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Dear brothers and sisters,

Sing a new song to the LORD!

Dear friends, here is a copy of the email and Facebook post I sent out on Friday to bring everyone up to speed about all church services from now on. The congregations can now sing! Praise God! However, if we are gathering (and 10am and 6pm brothers and sisters will still need to book) we are “highly recommended” by both the Archbishop and the Health Department to wear a mask while singing our hearts out.

So, I am bringing a mask with me and putting it on for each song and then singing. I hope you as an adult and any children in your care over 12 years of age will do so.

I’m doing this because I don’t want to run the risk of possibly infecting others when I sing, but experts who were consulted advise, and hospital practice confirms, that talking or saying prayers unmasked is not an issue.

However, please bring a mask with you – church will not be supplying them.

Devoted to prayer

Christmas is perhaps the easiest time of the year for people to hear the gospel message. Let’s pray for one another:

• That our lives and behaviour this Christmas will cause others to ask questions which we are ready to answer
• That many more people will accept our invitations to join us for Christmas gatherings (like many did last night)
• That God will work through all our events and programs to bring people to himself, including young kids (through Christmas Kids Club 21^st, 22^nd at Airds and Campbelltown)
• That many more people than so far will watch our online Christmas services and be drawn to the Lord.
• That we will know how best to follow through on peoples’ expressions of interest, questions and objections in a busy holiday season.

A live Christmas Service!

Besides the advertised recorded Christmas services available for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (download them on Christmas Eve morning from our YouTube channel and use when you wish) we have now decided to hold the traditional Christmas Eve 11pm Communion service on the Church Green. Newly-released COVID protocols are in place, including unmasked outdoors singing, and proper people density, and we will still need to distance. The bread and grape juice for those who wish to share the Lord’s Supper will be in sealed individual packs delivered hygienically to us in our seats. Despite such restrictions, it’s still wonderful that we can gather in this way and join our voices and lives in praise of our gracious Saviour, Immanuel.

In Jesus’ Name,

Deryck
Acting Rector

Dear friends,

“Are we there yet?”

Parents’ favourite phrase – NOT!

But it’s the unspoken phrase of many of us about the lifting or softening of the restrictions that have become second nature to so many. As you will already have seen, our government has significantly lowered the level of restriction for church services, largely due to the persistence of our Archbishop and other Christian, Islamic and Jewish leaders. What does this mean for our churches in Campbelltown?

1. We don’t want anyone to feel they must re-start coming to Sunday or Wednesday church.
2. We are able to accommodate significantly more people in services.
3. The congregations can now sing (!) as well as join in saying prayers together, masks being recommended for this, though it is each person’s choice.
4. We will continue having attendees record their details, properly sanitize their hands and having surfaces cleaned.
5. As much as possible, we will still need to socially distance.

This new regime is to be activated today (December 7^th) so will apply to our church services beginning next Sunday 13^th December.

Speaking of which, I am glad to let you know about the re-commencement of the other two weekly services at St Peter’s.

The 8AM Common Prayer service of Holy Communion will recommence on Sunday 20 December. As with the 10am and 6pm services, we will need volunteers to be trained and to act as COVID Marshalls who are responsible for ensuring we who attend follow all requirements. We’ve already set up a brief and easy training experience, so don’t hold back from volunteering! At this stage, given the numbers regularly at 8am in the past it seems like we won’t have to “book”, but if numbers grow wouldn’t that be great!

The 9.30am Wednesday Common Prayer service of Holy Communion will recommence on Wednesday 16 December. As a trial run, those who attend have already met twice and seemed to cope really well with the restrictions. It has been obvious how overjoyed they were to be seeing one another, and now to be able to sing as well . . . . . . ! At the moment, we do not have to book to attend this service either.

Because we will be meeting face to face again, and because the coming school holidays impact our staff and other technical experts who have been so successful in recording the 8am service each Thursday morning for broadcast on Sundays, we will NOT be making the service available on line beyond next Sunday. If that creates a problem for you, please let me know. Most of us will be unaware how much has been involved in setting up, running and adjusting the system for recording and broadcasting 8AM. We are all both amazed and thankful to Simon (mostly) and team for enabling us still to meet as God’s church, to sing his praises, to hear his word and to pray together even though apart. Thank you and we thank God for you.

“Are we there yet?”

Almost, but not quite. And of course we may yet have to make further adjustments if an outbreak occurs in our area.

Thank God:

• For the Government and Health Department officials who have worked so tirelessly and energetically to minimize the impact of the virus
• For the medical staff who have taken tests and cared for infected patients so devotedly – especially those who have been the only person able to be present as a sufferer died
• For the many scientists around the world working on the production and distribution of a vaccine
• For the leadership of our Archbishop during this difficult time for churches
• That we are able to gather and sing God’s praises
• For a loving church community that has cared so well for each other
• For the numbers of people interested in exploring Christ, our church and life as a believer.

With greetings in Jesus’ Name,

Deryck,
Acting Rector

Dear sisters and brothers,

On your behalf I congratulate and thank St Peter’s wardens on the successful purchase of a new residence (rectory) for our Senior Minister. God has been remarkably kind in the provision of the new home which is to be (mostly) funded by the sale of the Radnor Place residence. Jason and Heather and their girls will move in very shortly before enjoying some leave. Thanks so much to Barrie, Jason and Kevin for their hard work.

Besides providing the Veitch family with the home and thousands of Milky Ways (let the reader understand!), how can we best make their commencement with us as easy as possible for them?

I know we are praying for a good departure from Bexley. The saints there I know are really sad their beloved pastor and his family are leaving but also thankful that Jason will be bringing to Campbelltown, as a blessing, all that has made him so loved in their fellowship. They also know he is someone who is able and willing to be stretched and that CAC will certainly do that!

Let’s work at understanding the impact of all these changes on Jason and his family and pray for the Lord’s care of them through it.

There are books written about how to care for your pastor as he comes to a new appointment! Most of them just express gospel common sense.

So, rather than make my own suggestions, what would you suggest? If you can’t think of anything, ask yourself what you would like to be done for you if you were in his position?

Christmas

Below in the News are details of what’s happening to celebrate the birth of our Saviour. As the Health Directive has been changed now to allow householders to have up to 30 people in their home, let’s make the most of the opportunity to hold “Carols in our Yard” at home. Both the Christmas Eve Family Christmas and the Christmas Day Lessons and Carols will be recorded and available so you can watch them when it suits you on either of those two days.

Toys n Tucker

Final day for collection is December 10 – food and toy donations can be brought with you to church next Sunday or dropped at the Office this Friday or following Thursday (10th Dec).
Let’s make this a memorable Christmas not a forgettable one for many in our community as we demonstrate the love of Christ.

In Jesus,
 
Deryck,
Acting Rector

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

I remember the place, the time and the setting perfectly.

It was August 1971, a Friday afternoon, on Windsor Rd Northmead in a Mini Minor with a much older minister of the gospel. We had just joined with other ministers over lunch for a regular monthly meeting (called a Rural Deanery Chapter in those days – but that’s another story)

“Deryck”, Bert said, ”90% of growing as a Christian is being reminded of things you already know.”  Bert had been converted in his early 40’s at the Billy Graham Crusade in Sydney in 1959. Mates in the Real Estate game couldn’t believe the changes in him. And then he completed Moore College education and was ordained. Always down to earth, he was known and deeply appreciated for his clear-sightedness and often blunt language. Never rude, he wondered why some ministers made things so complicated!

