A Vision for the Parish of Holy Trinity, Launceston 

As we engage in our mission to know Christ, grow in Christ and share Christ our vision is to be an Anglican church that is Rooted in Scripture, Rich in Worship and Reaching our communities with the hope and love of Christ Jesus.
 

Introduction

The Parish of Holy Trinity, Launceston is an Anglican church in the classical and liturgical tradition. This document has been prepared to help our whole parish understand, celebrate, and grow in our Anglican identity as we join with the wider Diocese of Tasmania’s vision: A church for Tasmania, making disciples of Jesus.

Classical Anglicanism is not a niche expression of faith but the historic, biblical, and gospel-centred heartbeat of the Anglican Church as it was established in the 16^th Century, reformed in its practice and yet faithful to its Apostolic beginnings (catholic). 

Our aim is that every member of the Parish understands this heritage and participates in its renewal.
 

1. What is Classical Anglicanism?

Classical Anglicanism is the ‘historic’ stream within the Anglican Church. 

It is: 

Biblical – grounded in the supreme authority of Scripture. 
Gospel-centred – emphasising grace, faith, and the finished work of Christ. 
Liturgical – using ordered worship shaped by Scripture and the gospel. 
Mission-minded – committed to evangelism, disciple-making, and public witness.
At its heart lies the architecture of Cranmer’s Reformation: a church shaped by the Word of God, accessible to everyday people, and centred on Christ’s saving work.
 

2. Our Classical and Reformed Anglican Foundations

a. The Five Solas

These Reformation pillars guided the development of the Church of England and Anglican communion, shaped the Book of Common Prayer and continues to shape our preaching, teaching, and worship: - Scripture Alone – The Bible shapes every aspect of our life and ministry. - Grace Alone – Salvation is God’s gift, not our achievement. - Faith Alone – We trust in Christ, not our own efforts. - Christ Alone – Jesus is the centre of our worship and hope. - Glory to God Alone – All ministry exists to honour Him.

b. The 39 Articles, Book of Common Prayer, and Homilies

 

These historic Anglican documents help us: - keep the gospel central, - preserve theological clarity, - maintain a gracious and ordered liturgy, - stay united with global Anglican orthodoxy.
 

3. How this shapes our worship when we gather

Our services follow Cranmer’s BCP gospel-shaped structure: 

1. God reveals Himself through His Word.
2. We respond with confession and trust in His grace.
3. We hear the Scriptures read and preached.
4. We pray in dependence on God.
5. We gather at the Lord’s Table with thanksgiving.
6. We are sent into God’s world as disciples.

Worship at Holy Trinity, Launceston is: - reverent yet accessible, - rich with Scripture, - centred on Christ, - welcoming to newcomers.

4. How this shapes our discipleship

Classical Reformed Anglicanism emphasizes whole-of-life discipleship. We seek to grow a culture where: - every member is grounded in the Scriptures, - prayer is natural and frequent, - relationships are shaped by grace, - households are strengthened in faith, - children are catechised in Christian truth, - adults are continually formed by the gospel.

We aim for a congregation where people are not merely attenders, but disciple-makers.

 

5. How this shapes our mission

Classical Reformed Anglican theology fuels mission because the gospel compels us outward. 

We commit to: 

Clear evangelism through relationships, events, and hospitality. 
Public engagement with kindness, confidence, and biblical clarity. 
Serving our city through mercy and presence. 
Proclaiming Christ to those who have never heard.
This aligns fully with the Diocese of Tasmania’s focus on courageous witness and making disciples.

6. How this shapes our leadership

My hopes for Leadership across the Parish is grounded in Reformed Anglican priorities: - 

Where: Scripture guides decisions. - Leaders model grace, humility, and prayerfulness. - Training is grounded in the gospel. - Wardens, parish council, small group leaders, and ministry teams are equipped to foster biblical convictions.

We will invest intentionally in raising up future leaders shaped by the gospel and committed to Anglican faithfulness.

7. Visible markers of our identity

To help our Parish grow in this identity, you will see in the future:

Scripture-rich services and preaching. 

Modern Catechisms developed for children and adults. 

Clear pathways for newcomer discipleship. 

Resources and courses on the 39 Articles.

These practices are designed to help everyone see, feel, and understand our Anglican identity.

8. Our commitment as a Parish

We commit to being a church that: - trusts the Scriptures, - proclaims Christ, - cultivates grace-shaped relationships, - forms disciples of all ages, - prays boldly, - worships reverently, - serves generously, - lives for God’s glory alone.

9. A prayer for the Parish of Holy Trinity

Heavenly Father, 
renew us by Your Spirit, 
shape us by Your Word, 
and anchor us in the gospel of Your Son. 
Make our four centres across the Parish of Holy Trinity, 
churches marked by grace, truth, and joyful mission. 
Strengthen us to make disciples of Jesus for the sake of Tasmania 
and Your glory. Amen.

Conclusion

Classical Anglicanism is a rich and life-giving tradition. It grounds us in Scripture, centres us on Christ, and calls us into mission. 

As we grow in this heritage together, may the Parish of Holy Trinity shine the light of the gospel clearly and courageously across Launceston and beyond.

Yours in Christ,
Lee Shirvill

Senior Minister
Parish of Hoy Trinity
Four Centres - All One in Christ Jesus

20 January 2026

Kick-start a Bible-reading habit

It’s the beginning of a new year and traditionally a time when most people start thinking about all the new year’s resolutions they’ll probably never keep more than a few weeks, e.g. eat less, exercise more, take up knitting.

As a disciple of Jesus, it’s a particularly good time to reflect on some of the ways we would like to grow spiritually in the year ahead. So maybe, it’s time to kick-start your Bible reading habit to be better equipped to serve God and others in 2026?

As the Apostle Paul reminds his ministry apprentice Timothy (and us):

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

TEN TIPS

Here are ten tips to help get you started:

1) Pray first – Before you even think about reading the Bible, pray. There are a million reasons to not read the Bible. Pray that God will ‘incline your heart’ to listen to his word and be disciplined in reading it regularly, so that you can grow spiritually in your knowledge and love of him.

2) Start small – Bible reading is a form of spiritual exercise. So kicking off a Bible reading habit is hard work. If you start with too high an expectation of yourself, you may simply burn out and give up. Instead, begin with just a few verses for a few minutes a day and then build up your reading habit from there. (See the ‘Swedish Method’ below for a simple way of reading and praying through a passage.)

3) Get regular – Find a time and place each day that works for you and that is free from distraction, e.g. first thing in the morning or last thing at night. If possible, build it into your normal daily routine, e.g. over breakfast or lunch or as you ride the bus each day. Like any habit, the key to regularity is routine. The more you stick to the habit, the more likely it will stick to you.

