Lenten Resource 2016

Return to God: divine grace and human struggle is grounded in the Gospels that will be proclaimed in Western and Orthodox Churches each Sunday during Lent/the Great Lent. Each of the selected Gospels is followed by reflections from three different perspectives – Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. Icons and images are also included.

We hope that many of you will contact neighbouring churches and invite people to form interdenominational groups.  Please note that Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 10 February/ the Great Lent 14 March 2016.

The Most Revd Dr Philip L Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne and Primate Anglican Church of Australia, delivered an address to the Missions Conference at Trinity College on Thursday, 11 February 2016. The theme of the conference was Life in Abundance, and in his speech, Archbishop Freier spoke about three important elements for how we go about proclamation and loving service in God’s name: Relationships, Gathering/Community and Prayer.

Peter is just finishing 3 months of service with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), a program of the World Council of Churches. He has been based in Bethlehem, where his work has included providing protective presence to Palestinian children on their way to school and while at school so they are not harassed by Israeli security forces. Peter has also been monitoring the operation of the Bethlehem Checkpoint which is one of the main entry points for West Bank Palestinians to access Jerusalem for work, worship, and family gatherings.

In solidarity with persecuted Christians

Thanks to Act for Peace supporters, and the generosity of local doctors, refugees from Iraq are receiving essential medical care and much needed comfort in Jordan. It’s a Saturday, and Dr Haytham Aljbour, a paediatrician at the University Hospital in Amman, could be at home relaxing. Instead, he’s busy treating a clinic full of children who are attending a free medical day organised by Act for Peace’s local partner in Jordan. The temporary clinic, hosted in a church on the outskirts of Amman, is crowded with refugees from Iraq - all Christians persecuted for their faith - now seeking safety in Jordan and in need of medical help. 

#LetThemStay - Churches Unite

Following the High Court decision enabling the Australian Government to deport 267 asylum seekers, including 37 babies, back to Nauru, several churches and cathedrals across Australia are offering sanctuary to those asylum seekers at risk of being forcibly deported back to a hellish existence.

To date, more than 50 churches from nine denominations, six cathedrals, two orders of nuns and a mosque have committed to providing sanctuary.

During these past weeks as the National Council of Churches in Australia has begun preparing in earnest for the National Forum that will be held in Sydney on 24 – 27 June, I find myself reflecting on the theme of journey.

Our Lenten journey is always a time of challenge, of temptation, of walking with God, knowing that God is with us- even when we do not feel his presence. We pray that God’s grace sustains us as we journey towards Easter, the pinnacle of our Christian faith.

The ecumenical community is saddened by the news of the sudden passing away of Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus, Suffragan Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church on 27 December 2015 at the age of 78.

Bishop Mar Theophilus was an ardent ecumenist and served the ecumenical enterprise in various capacities at different levels. He was a member of the Central and Executive Committees of the World Council of Churches (WCC) from 1991 to 2006 and of the General and Executive Committees of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) from 1981 to 1985.

Deirdre Ashe joined the NCCA in December 2015 as Director of Business and Finance. Since 2008 she has been working in Hong Kong but knew it was time to come home to Sydney. The role at the NCCA appealed to her on a number of fronts – Interfaith dialogue is of great interest, believing ‘God has a place for unity’; NATSIEC was an exciting project, and she thought she would like to contribute to Act for Peace.

Having been brought up in the Anglican Church, Deirdre became a member of The Salvation Army by choice. At 15 she was invited to a House Party, and for the first time ‘received’ that Christ had died for her personally. From there she felt called to worship at the local Chester Hill corps (church) and over the years has committed to various ministries including open airs, pub ministry and youth work.

In the recent Australia Day 2016 honours many people were recognised for contribution to religious organisations and services. The NCCA congratulates all of them, with special mention of four who have been recognised for their contribution to ecumenism:

The Very Reverend Canon David Leyburn RICHARDSON AO, OBE is an Australian-born Anglican priest, who was dean of St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide (1988-1999) and St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne (1999-2008) and director of theAnglican Centre in Rome (2009-2013) .