Nativity (20dec2010).
Recent releases from the Diocese
Safe Church Communities for December, 2010. Click here to view.
Christmas is coming... #4
[mon 13dec10 rob] Today we have the fourth of our "Christmas is Coming" video series.
"Amazing Grace II" considers the testimonies of people who have been saved by the grace of God and the change that has happened to them: all to the 'lyrics' of Amazing Grace. The question: What can Jesus do for me?
This video is made available on YouTube by thatjustinguy, who is the Creative Director at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas. Thanks Justin!
This Series: Christmas is coming...
For a pastor, planning for Christmas began some time ago. But what of that elusive illustration that might help engage the Christmas visitor who feels like a fish out of water and disengaged? Have you found it? Over the next couple of weeks, we will see videos which have achieved notoriety for their ability to engage. These are not sermons, but merely illustrations.
Previous videos in this series: 1. God Pie (19nov2010), 2. The Good-o-Meter (25nov2010), 3. That's Real Love (06dec2010), 4. Amazing Grace II (12dec2010), 5. A Social Network Christmas (20dec2010), 6. The Digital Story of the Nativity (20dec2010).
Euthanasia: A letter from a Catholic AB
Click here to read more on Bishop John's blog.
Wikileaks
Click here to read the Bishop's post.
Federal minister and right-wing Labor powerbroker Mark Arbib has been revealed as a confidential contact of the United States embassy in Canberra, providing inside information and commentary for Washington on the workings of the Australian government and the Labor Party.
You can read the rest of this article from The Age newspaper by clicking here.
What we tell our kids about Santa
Click here to read the article online.
Our Lectionary-based guide continues to be updated!
Click here to visit this resource.
Position Vacant: Hospital Chaplaincy
Click here for the position vacant advertisement.
Click here for the position description.
Christmas is coming... #3
[mon 06dec10 rob] Today we have the third of our "Christmas is Coming" video series.
"That's Real Love" considers why Jesus came into the world. The question: What is love?
This video is made available on YouTube by thatjustinguy, who is the Creative Director at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas. Thanks Justin!
This Series: Christmas is coming...
For a pastor, planning for Christmas began some time ago. But what of that elusive illustration that might help engage the Christmas visitor who feels like a fish out of water and disengaged? Have you found it? Over the next couple of weeks, we will see videos which have achieved notoriety for their ability to engage. These are not sermons, but merely illustrations.
Previous videos in this series: 1. God Pie (19nov2010), 2. The Good-o-Meter (25nov2010), 3. That's Real Love (06dec2010), 4. Amazing Grace II (12dec2010), 5. A Social Network Christmas (20dec2010), 6. The Digital Story of the Nativity (20dec2010).
Web-Administration update
[mon 06dec10 rob] The www.anglicantas.org.au frontpage November archive has been completed. If you would like to view news items from November, click here to view the archives.
Recent releases from the Diocese
From Bishop John, From The Bishop's Desk 31.10 for 2nd December, 2010.
Click here for FTBD 31.10.
From our Registrar, Mr Russell Morton, Administrative Circular for December 2010.
Click here to read the latest Administrative Circular.
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To view archives of front page news, click here.
AnglicanTas frontpage editor: Rob Stanley