But back to Windsor Rd. I’ve often thought of his wisdom that day. It’s true. And something to rejoice in and wonder at.

The apostle Peter teaches the same. in 2 Peter chapter 1 we read: “So I will always remind you of these things (verses 3 – 10 detail 2 foundational truths: Who we are in Christ -vv 3 and 4; how we are to live in Christ, vv 5-11) even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus has made clear to me. And I will make sure that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.”

Peter sees his role as a reminder for his readers of the gospel truths they already know and are firmly established in. And he plans that his letter will itself be a reminder of those truths after he dies.

Our world thrives on novelty. It’s always been a temptation for God’s people to turn from or wrongly and unhelpful add to “the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude v3). In every generation there are beguiling appeals to seek answers to the struggles of the Christian life in what turn out to be false and unrealistic promises or teaching – earthly perfection free from sin, earthly prosperity, intense manufactured emotional experiences, licentiousness, legalism and so on.

I keep remembering Bert’s words.

The temptation to “go beyond what is written” is always present, but Peter’s reminder is clear: His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3). Remind yourself of this. Keep growing as a Christian through remembering the gospel of God’s grace to us in the Lord.

Are we back yet?

Sunday 15th November saw a number come along to 10am and 6pm at St Peter’s to fellowship in person with other brothers and sisters. It was great to be able to see others and in a limited way join in the gathering’s program and chat informally afterwards (appropriately distanced of course). There is still room for more to join us in this way if you wish – but please, make sure you book online as detailed below.

Christmas!

Plans are well under way for our churches’ celebrations of Christmas in a different style this year. Lots of information follows and I encourage you to make the best use you can of what’s planned. Specially pray for the Kids Christmas Club programs being planned for both St Andrew’s and St Peter’s on December 21 and 22.

We send our love and admiration to our 2020 year 12-ers now the HSC has finished and Graduation is happening. You have done remarkably. However, we know some of you are still struggling with the complications, disappointments and setbacks of this year. Many of you church family are praying the Lord will give you the strength to cope. We have found him faithful, true and caring during rough times in our lives.

Till next week,

Deryck,
Acting Rector

Dear brothers and sisters,

The churchwardens didn’t like his preaching. As they could in those days they locked all the pews in the church. He still preached but with his hearers standing or sitting in the aisles, the side chapel and on the tombs of great ones.

He kept preaching and one day the churchwardens changed the locks on the church building. He moved with his congregation to a local field and carried on preaching.

In many ways Rev Charles Simeon, under God, was a trailblazer. Brought up with strongly High Church of England views he was influenced by Reformed writers on the Christian life and the sacraments and on Easter Day 1780 experienced the New Birth. At the age of 23 he became assistant minister (curate) at Holy Trinity Church Cambridge and a couple of years later the rector. Unofficial chaplain to the University, he remained at Holy Trinity for 50 years.

Initially the response was as I’ve described above, but Simeon’s determination won the day. He concentrated on preaching the gospel to undergraduate students and hundreds were converted. He never married but gospel came to Australia through one of his “boys”, Richard Johnson, chaplain to the First Fleet and was strengthened by others including Samuel Marsden. Simeon was part of the group that commenced the Church Missionary Society in 1799, and what became known as the (Anglican) Church’s Mission to the Jews.  Simeon constantly challenged young men to give up the comfortable prospect of a cosy life in an English parish and go to the ends of the earth with the gospel. Many did. Many stayed in the UK however, not only leading some of the most significant churches in the land, but commencing all kinds of “lay societies” for the advancement of the gospel. Such groups, though composed mostly of Anglicans, were not under the control of bishops, involved a majority of lay people and planted churches, served the poor and outcast, proclaimed the gospel to the marginalized and enlisted more undergraduates for gospel ministry. Many survive to this day.

Simeon was not only a great evangelist and a simple preacher whose sermons are a model of faithful, inspiring and passionate Bible preaching. He was convinced of the need to raise up the next generation of gospel workers. Classes on preaching, experience at open air gospel proclamation, a disciplined life of prayer and Bible reading and what we call one-to-one ministry were all part of his ministry to and equipping of those who would come after him.

Ministries amongst University students all over the world in our day focus on exactly the same aim and use almost exactly the same methods. Simeon’s practice was (drumroll Richie Benaud verse) Bible practice: 2:2:2: (2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 2): ‘Paul writes: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Pray that God will raise up more and more gospel workers, women and men, from the next generations.

Pray for the wisdom to see those in our midst who should be encouraged to see gospel ministry as their life’s work. Simeon saw that the harvest in his day was great, but the workers few and he did something about it.

Pray for increasing prayerfulness and sacrificial involvement of us all in that the Lord may send more workers into the harvest fields of the world.

Yours in Christ,

Deryck
Acting Rector

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Grace and Peace to you!

“Mate, get your kids to learn the drums because the drummer controls everything!” My friend, Jack (not his real name) was giving me a bit of advice as a new father – him, not me. From then on I watched – and still do – to see how this works. I’ve learnt it’s very hard to correct the beat when the drummer is in full flight. Some of my drummer friends are quite skilled at speeding up or slowing down the singing of a whole band and its audience, so it’s best just to go along with them.

But what if the beat is written differently from how they are playing, and the audience learns the song, goes his or her way rather than how the composer intended? Does it matter?

Of course, I know no musicology, as you can probably tell. And I’m aware I probably have a discussion already on my hands about this, especially from the bass player who will say they control everything. And of course I’m using this as a metaphor.

In 1 Kings 19 we read of God appearing to Elijah:  At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. ^[1]

The point is not that the LORD needs to try and get our attention by “playing loudly” as though his previous words were powerless or inaudible. It is rather that he has spoken clearly; his word does not need “a different beat” as though it is wrong or deficient. In actual fact the phrase “there was a voice, a soft whisper” could be better translated as “After the fire – silence!” That is, God has, in Elijah’s case, already spoken. He disdains the “fireworks” and reminds Elijah “I have already spoken. You do not need anything more. Just follow what I have already said.”

In our case, with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have all we need. “In these last days, God has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he created the world. (Hebrews 1). Waiting for something more, looking for the fireworks, is pointless. God has said what he has said, and it’s not beyond us to understand – and to follow the composer’s beat.

COVID update

Please continue praying for a vaccine to be successfully developed and made available to all. Please continue praying for continuing effectiveness of the control measures in place across our general community. Please continue bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4) especially as we have different views as to how Sunday church should function and the level of risk involved.

We are taking returning to Sunday meeting slowly as you know, for reasons you know (although I’m very happy for you to ring me with concerns, questions, or ideas, as a number have). Thank you to those who’ve already put their hand up to give some of the extra help we need to have a “live” congregation at 10am and 6pm. We still need more volunteers to be trained as Covid Marshalls. Please email or phone Kylie in the office with your offer of help.

Although the Archbishop and other leaders have successfully lobbied the government to increase numbers able to attend church services, and particularly events held outside, it’s still not possible for St Peter’s to plan for doing more than will be possible on 15 November. We’ll let you know next week the arrangements for attendance of limited numbers at 10am and 6pm on that day.