4) Plan it out – For some people, simply reading a few verses or a chapter from Genesis 1 through to Revelation 22 will work. But for most us, some sort of organised reading plan will really help us be focussed. It could be in the form of a Bible with passages set out for each day, or a written plan of reading for a year, or an app for your phone or tablet. (See below for some suggestions on reading plans and methods.)

5) Meditate on it – You may want to memorise verses that have really gripped you, or write them down in a journal. But whatever you do, try to take each passage into your day. Chew it over as you work or study or rest. Let it shape your thoughts and actions and infuse your life.

6) Listen to it – Redeem long drives or bus rides or walks by listening to an audio Bible. Or simply read it out aloud to someone else. As well as studying short passages intently, sometimes it’s good to simply immerse yourself in whole slabs of the Bible.

7) Share it – One of the best ways of retaining knowledge is by sharing it. When you see a Christian friend at the shops or after church, let them know what you’ve been reading and how it’s helped you live for Jesus. Alternatively, write a card or a letter to someone who has been sick or away from church and let them know how God has been speaking into your life through his word. 

8) Forgive yourself – Life gets hectic and out of control. Don’t kid yourself. You will miss days of Bible reading. But don’t beat yourself up and give up. Dust yourself off and just get back on the proverbial horse.

9) Pray often – Pray each day that you won’t just listen with your mind, but with your heart and your life engaged also. Bible reading isn’t simply about being informed. It’s about being transformed as a disciple of Jesus, for your good, the good of others, and the glory of Jesus.

10) Don’t delay – Today is a great day to start reading the Bible every day!

THE SWEDISH METHOD FOR BIBLE READING 

• Prayer - As you read the passage, pray that the Spirit would help you understand God’s word and help you live for Jesus.
• Questions (?) - What don’t you understand about this passage? Write down any questions you have or a question you’d like to ask the author of the book.
• Big Ideas (!) - What do you think are some of the big ideas of this passage? What grabs your attention? What stands out or surprises you? What key words or phrases are used?
• Application (->) - How do you think God is speaking to you through this passage? Is there a belief, attitude or action you need to change as a result of what you have read?
• Prayer (A-C-T-S):
• Adoration – What can you praise God for (i.e. his character)?
• Confession – What do you need to be forgiven by God for?
• Thanksgiving – What can you thank God for (i.e. his actions)?
• Supplication – What needs can you bring before God?

BIBLE READING RESOURCES

Bibles | visit Koorong in store or online: www.koorong.com

• ESV Scripture Journals (English Standard Version, Crossway)
• Once-a-day Bible (New International Version, Zondervan)

Bible reading progress chart

• Bible reading progress chart: www.visualunit.me

Bible reading apps & plans

• YouVersion Bible (free Bible app with reading plans): www.youversion.com
• Bible Society’s Daily Bible (free daily email): www.biblesociety.org.au/dailybible
• For the Love of God: A daily companion for discovering the riches of God’s word (book) by Don Carson (Crossway, 2006) or subscribe online: www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/
• Daily Bread devotions from Scripture Union: www.sunsw.org.au/resources/devotionals/
• 40 Days in the Word daily devotions: www.40daysintheword.com

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

1 January 2026

Scripture in Classical Anglicanism

The Place of Scripture — A Core Mark of Authentic Anglicanism

At the heart of authentic Anglican life is a simple but profound conviction: God speaks through his word.

Scripture isn’t just one voice among many—it is our final authority, the bedrock on which our faith, worship, and daily discipleship rest. Anglicans have always been a biblicalpeople, confident that the Scriptures are God’s reliable, sufficient, and life-giving revelation.

This commitment fits beautifully with our Mission and Vision at Holy Trinity, Launceston CBD, St Andrew's Church, Evandale, st Matthias' Church, Windermere & St James' Church, Youngtown/ Franklin Village:

We exist to know Christ, grow in Christ and share Christ.

We aim to be faith communities that are Rooted in Scripture, Rich in Worship and Reaching our Communities with the hope and love of Jesus Christ.

Scripture is God’s primary tool for forming disciples, shaping communities, and sending us out in mission.

Here are a few key truths we uphold in the Parish of Holy Trinity:

Scripture is God’s living word.

Through the Bible, God reveals his character, his saving purposes in Christ, and his will for our lives—calling us to follow Jesus in every corner of Tasmania.

Scripture stands above every human authority.

Tradition, reason, and church structures all serve under the Scriptures—not alongside or above them. This keeps our mission grounded, humble, and focused on Jesus.

Scripture shapes our worship.

Our liturgy, prayers, creeds, and preaching all flow from the Bible’s teaching. Cranmer designed the Prayer Book so that ordinary Christians would be soaked in Scripture—an essential foundation for disciple-making communities.

Scripture is clear and sufficient.

The Bible contains everything necessary for salvation and for faithfully following Jesus. No matter where we live, from the West Coast to the East, from the North to the South, Scripture equips us for gospel ministry.

Scripture forms us as disciples.

As we hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest God’s word, the Spirit reshapes us into the likeness of Christ. This is exactly the kind of transformation that fuels the diocesan vision.

In a world full of shifting voices and competing truths, we are called—as Anglicans and as disciples—to be anchored in God’s word.

Let’s continue to be a church for Tasmania, making disciples of Jesus by listening to Scripture with humility, confidence, and joy—trusting that God still speaks, still saves, and still transforms through his living and active word. 

Yours in Christ,
Lee Shirvill

Senior Minister
Parish of Hoy Trinity
Four Centres - All One in Christ Jesus

22 December 2025 

The Episcopal Character of Anglicanism 

Why Bishops Matter for Our Life Together

One of the distinctive gifts of being Anglican is that we are an episcopal church. That simply means our life is ordered under the pastoral oversight of bishops. But behind that simple structure lies a rich biblical vision for healthy, connected, mission-minded churches.

1. Episcopal leadership serves the gospel, not tradition for tradition’s sake.

Authentic Anglicanism reminds us that bishops in the Anglican tradition exist not as ornamental positions, but as servants of Christ and His Word. Their role is grounded in Scripture’s pattern of pastoral oversight—ensuring sound teaching, guarding against error, and encouraging churches in faithful mission.

2. Bishops connect local churches to something bigger than themselves.

Through the ministry of bishops, parishes are reminded that we are not isolated communities doing our own thing. We belong to a wider fellowship—a shared confession, shared mission, and shared responsibility under Christ. This connection strengthens local churches and keeps us aligned with the faith once delivered to the saints.

3. Episcopal ministry protects and promotes gospel unity.

Episcopal structures are not about hierarchy for its own sake, but about unity—unity in doctrine, worship, and mission. Good episcopal oversight keeps the gospel central, keeps churches accountable to the Scriptures, and helps us walk together with integrity and clarity.

