“As we launch our foodbank in early December, please hold us in your prayers. The need is great, and we are very keen to respond to human need in loving service. Please pray that we may be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, compassionate to those we seek to serve and creative and collaborative in our work together,” says The Rev’d Loretta Tyler-Moss
“When a mosque is vandalised or Muslim worshippers verbally abused, I often wonder whether we, as Christians, take for granted our own right to worship in peace and safety. Muslims are often easily recognisable by their hijabs or other attire, leaving peacemaking women and men who practise Islam vulnerable to bullies motivated by irrational fear,” says Bishop John Roundhill
“The Church is called to reconcile conflict and to transcend divisions. The Church is called to live in a profoundly different way and to be a sign and agent of that unity which is God’s will and God’s gift,” says Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, as he announces the forthcoming annual Diocesan themes
anglican focus asked President of the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network (PIEN) and General Synod member (Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn) Helen Rainger to tell us about PIEN and how she came to be involved in advocating for the rights of Indigenous Palestinians to freedom, peace and safety
Meet Tapiwanashe Masvaure and find out about her faith journey, what person inspires her the most and why, her thoughts on the 2022 Diocesan theme ‘Being Together: Embracing Joy’, where she does her best thinking and what she does in her free time
“One of my favourite memories of my time studying for the priesthood at St Francis Theological College in Brisbane in the mid-1990s was sitting on the steps drinking a XXXX beer…while listening to Palestinian music on CD and looking up at the stars,” says Palestinian priest The Rev’d Hanna Dally, who has a special invitation for Australian Anglican churches
“I ask anglican focus readers to light a candle for peace in Sudan as we enter into the last week of Advent, remembering the Sudanese people in their prayers during this holy time,” says The Rev’d Rebecca King
During this week when Bishop John Roundhill celebrates his 30th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood and his birthday, 14 people from across our Diocese and the wider Anglican Communion share their highlights serving alongside him and identify what makes him such a great priest and leader
“In the hands of the Biblical authors, the seemingly ordinary, like birds, takes on greater meaning when you consider the rich symbolism. Researching this symbolism goes beyond partaking in idle academic curiosity, for it is only by understanding the Bible’s symbolism that we can really hope to engage with it and have any contextual understanding of what the Bible authors were trying to tell us,” says The Rev’d Selina McMahon
“I have read of a newspaper drawing, published following the death of John XXIII, of the earth shrouded in mourning with the caption ‘A Death in the Family’. It is fitting to continue to give thanks for the life he inspired in this world-wide family,” says The Rev’d Canon Dr Don Edwards, as Pope John XXIII is commemorated in our Lectionary on 3 June