Please take note of the announcement below about Christmas at Home this year. Begin to think and pray now about the (up to 20) friends, family and/or neighbours you’d love to invite to your celebration on 13 December at 6pm.

And please continue to pray for our Year 12’s, their families and carers working their way through the HSC exams.

Finally, on Monday 26 and 27 October our ministry staff will be meeting with Jason Veitch, our soon-to-arrive new Senior Minister to do some team-building and planning for next year. Pray for this time to be well spent and encouraging.

Yours prayerfully in Christ,

Deryck Howell
Acting Rector

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^[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (1 Ki 19:11–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Dear sisters and brothers of St Peter’s and St Andrew’s,

Greetings!

“So, what’ve you got planned for tomorrow?”

The barista was doing his usual thing – apparently he asked this of everyone. As a first-timer in his shop, however, I didn’t know how people answered. Was he really interested or was this just politeness. Did he really want to know? Why? What would he do with what I said? Better to be cautious and not say too much . . . . . .  And then . .  “I’m the only one in the café, so don’t be hesitant or ashamed.”

So I told him. But instead of something innocuous like “I’m off to a work meeting”, I found myself telling him the whole truth: “I’m going to meet with a group of Christian people who work at supporting Aboriginal churches in Sydney and the Illawarra.” Raised eyebrows.  “Really?  That sounds interesting. Tell me more.” 30 minutes later my coffee was warm and I found I had spoken the gospel to him in the course of a very interesting conversation. “Stupid man,” I said to myself. “Why do you find it so hard to bring Jesus into the conversation?” 

Yes, I do find it hard. When presented with an obvious opening, something in me wants to play it safe. I find myself wanting the Lord to return immediately, or trying to find some way of communicating as little as possible, or even lying(!) in my response.  The psychology of this will say that underneath lies a fear of rejection. I don’t want to be seen as different, odd or stupid.

It took but a millisecond for God to remind me that this man needs to hear of Jesus, that not to say something to spark interest in him demonstrates unbelief in the promises of God and that I am preaching on faith at the moment!

My guess is I am not unique in this pressure not to speak up appropriately about Jesus. Pressure from within and/or without. My prayer for you is that your trust in the Lord will not be weak like mine was last Friday (at least at the beginning) but that you will be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you.

MU

Last month St Andrew’s submitted an application for a grant of $20,000 over 2 years for seed funding for a kids’ club ministry and ministry to women in the area. The grant was being offered (one of only 2 per year) by the Mothers’ Union of the Diocese of Sydney. Mother’s Union is a very longstanding world-wide Anglican organisation dedicated to winning the homes of nations for Christ. We were delighted to be told that MU has made one of those grants for 2021-22 to St Andrew’s!!

This is marvellous news. MU pledge not only financial support but also prayer support and a developing relationship with the St Andrew’s congregation. Please join with us in thanking God for this money and pray for the wardens and selection group as the process to find the right person begins.

JJ

Last Monday at St Peter’s Junior Jivers began running a second JJ program because of the numbers of Mums and kids wanting to join. There is a great deal of work involved in running these programs each week but the connection with non-church community members is proving very fruitful. Kat Bullen and her team(s) do very well not only at the program but with the connecting. As you know, a number of women have been saved this year through that connection and exploring Jesus, and others are expressing interest. Please keep praying and thanking God for this ministry.

Campbelltown Anglican Schools Council membership

In more good news, this past week Parish Council elected two new Parish appointees to the Campbelltown Anglican Schools Council (CASC). They are Ben Stelzer (for 2 years) and George Watts (for 3 years). We congratulate them both and look forward to how God will bless their contribution to this important work.

At the same time, Ross Ford has had to retire from membership of CASC as he has reached the limit of the time a member can serve. Well done Ross! What will you do now on Wednesday nights?? Thank you for all that you have done to support and strengthen the work and ministry of our schools.

COVID MARSHALLS

We are still in need of members to be trained and then take their place in overseeing the COVIDSafe requirements at our 10am and 6pm services. Especially as we move towards re-opening both services in 3 weeks’ time we need you to step up to help in this way. It’s not onerous, you don’t have to do all the work yourself, and there is good, straightforward training provided. Please contact the office with your offer of help.

CHRISTMAS 2020

Christmas 2020 will be different in lots of ways, as we know. Please make sure you take in the information in the item about Christmas below. Please note the government requirement of a limit of 20 people per home applies for the way we plan to celebrate with carols this year. Please start thinking and praying about whom you can invite to your place.

With best wishes in Christ,

Deryck Howell,
Acting Senior Minister

Dear friends,

Violence in the home, we are reliably told, has been increasing during COVID19. Violence in the home, sadly, is well-documented as increasing during sporting finals time. It is, of course, just one way humans both experience and find ways to abuse one another. We may be surprised, but almost every church has within it folk who are or have been both abusers and abused. Can I ask you to stop right now and pray for those you may be aware of in your circles, or pray God will give you the courage to speak to someone appropriate about what you know or experience?

Besides many other ways, we can all support the improvement of the ways churches help and care for past or present victims by participating in a General Synod i.e. Anglican Australia-wide online survey. Here are the details:

National Anglican Family Violence Project: Invitation to participate

Help us to build a safer and more supportive Anglican Church for people who have experienced domestic violence. Join a research project aimed to help improve church practices. If you have had an experience of domestic violence and a current or previous link with the Anglican Church, please share your perspective.  The online survey is anonymous and anyone can take part. To find out more go to surveys.ncls.org.au/NAFVP/experience 

More information about the research is available here: https://anglican.org.au/our-work/family-violence/ 

COVID19 news

Junior Jivers, Friday Youth, and now Friday Arvo Kids have returned to meeting onsite, with Junior Jivers planning an extra morning to accommodate more people who want to join. We continue to work on how best, besides online services, which will continue, we can provide for all our Sunday services to be face to face. Plans are afoot for a return to face to face meeting of both 10am and 6pm church on November 15. We are working on how best to cater for our 8 o’clock-ers. And plans are starting to be drawn up for appropriate Christmas celebrations. Please pray for wisdom and love in all of our church-wide thinking and planning.  The Archbishop is in constant touch with the Minister for Health, most recently about the inconsistencies of numbers who can be present at church gatherings and other venues. Pray for his wisdom and gracious firmness in urging change.

Prayer

For our schools: Continue to pray for all the Year 12’s at Broughton College.
Continue to pray for the planning of the 2021 academic year.
Continue to pray that all members of our community remain in good health and are not found to be positive for COVID-19.

St Peter’s. Pray also for all members of our school will experience good health. Pray for wisdom and care in planning for next year. Pray for both schools to continue to teach, demonstrate and experience life through the Lord Jesus.

For our staff: Mick Bullen has ended up in hospital having his appendix removed. He’s on the mend, but recovery will take a while. Pray for Kat and the girls as well.

“Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about these kinds of things.”  (Philippians 4:8)

Yours in Christ,

Deryck
Acting Rector

Dear sisters and brothers,

We’ve been working our way through the early chapters of Genesis recently, as you know. It’s highlighted a couple of things for me I’d really forgotten. One is the matter of time.