4. Episcopal oversight supports mission in practical ways.

Bishops teach, visit, encourage, ordain, and help churches steward their resources for gospel fruitfulness. When this is done well, congregations flourish, leaders are equipped, and the Church stays focused on reaching their local communities with Christ.

5. In the Diocese of Tasmania, this takes concrete shape.

Our bishops—like faithful Anglicans across the world—carry the responsibility of ensuring our churches are shaped by the Scriptures and active in mission. Their oversight supports our diocesan vision: “A church for Tasmania, making disciples of Jesus.”

As we partner with Bishop Richard (and Assistant Bishop Chris) and our wider diocesan family, we share in a mission that is larger than our parish alone. Episcopal leadership helps keep our eyes on Christ’s kingdom, not just our corner of it.

A Word for the Parish of Holy Trinity

As a parish, we benefit deeply from this Anglican way of being church. Our place within the diocesan fellowship means:

we are supported in faithful ministry

we are accountable to the gospel we profess

we are encouraged to join God’s mission across Tasmania

and we are united with brothers and sisters beyond our own congregation

Being Anglican means belonging—to Christ, to His Word, and to one another through episcopal care rooted in the gospel. 

Yours in Christ,
Lee Shirvill

Senior Minister
Parish of Hoy Trinity
Four Centres - All One in Christ Jesus

15 December 2025 

The Liturgical Character of Anglicanism 

In our Historic and Classical Anglican tradition
in the Parish of Holy Trinity, worship isn’t
something we invent week by week. It’s a rich gift we receive — a pattern shaped by Scripture, refined through the Reformation, and designed to form our hearts around the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our worship is marked by several key features that continue to guide and bless us today:

1. Rooted in Scripture

Anglican liturgy is saturated in the Bible. From the opening greeting to the final blessing, God’s Word leads us, shapes us, and reassures us of His promises. Reading Scripture publicly isn’t optional — it’s central. It ensures our worship is grounded
not in our ideas, but in God’s truth.

2. Centred on the Gospel

Our services follow a gospel rhythm:

God speaks → we respond → Christ is proclaimed.

Confession, absolution, prayers, and praise all flow from the good news that Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again. Liturgy reheats this gospel for our hearts every week.

3. Reverent, Accessible, and Understandable

Authentic Anglican liturgy seeks reverence without obscurity. It’s meant to be clear, participatory, and edifying. Everyone should be able to follow, understand, and join in — young and old, new believer and long-time saint. Good liturgy helps us lift our eyes to God without unnecessary clutter or confusion.

4. Prayer Book Shaped

At its best, Anglican worship is recognisably Prayer Book worship. We stand within the legacy of Thomas Cranmer, whose vision was that the whole church would pray together in biblically rich, theologically clear, Christ-centred words. The cadences of the Prayer Book — confession, creeds, Scripture readings, the Lord’s Prayer, and set prayers — remain treasures for us today.

5. Forming Us for Daily Life

Liturgy isn’t just what we do on Sundays; it forms who we are Monday to Saturday. As we hear God’s Word, confess our sins, and receive the grace of the gospel each week, we are shaped into a people who live with humility, joy, and confidence in Christ.

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Why This Matters in the Parish of Holy Trinity

We are committed to this authentic Anglican liturgical heritage — not because we love tradition for its own sake, but because it keeps us anchored to Jesus. Our worship aims to be:

• Biblical

• Gospel-shaped

• Reverent yet accessible

• Rich in prayer

• Centred on the glory of God

This is part of how we live out our call as a church to Know Christ, Grow in Christ, Sharing Christ (Our Mission) and to grow as a church that is Rooted in Scripture, Rich in worship and Reaching our community with the hope we have in Jesus.

In the Parish of Holy Trinity (St Matthias' Windermere, St Andrew's Evandale, St James' Youngtown/ Franklin Village and Holy Trinity, Launceston CBD), we are also committed to our Diocesan Vision of being a church “for Tasmania, making disciples of Jesus.”

May our liturgy continue to nourish us, unite us, and lead us deeper into the grace of Christ.

Yours in Christ,
Lee Shirvill

Senior Minister
Parish of Hoy Trinity
Four Centres - All One in Christ Jesus

8 December 2025 

The Confessional Character of Anglicanism 

What does it mean that Anglicanism Is “Confessional”?

In the Parish of Holy Trinity, we stand in a rich Anglican heritage that is clear about what we believe and why we believe it.

Anglicanism isn’t vague, flexible, or whatever each parish feels like making it. Instead, Anglicanism is confessional—we openly and joyfully confess the faith once delivered to the saints.

A Shared Belief in the Gospel

Our unity is not built on style, preference, or tradition, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are a church rooted in Scripture and shaped by the Reformation conviction that:

Christ alone saves,

by grace alone,

through faith alone,

revealed in Scripture alone,

for the glory of God alone.

Our Confession Is Written Down

Anglicans don’t hide what we believe—we publish it!

Our foundational confession is the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion. These Articles guide our teaching and shape our life as disciples. They remind us that:

The Bible is God’s final authority.

Jesus is the only mediator and Saviour.

The sacraments point us to the gospel—not away from it.

The church exists to preach the Word and administer the sacraments faithfully.

Our Confession Shapes Our Worship

Our Prayer Book liturgy is soaked in Scripture and the gospel. Because we’re a confessional church, our services in the Parish of Holy Trinity aren’t random moments stitched together—they are ordered to:

Proclaim Christ clearly

Lead us to repentance and assurance

Form us as disciples who trust in the finished work of Jesus

Send us out to live for him in Launceston, Windermere, Evandale and Youngtown

Our Confession Serves Our Mission

Being a confessional church strengthens our mission in Tasmania.

When everyone knows what we believe, we can joyfully invite others to come and hear the good news. A clear confession builds a clear witness.

This aligns beautifully with our parish mission to "know Christ, grow in Christ and share Christ" and our diocesan vision to be “A Church for Tasmania, making disciples of Jesus.”

A confessional church is a disciple-making church.

In Short…

We confess Christ, we teach the Scriptures, and we shape our life together around the gospel.

That is authentic Anglicanism—and it is the heartbeat of the Parish of Holy Trinity. 

Yours in Christ,
Lee Shirvill

Senior Minister
Parish of Hoy Trinity
Four Centres - All One in Christ Jesus

1 December 2025 

Hurry up and wait!

 

I have to admit that I hate waiting. Whether it’s for the doctor who’s running late again, the checkout in the super-slow aisle, or the person at the traffic lights who hasn’t noticed the light’s turned green, life can feel like an endless waiting room. We wait for jobs, for results, for relief. We’re always waiting for something. The play Waiting for Godot is exactly about that: two men waiting for (spoiler alert) someone who never turns up. It’s an exercise in frustrated expectations. But that’s the point. Life often feels exactly like that: waiting for something or someone who never arrives.