Since at least the 1960’s our culture has become increasingly impatient. The love of change for change’s sake, the rise of easily available credit, built-in obsolescence in relationships, material goods, programs and many other features have arisen from this impatience. On the personal level, we have learnt to so manage our lives as to gain instant satisfaction.   On the political level we expect our leaders to deliver instantly on promises. On the communal level we want everything from the food we eat to the roads we drive on, from the telecommunications we need to the medical progress we expect to be delivered yesterday. (I know, I know, I may sound like a grumpy old man who only thinks the so-called “glory days” had things right. I’m aware of that tendency in me, but I still think it’s true that much of our thinking and expectations are driven by an impatience that comes out of a deep dissatisfaction with the way things are.)

What has struck me again as we’ve listened to Genesis is that God has his own timing for things. Thousands of years could pass and still a profoundly world-changing promise like that of Genesis 3:15 remained unkept. Humankind tried to take over the world as if the promise of God mattered for nothing. And they (we) kept on doing it. But, as the apostle Peter says, “Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 2:8-9). So, it was not till God himself willed it, as the apostle Paul says, “When the time had fully come”, that “God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law to redeem those who were under the Law.”

In our instant culture we do well to remember this.

Speaking of time, in this Covid season we are of course all concerned with when we can return to meeting face to face again.

So, I can now share with you some plans and ideas we have as a staff for this.

One definite plan now in place is to have Friday Arvo Kids at St Peter’s return to meeting. This will recommence on Friday October 9, in the week before school term 4 begins. Pray for this all to run well and that kids in the habit of meeting online will all return. Pray specially that the older kids “graduating” from Arvo Club will happily transition to Friday Youth.

Our staff and helpers are now working on plans for our 10am and 6pm services at St Peter’s to return to face to face meeting as at Sunday 15 November. There are two things to note about this, which you will get sick of me saying (well, I hope not, especially the second!) 

Firstly, church will be very different in the following ways. Both services will have to be held in the hall because we will still need to livestream them to those who will be unable to join us. The 10am service, usually held in the School Hall, will have to continue in the Church Hall as the School Hall has poor internet access and it would be a huge job to set up and remove equipment in that space. Numbers will be limited to just over 30, not including the tech and service teams. We will need to book a seat in some form. We will not be able to mingle before and after the service, we will have to sign in and answer the questions we are asked everywhere now as we enter; sit apart; not sing or share in (usually corporate) prayer, and probably have to wear masks. There is strong doubt as to whether we could have an accompanying kids’ ministry. Please be assured our staff and other helpers are trying hard to make face to face meeting as beneficial as possible and as simple as possible, and we ask for your prayers as we reach towards November 15.

Secondly, just as in pre-Covid19 days meeting on Sundays involved many people willingly and generously giving their energies, expertise and time to ensuring things all ran well, so in these days the same will be true. We will need people to step up and accept responsibilities as they become known and advertised. While we all need to think seriously about our involvement, it’s going to be quite complex. We need to remember there are those among us who will not be comfortable attending a “public” meeting for fear of contracting the virus. We must not judge one another. We need to remember there are those among us for whom it will all be too hard. We must not judge one another. And there will be those among us who will need a prod to step up! Rather than judge, we need at all times to remember to love one another. I encourage us all to see what is being planned as a challenge from the Lord to love one another well. (John 13:34)

More about this next week.

I also want you to know that our staff are starting to think and plan for Christmas and what the celebration of our Saviour’s birth will look like at St Peter’s, St Andrew’s and MIC this year. We hope we can run a Kids “Christmas Special” Club in December. We may end up decentralizing our community carols and suggesting and providing for you to run a kind of neighbourhood Christmas event in your front yard or communal area. A video Christmas message, goodies to enjoy, handouts to present and a visit from groups of our musicians in the back of a Ute!  Whatever form our Christmas takes, I want you to know we are working on it (and are open to suggestions).

During these two weeks some of our staff will be on well-earned leave, but don’t forget to keep praying for both our church life and our connected schools.

Pray for the staff taking leave.

Thank God for the generous-hearted tech teams as they serve us so effectively.

Pray we will take every opportunity to use our live-streamed services for the benefit of others.

For our schools:

St Peter’s Primary: Give thanks for the link with St. Peter’s Church and for the opportunity for Ministry staff and teaching staff to present the Gospel to our families each week.

Broughton Anglican College: Thank God for our Year 12’s being so resilient in a very difficult year for them: pray for them all, however, as they continue to struggle with the pressures and prospect of HSC very soon.

Campbelltown Anglican Schools Council: Thank God for those retiring from Council and for the 4 new members due to take their places in October.

Prayerfully yours,

Deryck
Acting Senior Minister

Dear sisters and brothers,

I remember the exact time and place. It was on a Wednesday afternoon in late 1972 returning to Parramatta down Windsor Rd Baulkham Hills. I was seated next to Bert, a fair bit older than I was, who loved his Mini Minor – remember those? Bert had been converted only in his 40’s and had then trained for ministry. He was very down to earth and very effective for the kingdom. “Deryck, I’ve come to realize that 90% of the Christian life is not about learning new stuff. It’s about reminding yourself of what you already know so you can do it.”

The Apostle Paul writes to the young minister he is mentoring, Timothy: “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.” (2 Timothy 2:8.)

While we must take every opportunity to learn more of God’s word, more of what he has said and done; while “growing in the knowledge of God” is essential; while studying the PTC or even at theological college can be life-changing and equip us much more deeply for God’s service, It’s possible to drift away from “Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David.

I’ve done it myself – not deliberately, but by not remembering to choose to remember Christ Jesus risen from the dead, descended from David.

Bert was right – we know lots if we know Christ. But constantly remembering the gospel truths about Jesus is what we need to do if we are to continue to live for him.

It’s always “Back to the gospel”

I ask you to pray for our two parish-linked schools along these lines. They have asked us to pray as follows:

For Broughton Anglican College: Continue to pray for the College as our building program continues. Give thanks for the provision of the resources to build the Junior School Teaching facility and for the impact this new building will have in teaching and learning at the College.

Pray for Year 12 as they complete their major works and prepare for their Higher School Certificate.

For St Peter’s Anglican Primary School: Pray that obstacles preventing growth would be removed and for the boldness to take necessary steps.

Give thanks for the community engagement in the school at this time. Pray for those who are keen to join our community in 2021.

Give thanks for the link with St. Peter’s Church and for the opportunity for Ministry staff and teaching staff to present the Gospel to our families each week.

Thank God for the schools and their staff and households and pray that each one will continue to remember.

And pray that we, too, will remember Christ Jesus risen from the dead, descended from David.

Sincerely in Christ,

Deryck Howell,
Acting Senior Rector

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

“I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:16.)

Fancy learning that this is part of how you disciple a new Christian. You learn how to make them a disciple of Jesus. So you help them understand they have been transferred out of darkness into the light of Christ, that they have been given to Christ by the Father, that they are now an heir of the kingdom of God, God’s adopted child, now washed perfectly clean in his sight. Instead of being enslaved to the idol of the day they are now set free to live as they were made to live. Instead of living in fear of death they know that nothing at all is able to cut them off from the Cross-centered love of God. And they are now enlisted in a work whose effects will not stop when they pass from this life, but will last into eternity.

And then you learn that an essential part of your discipling is to help this new disciple understand “how much he must suffer for my name”. This is “discipling 101” for the disciple of the apostle Paul. I may have been deaf, but I have never heard of someone discipling a new believer with words like these.

We know how this worked out in the life of the apostle. As Ananias was told by the Lord, in terms of Isaiah 49 Paul (Saul) was God’s chosen instrument to carry his name before the Gentiles and their kings and the people of Israel. He was to be the first world evangelist. And he was. And we know how much he suffered for the Name – even dying for It. But is that us?

Not exactly, but almost. Paul was a unique trailblazer. And he did suffer for the Name. In 2 Timothy, towards the end of his life, he asked Timothy to recall what he had seen of Paul’s life. “You know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance”, – and then – “persecutions, sufferings.” And he goes on, “In fact everyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:10 – 13)

Yet we easily leave this out in our discipling of one another. And then we are surprised when we hear news of believers being persecuted – yes, in Australia as well as elsewhere – and think it’s not normal. And in the Australian community where Christianity has long held a privileged position we Christians are outraged when some of our privileges are attacked or withdrawn.

I’m not saying we should just take whatever comes our way without a whimper. But we serve a Saviour who suffered death at the hands of the elite of his day; we have as a brother in the faith one who was told he would suffer much for the sake of that Saviour’s name; and we are told that suffering persecution is in our DNA. We don’t go looking for it but we must expect it and not be dismayed that we are counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name. (Acts 5:41)

Living a godly life in Christ Jesus means not so much being pious, but more, continuing to live by God’s revealed truth. Living by the Bible. Resisting attempts from within and without to water down the truth of God’s word.

Which leads me to prayer. We demonstrate that we live by the Bible by treating God as the perfect Sovereign Creator the Bible reveals him to be. We acknowledge our utter dependence on him in all things and so accept his open invitation to bring everything to him in prayer.

As promised, here are some suggestions for your prayers this week focusing on various ministries close to our churches engaged in making disciples prepared for the opposition that will inevitably come:

For our schools:
Broughton Anglican College: Pray for the year 12 students as they continue to cope with the impact of the pandemic on study and life; pray for Mark Schroder, School Chaplain, in his ministry to both students and staff, in the classroom and outside.                                                                                                                                                 
St Peter’s Primary: Give thanks for the perseverance of our St. Peter’s community and the way they continue to adapt to change in these strange and uncertain times. Pray that St. Peter’s would maintain our goal of being unashamedly Christian. 
  
Campbelltown Anglican Schools Council: Pray for our parish Council, due to elect two new members to the Schools’ Council in October; Pray for the Council to continue working hard to develop plans for the future.

For Michael Duckett and Macarthur Indigenous Church: Praise God for the new home and property in Wedderburn being set up for ministry and cultural training and as a peaceful and inspiring setting for all kinds of gospel possibilities. COVID-19 restrictions have hit Aboriginal gatherings of all kinds hard. Pray for our church to demonstrate more and more the love of God in Christ to our community. Thank God for opportunities for Michael to speak to school and church groups about how Black Lives Matter to God.

For Jason and Heather Veitch, Eliana, Sarah and Hannah as the twins prepare for HSC exams, as the family cares for their church grieving the loss of their minister later this year.     

Pray for our wardens and parish council as they prepare to sell the former rectory and purchase a new one. Ask God that this may all happen in time for the Veitch family to move in during January.

Pray for year 12 students who are part of our churches as they face exams in a very strange setting.

Prayerfully yours,

Deryck Howell,
Senior Acting Rector

My dear sisters and brothers,

Our God answers prayer!

By now you will have heard the great news about Jason and Heather Veitch and their family coming to lead Campbelltown Anglican Churches early in 2021.

It’s not only that we are now rejoicing that an appointment has been accepted, but I know we can rejoice that it is Jason whom God has led to us. Some would say that’s because a church can never have too many Jason’s!

I know Jason and Heather, have been in contact with them since the 1990’s when I first knew them, and am delighted they are bringing their own particular contributions to us. I look forward to seeing what God will do through them as the gospel continues to go out through St Peter’s and St Andrew’s to our communities and the world beyond.

The job of parish Nominator is perhaps the most important job in a church. The work they do – mostly behind the scenes – can result in a church attempting great things for God and his kingdom, or the opposite. I don’t mean setting up great new programs, whizz-bang activities with cutting edge innovation. These things may or may not be involved.

I mean more faithful proclaiming and living by the gospel of the Lord Jesus in an increasingly resistant world.

I mean more deep dependence on God in all things.
I mean deeper and more Christ-like loving of one another.
I mean growing in love for the lost in all the world.

God has worked through the Nominators and the Archbishop to give us Jason. I believe under his leadership our churches will indeed attempt great things for God which will be revealed in all their glory at the Last Day.

I know Jason is working really hard to “leave well” from St George North parish. Please pray for our brothers and sisters there as they adjust to this news, and for the Veitch family in all the preparations to journey West.

Our God does answer prayer! Thank you from all of us to the Nominators. Your prayerful hard work has produced great fruit. We thank you.

Meanwhile ….
God continues to answer our prayers. Just last week a lady, contacted through Junior Jivers, was saved through giving her life to Jesus Christ. Praise Him.! There are others in contact with us through the JJ team keen to find out more about Jesus. Pray for this to be true of more and more people. Friday Youth has seen at least one young person come back from a dark place because he knows Jesus is the only thing that makes sense. Another has also concluded that Jesus is the only credible answer to the deep questions of life.

And on Friday last week Leanne conducted the funeral of Ross Cooper, husband of Rhonda. Rhonda and her family, in the midst of their sorrow, rejoice that in the last weeks of his life, Ross gave himself to the Saviour. Rhonda and friends had been praying for Ross over many years. God continues to answer our prayers!

Besides praying for each of these folk, can I ask you also to pray for our two schools, St Peter’s Primary and Broughton College. Each week from now on we will have one or two fresh matters for prayer from each school included in our News. We will also ask them to pray for us.

Why? They are “our” schools, established primarily to reach our community with the gospel of the Lord Jesus.

Their work is spiritual as well as educational and therefore requires the use of spiritual means to undertake and support it.

Here are this week’s requests:

Broughton College:
* Pray for all the Year 12 students, affected in extra ways from other students by the Covid epidemic.
* Pray for Chaplain Mark Schroder as he ministers the gospel in chapel services

St Peter’s Primary:
*  Pray for Covid not to have a detrimental effect on enrolments.
*  Pray for Simon, Leanne and Mick as they conduct school Chapels each week.

And pray for the members of the Campbelltown Anglican Schools Council to have great wisdom and gospel focus as they meet to make decisions for the schools during the pandemic and beyond.

Finally, we rejoice to know that dozens and dozens of people outside of “normal” church contact watch our online services each week. Praise God for them, and pray for God to save many.

Pray for me as I pray for you,
In Christ Jesus,

Deryck Howell
Acting Senior Rector

Wallowing in sin?

Recently my wife Glenda has been reading (wading!) her way through a biography/diary of a remarkable Christian missionary of the 18^th century. He was one of those men captured and captivated by Christ who spent his short life in the service of the gospel far from his home country.

Typical of his diary entries is this:

“Wednesday, Feb. 22. In the morning had as clear a sense of the exceeding pollution of my nature, as ever I remember to have had in my life. I then appeared to myself inexpressibly loathsome and defiled; sins of childhood, of early youth, and such follies as I had not thought of for years together, as I remember, came now fresh to my view as if committed but yesterday, and appeared in the most odious colours; they appeared more in numbers than the hairs of my head; yea, they `went over my head as a heavy burden.’ — In the evening, the hand of faith seemed to be strengthened in God; my soul seemed to rest and acquiesce in him; was supported under my burdens, reading the 125th Psalm; and found that it was sweet and comfortable to lean on God”.