But Advent, of course, tells a different story.

Advent is about waiting, yes, but waiting with joy and hope. It’s the season when we remember Jesus’ first coming as a baby in Bethlehem, and look forward to his second coming in glory. It’s a time of spiritual anticipation, when our waiting isn’t empty, but full of promise.

And that’s what makes Simeon and Anna such beautiful figures in the opening of Luke’s gospel (Luke 2:22-38). They’ve spent their lives in the temple, waiting. Simeon, “righteous and devout,” is promised by the Holy Spirit that he won’t die until he’s seen the Lord’s Messiah. Anna, a prophetess in her eighties, worships and prays day and night, waiting for the redemption of God’s people.

What keeps them going? One word: hope. Not a vague “fingers-crossed” kind of hope, but a deep-seated, anchored confidence in God’s promises. Hope that the God who spoke through his prophets would send comfort and redemption to his people. Hope that what God had promised, he would surely deliver.

And then, finally, that hope is realised. Simeon takes the baby Jesus in his arms and bursts into praise:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)

After a lifetime of waiting, Simeon sees God’s faithfulness face to face. Anna, too, gives thanks to God for the child who will fulfil his promises.

This is what Advent invites us into: joy in looking back and hope in looking forward. We look back with Simeon and Anna, rejoicing that God has kept his promises in Jesus, the saviour of the world. And we look forward with them, trusting that this same Jesus will return to make all things new.

So, every moment of waiting now - at the doctor’s, at the checkout, in traffic - is a small Advent moment. A chance to remember that our waiting is not wasted. Because one day, the waiting will be over. The King who came as a baby will come again in glory. And when he does, he’ll finally take us to our eternal home.

So, as we wait, we pray the simplest and the most hope-filled of prayers: 

“Come, Lord Jesus. Come.”

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

24 November 2025
 

The Book of Common Prayer 

For many Anglicans, the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) sits quietly on a pew shelf or in a cupboard—revered, perhaps, but often unexplored. Yet behind its familiar words lies a profound and joyful truth: the BCP is a book with the gospel at its heart. Its prayers, services, and rhythms were crafted to bring ordinary people face-to-face with the saving grace of Jesus Christ, week by week, day by day.

In the Parish of Holy Trinity we use An Australian Prayer Book (AAPB) as our pattern for Sunday Gatherings. The Preface of the AAPB states: This book is for "...use together with the Book of Common Prayer and not a replacement of it. The Book of Common Prayer remains, together with the thirty nine articles, our controlling standard of doctrine and worship.

1. A Prayer Book Born From the Gospel

When Archbishop Thomas Cranmer shaped the first Prayer Book in 1549—and revised it further in 1552—his goal was unmistakable: to make the good news of Jesus Christ clear, accessible, and central to the life of every Christian. In a time when worship was often distant and incomprehensible, the BCP brought Scripture, confession, and assurance into the hands and mouths of the people.

The Prayer Book is not merely a liturgical manual; it is a theology of grace turned into prayer.

2. Honest About Our Need

The BCP begins where the gospel begins—with the truth about the human heart. In the well-known confession, we admit:

“We have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep…
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
And we have done those things which we ought not to have done.”

This is not gloomy; it’s real. Cranmer knew that without recognising our need, the grace of God becomes small. The BCP teaches us to be truthful before God, to come to him not pretending, but confessing.

3. Rich With Gospel Assurance

But the Prayer Book never leaves us in despair. Immediately after confessing our sin, we hear the joyful news of pardon:

“Almighty God… has promised forgiveness to all who turn to him in repentance.”

Every service in the BCP moves deliberately from sin → grace → thanksgiving. This gospel pattern shapes the believer’s heart, training us to cling to Christ and walk in the freedom he gives.

4. Centred on the Scriptures

The BCP is steeped in Scripture. Its calendar, collects, psalms, readings, and prayers saturate worship with the Word of God. This reflects the Reformed conviction that God’s Word creates and sustains his people.

The collects gather biblical truths into a single sentence—beautiful, concentrated theology in prayerful form. For example:

“Grant, O Lord, that we may love what you command and desire what you promise.”

These prayers teach us to desire what God desires.

Collects, such as the one for the second Sunday in Advent below, capture God's desire (and our desire as a leadership team) for Christians to grow as we are shaped by the Scriptures:

Blessed Lord,
who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant that we may in such wise hear them,
read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word,
we may embrace and ever hold fast
the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

5. Christ at the Centre of Every Service

Whether Morning Prayer, Holy Communion, Baptism, or Burial, the BCP points unfailingly to the saving work of Jesus:

Morning and Evening Prayer begin and end with grace-filled reminders of God’s mercy.

Holy Communion centres on Christ’s sacrifice, received by faith with thanksgiving.

Baptism celebrates new birth through the Holy Spirit and union with Christ.

The Burial Service proclaims the Christian hope: “for those who die in the Lord, life is changed, not ended.”

The BCP walks with us through life’s seasons, keeping Christ before our eyes.

6. The Gospel for Ordinary People

One of Cranmer’s greatest achievements was placing gospel-shaped prayer into the hands of the whole church. The BCP was designed for parish use—for families, farmers, labourers, and townspeople. Its language was written to be understood, memorised, and prayed aloud by the gathered people of God.

In this way, the Prayer Book, and An Australian Prayer Book like it, continues to form Christians with a deep, stable, biblical faith—through words soaked in grace.

7. A Gift for Today

In our hurried and distracted age, our Prayer Book offers stability, depth, and gospel clarity. It grounds us in confession, assurance, and Scripture. It reminds us of the cross. It teaches us to pray biblically. It shapes us into a community centred on Christ.

Above all, it helps us remember that:

We are saved not by our performance, but by God’s mercy revealed in Jesus.

This is the gospel heart of the Book of Common Prayer.

Yours in Christ,
Lee Shirvill

Senior Minister
Parish of Hoy Trinity
Four Centres - All One in Christ Jesus

24 November 2025 

The English Reformers

Why Their Legacy Still Shapes Our Life Together

When we speak about being a Classical Anglican church, we stand in a long and rich story—one that stretches back to the 16th-century English Reformers. These men and women helped shape the faith we profess, the Scriptures we cherish, and the Prayer Book liturgy we use week by week. Their commitment to Christ and His gospel still encourages and challenges us today in the Parish of Holy Trinity Launceston.

A Return to the Bible

The central aim of the English Reformation was not innovation but restoration. Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, William Tyndale and many others believed the church needed to return to the authority and clarity of God’s Word. They put the Bible back into the hands of ordinary people. Tyndale famously declared that he wanted a ploughboy to know the Scriptures better than the clergy of his day—and he gave his life for that mission.

Their work reminds us that the living Word of God stands at the centre of the church’s life. This is why we value expository preaching, careful Bible study, and gospel-shaped worship.

A Clearer Gospel

Before the Reformation, the gospel had often been obscured by layers of ritual, superstition, and works-righteousness. Cranmer and his fellow Reformers worked tirelessly to proclaim the simple, life-giving truth recovered so clearly by the Reformers across Europe:

Christ alone saves sinners

By grace alone, not by our merit

Through faith alone, not through our works

According to Scripture alone

All for the glory of God alone

These Five Solas are not slogans from the past—they remain the heartbeat of our ministry today as we seek to make disciples of Jesus throughout Launceston and our wider region.

Prayer and Worship - Shaped by the Gospel

One of Cranmer’s great gifts was the reshaping of English worship in the Book of Common Prayer. His liturgies brought the gospel to the forefront: sin confessed honestly, grace announced clearly, Scripture read widely, and the Lord’s Supper celebrated with reverence and thanksgiving.

In the Parish of Holy Trinity, our commitment to warm, historic, liturgy flows from the same desire: that every person might hear, believe, and rejoice in the good news of Christ crucified and risen.

Courage Under Fire

Many Reformers paid the ultimate price for their convictions. Latimer and Ridley were burned at the stake, Cranmer shortly after them. Their courage reminds us that the Christian life is sometimes costly—but always worth it.

They teach us to remain faithful in a world that often misunderstands or opposes the gospel. As Latimer said to Ridley as the flames rose:

“Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England as I trust shall never be put out.”

That candle still burns today—including here in our parish.

Why This Matters for Us Today

The English Reformers call us to be:

Rooted in Scripture

Centred on Christ

Anchored in grace

Committed to clear gospel proclamation

Courageous in faith

Their legacy helps shape our identity as a biblically faithful, mission-minded, Classical Anglican church—joyfully committed to the Diocese of Tasmania’s vision of “a church for Tasmania, making disciples of Jesus.”

May God strengthen us to continue the work they began, not out of nostalgia, but for the glory of Christ in our city and beyond. 

Yours in Christ,
Lee Shirvill

Senior Minister
Parish of Hoy Trinity
Four Centres - All One in Christ Jesus

20 November 2025

The Past - Shaping our Future 

On Friday, 31 October, while many celebrate Halloween, the Anglican Church marks Reformation Day—a time to remember a moment that changed the course of history. In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, challenging corruption in the medieval church and sparking the Protestant Reformation. That bold act gave rise to Protestant churches across Europe and shaped the faith we still hold today.

At the heart of the Reformation were five key truths, known as the Five Solas. Sola Scriptura—Scripture alone—reminds us that the Bible is God’s ultimate authority. Solus Christus—Christ alone—teaches that only Jesus can make us right with God. Sola Fide—faith alone—means we receive salvation through trust in Christ, not our own efforts. Sola Gratia—grace alone—proclaims that salvation is entirely God’s gift. And Soli Deo Gloria—to God alone be the glory—calls us to live every part of our lives for His glory. These principles distinguished the Reformers from the Church of Rome and continue to guide evangelical faith today.

The Reformation also shaped Anglicanism. While England’s break from Rome began with political motives under Henry VIII, real spiritual reform came under Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Cranmer’s work produced the Book of Common Prayer and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, which still define Anglican worship and belief.

Cranmer’s goal was simple but powerful: ordinary people encountering the living God through Scripture. He wanted “that the people, by daily hearing of holy Scripture read in church, might continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God, and be more inflamed with the love of His true religion.” The Book of Common Prayer made Scripture accessible and wove it into daily life, shaping worship, prayer, and faith. Anglican worship, at its best, is not ritual for ritual’s sake—it is biblical worship, centred on Christ and grounded in grace.

This foundation remains central for Anglicans today. Canon A5 of the Church of England states that our doctrine is grounded in Scripture and expressed in the Thirty-Nine Articles, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Ordinal. When the Church of England in Australia became the Anglican Church of Australia in 1981, it retained these same principles. The Thirty-Nine Articles, still printed in the back of Australian Prayer Books, continue to uphold the Reformation truths of Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and God’s glory alone.

So as we mark Reformation Day this year, we do more than remember history. We celebrate a living legacy—a faith rooted in God’s Word, shaped by grace, and centred on Christ. It’s a reminder that the gospel isn’t just a story of the past; it’s the foundation of our lives, our worship, and our mission, calling us to live for the glory of God alone. 

Yours in Christ,
Lee Shirvill

Senior Minister
Parish of Hoy Trinity
Four Centres - All One in Christ Jesus

30 October 2025

Transforming encounters

After spending the last seven weeks looking at the Parables of Jesus in Luke’s gospel, we’re now turning to Encounters with Jesus this coming Sunday. Across the next seven weeks, we’ll look at seven powerful encounters with Jesus that reveal something of who he is, and therefore what it means to follow him.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s ahead:

1. The encounter with the devil (Luke 4:1‑13) - In the wilderness, Jesus resists temptation and shows us what it means to stand firm on the promises of God’s word.
2. The encounter with a man with an impure spirit (Luke 4:31-36) - Jesus confronts a man possessed by an impure spirit in a synagogue and amazes the crowd with his authority and power over evil.
3. The encounter with the paralysed man (Luke 5:17‑26) - Jesus not only heals a broken body, but forgives sin, revealing his ultimate power to bring us back to God.
4. The encounter with Levi (Luke 5:27‑39) - Jesus calls a tax collector to leave everything behind, reminding us that no one is beyond his invitation.
5. The encounter with the Pharisee and the sinful woman (Luke 7:36‑50) - In a room full of judgment, Jesus welcomes a woman’s tears and shows us the wonder of love that flows from forgiveness.
6. The encounter with Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38‑42) - Jesus gently redirects Martha’s busyness, reminding us that the better way is to sit and listen at his feet.
7. The encounter with the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18‑30) - Jesus challenges a wealthy man to let go of what truly holds his heart.

Please take some time to reflect on the passage of Luke each week. Pray that the Spirit will prepare your heart to hear God speak. And be ready to encounter the transforming power of Jesus in our lives.

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

29 September 2025

Transforming stories

We’re excited to launch a new 7-week sermon series tomorrow, exploring some of the wonderful parables of Jesus in Luke’s gospel. 

Most people think of parables as old stories with simple moral lessons and earthy illustrations. But the stories Jesus told are far more than that. Jesus tells them to draw us closer to him in faith and therefore to transform our very lives.

Whether you’ve heard these parables many times or you're encountering them for the first time, we pray that this series will challenge us, comfort us and ultimately change us, as we see more clearly the true nature of Jesus' kingdom and what it means to truly follow him as our king.