What do you think?

It’s always been the temptation for believers to make too little or too much of sin in our lives. Not really understanding our sin and that even as disciples of Christ we still sin, will lead to trivialising the cross of Christ. Being more and more aware of sin in our lives so easily tips over into self-loathing so that we think we are not forgiven or cannot be forgiven –in a strange way this also makes light of the cross.

As J.C Ryle, first bishop of Liverpool in the UK wrote famously, a person “may commit sin and yet be ignorant of it, and fancy themselves innocent when they are guilty”. God says to us: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (1 John 1:5-6)

And if our tendency is to wallow in our sin and so not really allow the glorious truth of the gospel testify to us that “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Roman 8:1) we need to hear Ryle’s gospel wisdom: “we should not be afraid, indeed we must, “if we only look at the same time at the almighty medicine provided for us in the salvation that is in Jesus Christ”

Have you thought about your sin lately? Too little? Or Too much? There’s only one reference point for the answer – the cross, the death of the Lord Jesus our Saviour and King.

Opportunities for outreach and community.

While church life is so unnatural at the moment it may seem like there’s no way we can still keep proclaiming the Lord Jesus to our family, neighbours, friends and community. This is mostly because we are used to running programs so people can hear of Him. Church itself, exploring Christianity courses, special events etc. are only one kind of way to proclaim Jesus. Now we can’t do things in those ways – and others – have we come to a full stop?

Not if the feedback I am hearing is correct! If you have found a way or ways of sharing your knowledge of the Lord with another, or other people, please let us know. I’d love to be able to join in thanking God with you for such opportunities, no matter how unexpected. “Stories of grace” such as these are a terrific encouragement and strong reminder that the gospel is God’s and he is not dependent on us to save people or have them hear about Jesus.

Our ministry staff are continuing to discuss and plan our move(s) forward in getting back to gathering for church. Please continue to pray for them – and any concerns you have, please bring them straight to me.

PS. Please continue to pray for and encourage our Year 12’s.

Your servant in Christ Jesus,

Deryck
Acting Rector

Dear friends of St Andrew’s and St Peter’s,

“Are you safe?” “How are you? Well? Safe?”

We’ve had to become used to being asked that now we are living with COVID19. (In my aurally challenged life now I sometimes mishear the question as “Are you sane?”. My reply, “Why? Have you noticed something?” usually gets a puzzled look!)

Providing safety has become essential for the toolkit of any organisation or business operating in our community at the moment. I want to reassure you that at present Campbelltown Anglican Churches’ properties are as safe as we can possibly make them. And this standard is not in place just because we are responsible citizens. Above all it is an expression of our love for others.

So when Junior Jivers met on Friday morning – and it was a great re-start – several leaders had already spent much time working hard at cleaning and disinfecting the hall, toilet facilities, toys and equipment. They had established rigorous and clear check-in procedures, and provided hand sanitiser and appropriate seating along with clear instructions for our visitors. Thank you, Kat and team! And that’s all before any of the marvellous fun, Bible input and playing got under way.

And when it was all over, there was an almost equally detailed and demanding program to ensure the hall was as safe as required for the next users.

So on Friday night, Youth group had the great joy of meeting face-to-face again. Again, thanks to the leaders, the same detailed safety regime was in place. Thank you James and team!

Friends, please pray for these two ministries. The leaders and helpers carry a big responsibility for bringing the love of Jesus to little ones, youth, their families and helpers. And God has been at work even though there have been no meetings till now. The teams have lovingly and responsibly taken on this extra work to ensure the safety of all who come. Pray that they will not get weary, that the highest level of safety possible will be in place each week, and above all that God will bring the gospel of grace to many.

But our responsibility to provide safety extends beyond safety from infection.

Safe Ministry Checks.

As an added but essential feature of the Safe Ministry program, training and certification, all those involved with children in our churches must commit to the new Safe Ministry Check. This Check involves each volunteer confidentially answering a set of seven questions about their personal life. The questions are designed to draw out any information which might result in concerns about the suitability of a person to work with children. We are told the vast majority of volunteers will answer “no” to each question or will write a satisfactory explanation to explain their “yes” answer. If, however, concerns are raised, a confidential interview will follow to explore any issues raised.

Can I emphasise one point? Responsibility for ensuring the processes for these Checks are in place and particularly sighting responses and dealing with any concerns raised is for the Senior Minister or his Authorised Delegate alone. He would normally do the reading of responses himself but if it’s obvious the workload is too great, especially in this introductory period as we catch up, he may delegate some of that work to a senior member of staff.  At present I am intending to handle this myself. Only when I have done that will any other person be involved – our Safe Ministry Rep (Kerry Olsen) will ensure the barest of details are entered into the parish’s secure Safe Ministry Records: date Check was submitted, result of processing, date of clearance, name of person processing clearance.

If volunteers are aged 18 or over the questions can be answered online on a secure site.

There are other details I will outline in an email I’ll send out to all our present volunteers over the next few weeks – Junior Jivers staff and Youth staff will be the guinea pigs – and I hope to complete the process well before the end of the year as required.

I am both glad and saddened by us having to put this extra feature into our Child Protection/Safe Ministry suite of requirements. I am glad because it has always seemed to me a Working With Children Check and Safe Ministry Training was not pastoral enough. The Check, along with the other two requirements, will provide greater rigour in our processes, but also strengthen the personal pastoral context in which our volunteers minister.

I am saddened by the need for this process because it underlines once more that sin is alive and well in our world. Sadly, the abuse of little ones entrusted to others is all too frequent; and even more sad that it’s within the church of God. We are those who know from God himself the dreadful reality and effects of sin. And we know none of us are exempt. You will know, as we all do, of the awful news of a trusted Christian leader wreaking havoc for the gospel, in the lives of churches and individuals and in their own life and that of their family because of sin. We are fools if we think it won’t happen again – and even greater fools if we think we ourselves are immune.

Now, no process will be a guaranteed defence against sin. This new Check won’t be either. It’s not foolproof, but it is a helpful way to remind our generous and servant-hearted volunteers and ourselves of the kind of life to be lived by a servant of Christ.  It will enable them in confidence to alert a trusted pastor to any struggles they think they may be having and seek prayerful help. And it will give church leaders greater reasons to be confident about the ministry of those volunteers.

Above all it will enable us to be even more confident that we and those to whom we minister are safe as they experience among us the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sincerely in Christ,

Deryck Howell
Acting Senior Minister

PS. In case you’re wondering, all paid staff have to submit themselves to a much longer “Lifestyle Questionnaire” as part of the process of obtaining the Archbishop’s license to minister.

Dear sisters and brothers,

I found a photo of my great-grandfather’s headstone the other day (on Wikipedia!). He had been a much-loved gospel minister in the Bathurst area in the late 19^th and early 20^th century. His tombstone read: The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. It was also in a tapestry on his study wall.

You’ll remember this quote from Deuteronomy 33:27 was part of a very strong warning and encouragement from Moses to the people of Israel as they faced entry to the promised land. The eternal God, not their own strength or cleverness, the size of their future army or the wealth they would have, was to be their refuge, as he was for my great-grandfather; and I’ve been challenged as to whether he is mine.