Here’s a glimpse at what’s ahead:

1. The good samaritan (Luke 10:25-37): A story that shatters boundaries and redefines what it means to be a neighbour. Jesus invites us to love others like he loves us, with a compassion that crosses cultural, social, and religious lines.
2. The rich fool (Luke 12:13-21): A warning against the illusion of security in material wealth. Jesus challenges us to consider where our treasure truly lies, and what it means to be “rich toward God.”
3. The two lost sons (Luke 15:11-32): Often called the parable of the prodigal son, this powerful story reveals the extravagant grace of the Father, not just to the rebellious, but also to the self-righteous.
4. The shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-13): Perhaps Jesus’ most puzzling parable, it forces us to think about how we use our resources and whether we live with an eternal perspective.
5. The rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31): A sobering contrast between two lives, two eternities, and the dangers of ignoring the suffering around us.
6. The persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8): A call to persistent prayer and confident hope in the God who listens and acts for the good of his people.
7. The Pharisee and the tax Collector (Luke 18:9-17): A stark picture of two men praying at the temple: the proud Pharisee and the humble tax collector.

Before each Sunday, please read through the passage beforehand and pray for the Spirit’s help to understand it. Then come ready to hear Jesus speak and to be changed by his words of grace and truth. 

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

16 August 2025

What can you do about loneliness?

 

Close friends?

How many close friends do you have? By ‘close’, I mean people, other than family members, in whom you can confide about deep or shameful things; people to whom you can turn when you need some help — not momentary help, but help which will require them to go to some trouble for you. 

A surprising number of people have few, if any close friends — and this is particularly an issue for young adults. 

Loneliness as a serious health problem

Loneliness is not a problem if it is fairly short term. It is an ordinary life experience; but chronic loneliness —  loneliness which is not just a temporary phase — is a serious problem. If you experience this kind of loneliness, have no close friends or maybe just one close friend, think of yourself as having a serious health problem, but one that is readily curable. 

Prolonged loneliness is likely to have profound impacts, not only on your mental health — feeling depressed for example — but on your physical health as well. Some experts have likened it to the health effects of smoking fifteen cigarettes per day. 

Tackling loneliness

How then can we address the problem of loneliness? The first thing is to recognise how serious a problem it is. You cannot tackle any issue in your life unless, first, you are ready to acknowledge it, and secondly you are motivated to do something about it. Just ask an alcoholic. 

A few ideas may help:

1. Get off your computer or smartphone more often. Computers and smartphones are an integral part of our lives and there is no point telling people to go back to the nineteenth century. As with so much else in our lives, the important thing is to achieve some balance.  Reducing your engagement with social media is very likely to improve your mental health. Research has shown that limiting social media use to about 30 minutes per day decreases depression and loneliness amongst university students. 
2. Find a community: You can’t form or maintain friendships from the isolation of your bedroom. Finding a community involves more than finding a group of people. Communities are typically formed around shared interests. A neighbourhood can be a community, if people are mutually invested in caring for the area and each other. A sporting team provides community. So does a church. In fact, most churches are very welcoming places. Just introduce yourself and say you are new here. People won’t ignore you if they know you are new or have only started coming recently. The minister will always be interested in meeting you. You don’t have to believe in order to attend, but you may find that you come to believe when you learn more about what the Christian faith is all about. 
3. Learn how to cope with social anxiety. A major problem in finding a community to which you can belong is social anxiety. The gregarious and socially confident are willing and able to join groups, even groups of strangers. But many others may find that too difficult. There is some wisdom in what Winston Churchill wrote, towards the end of his life: “When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of an old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened!” Most of what we are anxious about never happens, and even if it does, it is usually not so terrible. Others are unlikely even to remember our momentary embarrassment after a while.
4. Invite people out for coffee or a drink: You will make a lot more friends if you are the one to take the initiative in getting to know others. It really doesn’t take much to ask someone out for coffee.
5. Actively pursue romantic relationships: No-one will go on a date with you if you don’t ask. And forget the old norm that men have to be the ones who ask women on dates. It’s all very well pursuing career success, but for most people that provides only limited life satisfaction. Our relationships, both in our families and our friendships, are what tend to matter most. In choosing people with whom we may want to explore a romantic relationship, character matters so much more than looks or prospects of financial success. A good person, caring, forgiving, empathetic, fun to be with, will be in the long-term a much better partner than someone to whom you are attracted for superficial reasons.
6. Look for helpful resources: You may benefit from help in addressing problems you have with making and maintaining friends. Lots of people struggle in this area. There is a wonderful new course you can do online called the Friendship Lab. It consists of a series of six video sessions. You can do it on your own, but it would be even better to do it in a group with others. 

Loneliness really is a huge problem; but it is not an insuperable one. It does however, take some initiative to deal with it. And for everyone — treasure your close friendships. Keep investing in them. They are such an important part of living well.

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A guest post by Patrick Parkinson, a member of the Holy Trinity Parish and the Executive Director of Publica, a policy and advocacy organisation dedicated to building strong families, friendships and communities.

A longer version of this article was originally posted on the CASE website, which you can read in full here: www.case.edu.au/blogs/case-subscription-library/the-social-isolation-of-young-adults

13 August 2025

Changing the world for good

How can we really change the world for good?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it feels like the world is becoming more and more hopeless. Yet Paul’s letter to the Colossians has reminded me just how great a hope we have in Jesus. If that’s true, if knowing him is truly our greatest treasure, then the greatest thing we can do as a church is to make him known to a world that desperately needs him too.

So how do we do that?

In Colossians 4, Paul gives us three simple and yet powerful ways to take part in Jesus’ mission:

1) Pray faithfully

Paul begins: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (verse 2). Being devoted to prayer doesn’t necessarily mean getting up at 3am every day and praying for four hours. It means being faithful in prayer across our whole lives.

As Paul goes on, it means living with one eye on the needs of the world, and the other on the sovereign God who rules over it. It’s about being watchful, aware of what’s going on, and thankful, remembering God is always at work, even if we only see a fraction of it.

Paul also asks for prayer for openness, that God would open doors for the gospel, and for clarity, that the message of Jesus would be made clear to those who hear it.

One simple way to begin? Try the One Minute Prayer. Every day at 1pm (or a time that works for you), pause and pray for one person to come to know Jesus, and for one gospel worker to share him clearly. It can really be that simple.

1pm. One minute. One person. One gospel worker.

2) Act wisely

Paul continues, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (verse 5). To act wisely literally means to ‘walk wisely’ towards outsiders; to live like Jesus in the lives of those who don’t yet know him. Mike Frost, in his book Surprise the World, describes this as living 'questionable lives', living such “generous, hospitable, Spirit-led, Christlike lives” that people can’t help but ask why.