In the time of Covid19 we are to let this great truth shape all we think and do. In loneliness and perhaps despair at our changed lives; in gratitude for a negative test result; in isolation with a positive test result; in the relatively normal life and the abnormal new life we might face, The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Year 12 2020

I want to ask you to pray specially for year 12 students across our state and particularly in our local public and church schools. The pandemic has caused many to have deep uncertainty about the HSC they face – fears about their preparedness, when it will take place and what protective provisions will be operating by then. But more than that is the loss of many milestones they have been looking forward to: a proper graduation ceremony, a full school farewell, an opportunity to thank their schools as a year group. And for many the greatest disappointment is that the full social impact of the pandemic will mean there can be no school formal or any of the memorable times celebrating with friends that mark the end of their school life. For them this final year will be remembered for its isolation and the loss of never-to-be-repeated experiences.

As those who know The Eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms, we know that what matters most is not academic achievement, shared experiences or treasured memories. We know it will not profit a person if they gain the whole world and lose their soul. So we have a responsibility to everyone, including our young friends of Year 12 2020 to keep pointing them to Jesus in a sensitive, understanding and clear way. A way that demonstrates understanding of how this year has been so different from what they expected; a way that demonstrates real concern for their welfare psychologically and relationally; a way that genuinely loves them. And we start by turning to God.  With their permission I want over the next weeks to list the names of year 12 students amongst our families and households of St Peter’s and St Andrews and Macarthur Indigenous Church so we can pray for them. (Stop and pray briefly for them now).

Covid19 update. Juniors Jive again! And Youth, too!

I am delighted to let you know that after a lot of hard work by their leaders and with the background work of our wardens, Covid19 Team and ministry staff, Junior Jivers and Friday Youth Group will re-commence this coming Friday August 21^st. Please pray for safety for all who come and specially that those these groups are trying to reach will feel confident enough to come along.

St Andrew’s re-commenced their service at 9.30 yesterday morning, with about 25 attending, although there are some who because of age or frailty will continue watching services online.

And us?

I want to assure you that many amongst us are continuing to explore when and how it may be possible to re-commence services and other ministries at St Peter’s. No-one has a monopoly on ideas, so here’s my challenge to you:

Given that the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms, and that we will not be able to return to meeting as we used to for quite some time, what ideas would you like to share that will help us together better express that love for one another that is the hallmark of Jesus’ disciples (John 13:34)?

Given that the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms, and that we will not be able to return to meeting as we used to for quite some time, what ideas would you like to share that will help us better bring the gospel of Jesus to our family, neighbours, friends and community? (Luke 24:46-47)

I’d love to hear them, no matter how radical or unusual!

Clarification: In the letter last week I didn’t express clearly enough our present policy about weddings. My words could be taken to mean that at present (during Covid19) we are only conducting weddings for our own members. What I meant to say is that at present any weddings conducted will be taken by our own ministers, not “outside” ministers. I apologise for not being clear. Our ministers conducting weddings for non-members as well as members has been a marvellous way of sharing the great news of Jesus with many in the wider community.

Please remember that I am the first one to call or email if you have questions about our Covid19 response. (mobile 0411 770 451, email: dkhowell@exemail.com.au)

Remember:

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms

In Christ Jesus,

Deryck Howell
Acting Rector

Dear sisters and brothers,

I want to begin by updating you on progress various groups are making as we all try and live as God’s true people during this pandemic.

Following the meeting of the Wardens of St Peter’s and myself, and the Wardens of St Andrew’s and myself I want to let you know the following:

1. Training has happened for people interested in what a Covid Marshall is expected to do in a church service or ministry setting or in becoming or training Marshalls for these occasions. Thanks to Adrian Culbert in particular this training will progressively be made available for all who want it.
   
2. Professional cleaning contractors are to commence weekly cleaning of some of the St Peter’s properties in late August. They will clean to commercial standards and our timetable.
   
3. Junior Jivers and Youth are almost there! Leaders of these ministries have worked very hard to finalize their Covid19 Safety Plans and have consulted with Anglican Youthworks Regional Advisers before gaining approval to start meeting. They plan to re-commence Junior Jivers and Friday Youth Group in the next few weeks, and of course are keeping group members informed. Please pray for our leaders to be not only faithful in ensuring the groups meet in a safe (and CovidSafe) environment but that their zeal to see families reached with the gospel will be even stronger than before Covid. Please pray for non-church kids and their families to be converted through the work of our sisters and brothers.
   
4. The Wardens and I have agreed that for the time being non-parish/outside events and groups will not be permitted to use our properties. This includes weddings or funerals for people not part of our parish and/or conducted by other ministers, and outside groups which may have met on our property in the past. We are being cautious, we know, but our first priority is St Peter’s and St Andrew’s own ministries.
   
5. The Covid19 Safety Team continues to keep its finger on the pulse in order that as we make any decisions about returning to  even remotely “normal” church life we will have the best and latest information. Thank you to Jason Manning and the Team.
   
6. I will be the go-to person for enquiries and questions about what is happening in all this. There are a number of groups working on and within our strategy – among them are our wardens and the Team, ministry staff and those with other responsibilities- and it is best if one person is at the centre coordinating and overseeing our response. Please direct all enquiries to me on 0411 770 451 or dkhowell@exemail.com.au. (I am available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and Sundays as well)

I don’t know about you, but I am personally really sad that we are not able to meet as we used to (well, as you used to, but the same is true no matter which church people belong to). It seems like every week – sometimes every day – the number of Covid19 cases in our community and the number of “case locations” changes. Our governments are doing their best to be wise, cautious and clear in what they expect of the community. Some of us are super-cautious, even fearful. As Christians we want to be known as those who love one another and those outside of Christ. We want to demonstrate godly citizenship, especially in times like these. So, can we not meet together?

I wonder if you realize that such are the precautions we need to take at the moment that church in our buildings would be very different from what we are used to.

Our Team has worked out how many people each of our buildings can safely hold under the government directives.  Attendees would need to book a seat ahead to ensure no overcrowding. We could not mingle and chat with one another either before or after the service. We would have to sign in – as you do at any club, restaurant etc. you plan to visit and answer questions about our state of health and where we may have visited.  We could not sit closer than 1 ½ metres to each other. We could not sing or join in prayers, creeds etc. as a body. We would have to listen to at the most two singers singing to us. If children were present there may well not be any provision for separate ministry to them. We would have to leave the building one row at a time under the direction of Marshalls. We would have to go straight home.

I know there are numbers of churches who are meeting in this way, and there are some small ways in which this scenario may differ from one church to another. But frankly, and I am open to other suggestions, I much prefer what’s happening now, and our working to try and make better use of the recorded or live-streamed services. How can “receivers” do that?

Think about the service you watch as “Church at Home”. Think about ways in which you can use what’s broadcast more than just watching it. Send in a question or comment to the preacher. Think and pray about who you might invite to come and enjoy it with you, like you would do with normal church. Phone friends from your service to chat over what you watched – you could even be on the phone to them as you watch and at least sing together! And before the service starts – perhaps 10 minutes before, stop and pray for all those who are working behind the scenes to prepare and broadcast the service you are about to watch. That we seem to have so very few glitches in the broadcast is due to the kindness of God in giving us such dedicated and competent servants. And pray that as the broadcast goes out God’s word read, sung and preached will convert people. It does happen!

A personal story.
For about 2 years my home church at Fairy Meadow has been live-streaming the Bible readings and sermon each Sunday on Facebook. We know that non-churched people watch, because they often make comments that can be seen by all watching on their device.

One Sunday I noticed my sister’s name, saying she was watching. She has had a difficult life and for years has dabbled in many different religions – New Age, Christian Science, forms of Buddhism etc.

Brought up with a church involvement she had wandered off into many different wildernesses. She had always been very defensive, even hurt, when my Mum challenged her. And now, somehow, she had come across Fairy Meadow Anglican Church sermons on Facebook! She was intrigued, kept watching, began to read solid Christian authors, and somewhere along the line, by the mercy of God she has been converted. She lives an hour out of Sydney and isn’t in a church yet, but she laps up good solid Bible teaching and is increasingly prayerful. God is changing her!

Rejoice with me that this sort of story is not unique. And pray God will use this strange time to bring many people to himself.

Your friend,

Deryck Howell
Acting Rector

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

During this very strange (and strained!) time of Covid19, our leadership has been working hard for us to make it as possible as they can for us to gather together. We were created to gather, to meet, because we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). We were created to meet with or to fellowship with God  – a stupendous and unique privilege and the greatest joy – and second only to fellowshipping with or enjoying God, to fellowship or relate with each other. Sadly, as you know only too well, we are all, from the youngest to the oldest feeling the absence of gathering as our church.

Due to God’s kind gift of amazing technology we are, however, still able to experience something of those relationships with each other for which God has made us.  But it is strained and wearing for us all, isn’t it?

We are full of questions about how long present arrangements will continue, and when we can “get back to normal”.

I want to let you know the recommendations and plans now in place as a result of the really hard work our Covid19 Task Force has been doing over recent weeks.

Based on obedience to the governing authorities (Romans 13) love for our brothers and sisters in Christ and our local communities, and following directions and suggestions from the Archbishop, we have in place now both the proper requirements for the present situation and the necessary practices for preparing to meet face to face in the future.

Here are details of the present situation:

No church services are taking place in our St Peter’s or St Andrew’s buildings. Instead, all Sunday services are able to be watched online.  Let me tell you what happens on the ground.                                                                                                   

When services are either recorded (8am St Peter’s, 9.30am St Andrew’s) or streamed live (10am and 6pm at St Peter’s) only the people directly involved upfront or behind the scenes are present – the number varies from 3 to 10. Because these are actual services on church premises, by regulation there can now only be 1 singer, musicians must be properly distanced from each other, and there can be no “congregational” singing of hymns/songs or joint reciting of prayers etc. Other attendees – technicians, Bible readers, preachers, etc. have to observe distancing requirements.

And more. All people attending are required to record their attendance, answer a brief questionnaire about their state of health, whether they have recently visited a ‘notified location’ etc., and are to be refused entry if any of these apply. In addition all are to sanitise their hands and properly distance from one another while on the premises. In addition, there is to be no “mingling” before or after the time of the service and no provision of food or drink. And to top it all off, the building being used has to be sanitised and toilets properly cleaned after each use.

This all sounds very complicated and hard to remember!  But, like most other “businesses” where people gather, we have begun training and appointing Covid19 Marshalls for every gathering on our premises. While we are in early days yet, and those who are Marshalls are already part of the service teams, we are looking to all of you who are able to do so, to volunteer for this task. We need lots of people belonging to both 9.30am at St Andrew’s, 10am and 6pm at St Peter’s to volunteer for those gatherings, and perhaps 8am at St Peter’s people also to be involved at 10 or 6 even though they will not yet be needed for the recording of their service; it would be good for some to train.

A training manual has been written for Covid19 Marshalls. This will be available online, but a walk-through the manual will be necessary and done online via Zoom. We will start with handfuls and slowly increase the numbers being trained as time goes on.

What about other ministries and groups that use our premises?

We have registered our church-wide Covid19 Safety Plan with the Department of Health. It has been drawn up using the Department’s approved template and will be adjusted as circumstances change with the progress or decline of the pandemic.

We have tried to ensure our Plan applies as much as possible to individual ministries like kids and youth ministries, Junior Jivers etc. as well as services (Sundays or Wednesdays) and Growth Groups meeting on church premises.

Some of these however, by Government regulation, will have added requirements to fulfil which will be documented for the group’s Covid19  Marshalls’ use. For example, Junior Jivers will need to sanitise any floor space they need for kids to sit or lie on as well as any toys or other play equipment they use.

Any outside group using our premises will need to have registered their own Covid19 Safety Plan which must also have our wardens’ and my approval to meet.

On behalf of us all, I want to thank the task force led by Jason Manning for an immense amount of work to bring us to this point. If you get the chance thank God for John Brackenbury, Mick Bullen, Adrian and Bek Culbert, Kevin Hines, Jason Manning, James Massey and Sharon Richards.

The big question now is: When can we start gathering again?

Please note: The task force is preparing a documented checklist for use as the wardens and I decide to approve services or ministries recommence meeting.

The wardens, other ministry staff and I are receiving weekly updates from the Archbishop’s office (we are very grateful to Glenn for directly approaching the Minister for Health about a number of matters on which his department had either said nothing or not enough – Peter Hayward has been indefatigable in his support for our churches and clergy as well). This advice and counsel needs to be taken into ongoing account.

When we do start, we will not be caught unprepared, but will have thinking and practices in place whose only adjustment will be to the numbers involved. (Like in yesterday’s sermon on Genesis 1, we have the first 3 days of creation – the “form” – in place; now it’s a matter of “filling it up” ! You may need to re-watch the sermon to get the point!)

So, what is proposed?

We will look first at re-commencing the youth and then kids’ ministries on site. Given that schools, pre-schools and childcare are now open almost everywhere, and that kids are less vulnerable to Covid19 than adults, this seems a logical first step. So along with consulting with the wardens, I plan to meet with our leaders in these ministries this week and decide when these ministries can commence meeting on site.

Tentatively, I think the next ministry to return to onsite meeting may well be any Growth Groups and again I will be talking with leaders so we can decide the best way forward.

I am trying to get up to speed as quickly as possible concerning our services before making any decision about their re-commencing to meet. I don’t feel as yet that I have a good understanding of them, but even so, we will need in any decision to account for the added factor of restricted numbers in each of our meeting places due to physical distancing requirements.

I hope this letter has answered most of the general questions many of us will have. I am very happy, as I know the wardens are, to try and answer specific questions which might be concerning you.

I close with these two paragraphs from a recent letter from Glenn, our Archbishop:

We still have a long way to go with this new way of living under the shadow of coronavirus. We possibly have a long way to go with changing restrictions to our way of life, as Victoria is currently experiencing. When the Apostle James wished to encourage his readers to be patient, until the coming of the Lord, he cited ‘the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord’ as an ‘example of suffering and patience’ (James 5:11). Under the new covenant, we too speak in the name of the Lord, but unlike Job and the prophets, we have seen ‘the purpose of the Lord’ in the face of Jesus Christ.

In these challenging circumstances, may our merciful God grant us patience and perseverance, to glorify him in this life, as we await the life to come.

Amen!

Your brother,

Deryck
Acting Senior Minister