I saw this first in my year 7 history teacher, Mr Watts. He was known both for his full-on faith and his genuine kindness, even to colleagues who mocked him. Over time, other teachers started joining him on playground lunch duty because he was the only one who didn’t speak badly about others behind their backs. And over the 40 minutes of lunch, he’d slowly tell them why.

3) Speak graciously

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (verse 6). Most people will never read a Bible, but they’ll read us. So when they ask why we live the way we do, let’s be ready to answer with grace-filled words, spoken in a grace-filled way. As the apostle Peter writes: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). That doesn’t necessarily mean downloading a sermon. It can just be a few words that point people to the hope we have in Jesus. 

Here’s the amazing thing: people are often more open to listen, than we are to speak. In fact, a recent McCrindle survey found that 79% of Australians (4 in 5) are willing to talk about spiritual things with someone they know … like us.

We need to remember too that we’re not solo missionaries, flung into the world alone and empty-handed. As the rest of Colossians 4 shows us, we’re partners together in this kingdom work. And Jesus is right there with us, promising us both his power (Acts 1:8) - to speak through our weak and faltering words - and his presence - to always be with us, no matter where we go or what we face (Matthew 28:20).

So let’s pray faithfully, act wisely, and speak graciously, that through us Jesus might change the world for good and for the glory of his wonderful name.

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

11 August 2025

Growing together

How do we grow ... spiritually?

I don’t know about you, but for most of my Christian life, I pictured spiritual growth as an individual thing. Like trees in a forest. I’m growing over here, Bob is growing over there, and Lucy is growing somewhere else. Separate, isolated, doing our own thing.

But that’s not the way the Bible pictures it.

According to Colossians, we’re not like isolated trees, we’re in fact a body. As the Apostle Paul writes, we are organically connected by ‘ligaments and sinews’ to each other and to the life-giving head of Jesus (Colossians 2:19, 3:15). So, we grow spiritually as we grow together in Christ. It’s not a solo activity. It’s a communal way of life.

And as Paul goes onto write, one of the chief ways we grow together is by letting the word of Christ dwell in us:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” - Colossians 3:16

That ‘word’ is the gospel, the good news we have in the Bible, that brings us God’s grace in Jesus. As Paul says back in chapter 1, this word has been planted in our hearts. It has given us new spiritual birth. But more than that, it’s a word that continues to give us life together. It grows in us and bears fruit among us as God’s people (Colossians 1:6).

A few years ago, an Australian survey, aptly called The Milk to Meat survey, found that the more deeply Christians engaged with the Bible, the more they tended to:

• Pray together
• Care for others
• Serve in the church
• And share their faith

In other words, there’s a direct connection between the word in us and the spiritual life flowing out of us.

So, we’re to let the word dwell in us as we gather together. Not as an occasional visitor, like Aunt Mavis who pops by for a quick chat and a cup of tea, but as a permanent resident. And it’s to dwell in us richly - abundantly, lavishly, deeply. It should get under our skin, into our bones, and become the very lifeblood of our church, saturating everything we do. To paraphrase Charles Spurgeon: if someone pricked our skin, we would bleed the Bible.

But who makes this happen?

Paul is clear, it’s you ... plural. Youse! All of 'youse' are to teach and admonish one another. It’s not just the job of the preacher or service leader. Everyone is called to speak to everyone. Teaching what is right, warning against what is wrong, with all the wisdom the Spirit gives, and all the songs we can muster.

This of course happens in our Sunday gatherings and in our mid-week LIFE Groups. But here’s a really simple way to make it part of our everyday life:

The One Minute Bible Study.¹

We introduced this at my old church, especially to encourage men to share the Bible with each other, rather than just talking about the weather or sport. So, when you bump into someone from church at the shops, or you meet up with someone for a coffee, or you're speaking to someone after the service, ask each other three simple questions:

• What have you read recently in the Bible?
• What did you learn about God or yourself?
• How has that helped you live for Jesus?

It usually lasts more than a minute. But the basic idea is to keep it simple and make it natural. Just getting into the habit of speaking God’s word into each other’s lives. Letting the word of Christ dwell in us richly.

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

28 July 2025

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[1] www.thebriefing.com.au/2001/06/the-one-minute-bible-study/

The perfect you?

Imagine your perfect self. The very best version of you. What do you think that looks like and how would you start to become that person?

According to most people today, the answer is simple: look within your heart.¹ You find your deepest desires and let them define who you are and shape the way you live. In other words, you “be true to yourself” - one of the greatest mantras of our age and the theme of pretty much every Disney film ever made.

But, here’s the challenging thing for us. Jesus calls us to do the exact opposite:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35)

So, how do we truly become the people God created us to be?

Paul gives us the answer in Colossians 3. It’s not by looking within yourself but by looking up to Jesus. By seeing your identity in him and following him with your life.

1. Remember who you are in Christ

One of our greatest dangers as Christians is spiritual amnesia: forgetting who we are in Christ. So, Paul reminds us exactly who we are in him: past, present, and future.

When a plane takes off, the lives of the passengers are suddenly united to the pilot’s. If the pilot crashes and dies, so do the passengers. If the pilot lands safely, so do the passengers. In the same way, when we trust in Jesus, our life is spiritually bound to his:

• Past: 2000 years ago, when Jesus died on the cross, we died with him there and then to our sin. When he rose from the grave, we were raised with him there and then to new life. (3:1, 3)
• Present: “Christ is your life.” He isn’t just someone who gives us life. He is our life. (3:3-4)
• Future: One day, when Jesus appears, we will appear with him in glory. What’s hidden now will be gloriously revealed to the world. (3:4)

2. Reset your hearts and minds on Christ

Though we’re spiritually raised to be with Jesus in heaven, we still live on earth. That creates a tension for us: where are our hearts and minds truly at home?

Paul says: set your hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things. (3:1-2) We are called to reset our focus, to look away from whatever earthly things threaten to capture our hearts and minds, and look instead toward Jesus. It’s like using two muscles at once: repentance and faith. As we turn from worshipping the things of this world (in repentance), we turn to Jesus (in faith). Like muscle-memory, the more we do that, the easier it gets to keep doing it, as Jesus’ grace becomes more and more beautiful to us, and our sin becomes more and more dull in its light.

3. Be renewed in the likeness of Christ

Do you see Paul’s logic across these verses? We’re not called to change our external behaviour first. It has to start from the inside-out, with us remembering who we are in Jesus and us resetting our minds and hearts on him. Only then, can we truly transform our outward behaviour. 

Nevertheless, this transformation doesn’t happen instantly. See what Paul writes: we are ‘being renewed’ in Jesus’ likeness (3:10). It’s a life-long process of progressively becoming like him, as we do two things.

Firstly, we’re called to take off the old self (3:5-9). In fact, Paul’s says to ‘put it to death’ (3:5): all the unrestrained, loveless and self-centred behaviour that flows from our sinful hearts and angers the creator who made us. This is a snap shot of what it looks like to be true to ourselves and it’s not a pretty picture.

Secondly, we’re called to put on the new self (3:10-14). Just like Jesus left behind his grave clothes as he left the tomb, we’re to leave behind all our old sinful ‘clothing’, putting on a new spiritual wardrobe in it place. Like we might layer up on a cold, winter’s day, we’re to clothe ourselves with the layers of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness. On top we’re to put on love, which like a full length coat ties the whole outfit together.

This is how we grow into who we were truly meant to be. In the words of Dallas Willard, this is ‘becoming who Jesus would be, if he were you’. Not becoming less of ourselves. But, actually becoming more our true selves, as we truly reflect the image of our Creator and Saviour, Jesus.

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

21 July 2025

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[1] 91% of people in a recent survey agreed with this statement: “The best way to find yourself is by looking within yourself” (via Trevin Wax’s article: ‘Finding Yourself Is Harder Than You Think’: www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/finding-yourself/)

Pray before you vote

Around election time, cynics often quip that the best way to help your preferred party win is to “vote early and often”. But for Christians, a more fitting motto would be to “pray early and often”. In 1 Timothy 2:1–6, Paul urges believers to make prayer a priority, especially in relation to those in authority over us. With our state election on Saturday, we have a great opportunity to not only vote, but to bring the whole voting process to our good and powerful God in prayer.

Here are three simple reminders from this passage about how we can pray this week:

1. Pray first

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority …" - 1 Timothy 2:1–2

Before you even begin to think about parties or policies, start first with prayer. Thank God for the freedom we enjoy in Australia to vote in a truly democratic election. Pray for a fair and honest election process. Pray for every candidate seeking election that they would genuinely seek the common good, rather than self-interest or party politics. Pray that we would get the leaders we need (not deserve) as a state.

Then pray about your vote. This isn’t just a well-meaning platitude. It’s the necessary spiritual posture for our decision-making. Our allegiance ultimately isn’t to any political party, it’s to the Lord Jesus. Pray that the wisdom of God’s word and the work of the Spirit, rather than your natural preferences, would guide your heart and mind, as you weigh up all the candidates and policies before you.¹

When we pray first, we invite God to not only shape the outcome of our election, but our hearts and minds as we engage in it.

2. Pray for peaceful & quiet lives

“… that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” - 1 Timothy 2:2

God calls us to pray for all those in authority, including our soon to be elected leaders, so that … we may live ‘peaceful and quiet lives’. The most basic outcome of a good government is peace, namely freedom from war, violence and civil unrest. It’s within this environment of stability that churches can thrive as communities of ‘godliness and holiness’, i.e. that reflect the loving character of God (godliness) as they are set apart for him in the world (holiness). The more we live surprising lives as followers of Jesus, the more people will see how we are different, and the more they will want to know why.

3. Pray for people to be saved

“This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” - 1 Timothy 2:3–4

God’s deepest desire for our state isn't simply stability. It’s salvation. Election results matter. Eternity matters more. So, as you pray for this election, pray that the outcome would enable the gospel to be proclaimed freely and widely in our state. Pray that every church would have opportunities to speak about Jesus in all our communities. Pray that this would bring many Tasmanians to know the saving truth of the gospel: that our ultimate hope isn’t secured by a ‘good’ government. It’s secured by the perfect mediator between God and humanity:

“Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:6).

Let’s seek to shape this election not just with our votes, but with our prayers. Pray first. Pray for peaceful and quiet lives. Pray for people to be saved.

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

14 July 2025

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[1] If you want an outline of the policies of the parities and candidates, the Tas Votes website is a helpful place to begin: www.tasvotes.org.au

Happy 1700th birthday to the Nicene Creed!

 

This year marks a significant milestone in the life of the worldwide church: the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. Originally formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD (20 May to 25 July),¹ this creed has stood for seventeen centuries as the cornerstone of Christian orthodoxy ('correct teaching').

Born out of a time of theological conflict and confusion, the creed was written to unify the church’s understanding of who Jesus is - fully God and fully human - and how the persons of the Trinity relate together: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all equal and all eternal. It arose from a theological dispute between Bishop Alexander and Arius, whose teaching denied Jesus' full divinity. The controversy spread, threatening church unity. Emperor Constantine, seeking peace in the empire, convened the Council of Nicaea. Over 200 bishops debated whether Jesus was of the same substance ('homoousios') or a similar substance ('homoiousios') as God the Father. The resulting creed, championed by Athanasius, affirmed Jesus’ full divinity and therefore rejected Arianism.

The creed’s enduring strength lies in both in its theological clarity and its theological depth. Especially in our Anglican liturgy, it has become a living, breathing affirmation of our faith. As we say these words together every Sunday across the Holy Trinity churches, we remind each other of the biblical truths we believe as Christians. Even 1700 years later, the Nicene Creed continues to teach us, correct us, encourage us, and unite us, in the worship of the one, true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

So, next time you say these words, remember you’re not just saying them with believers across the pews, but across the globe and across the centuries too.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, what do you believe?

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic² and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

7 July 2025

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[1] The creed was later revised and adopted with additions at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. 
[2] In the context of this creed, ‘catholic’ simply means ‘universal’, rather than being a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

Is Jesus enough?

Is Jesus enough? That’s the big question we’ll grapple with over the next eight weeks, as we work through the wonderful little letter of Colossians.

So, as we start this series on Sunday, I want you to imagine that you suddenly got a text out of the blue from a really close friend to say they've finally become a Christian. They’ve finally stepped over the line and entrusted their lives to Jesus. Can you imagine the sheer joy you’d feel in that moment?

Then imagine the absolute dread you’d feel, if you received another text a couple hours later from this same friend, saying that one of their neighbours had just come over and told them that trusting in Jesus simply wasn’t enough. They also needed to obey all these rules and do all these things to actually be right with God.

What would you say? How would you set your friend right?

The Apostle Paul was in a similar situation, as he heard the wonderful news that this brand new church has sprung up in the city of Colossae (in Asia Minor or modern day Turkey). However, soon after, he heard that these young Christians were being led astray by false teachers, with a fake gospel, telling them that trusting in Jesus was not enough. They needed to do so much more to have spiritual fullness.

So Paul wrote to the Colossian church to assure them that Jesus is more than enough. In fact, Jesus is everything we need for true spiritual life, growth, and fruitfulness. For Jesus gives us complete fellowship with God, perfect forgiveness of our sins, and total freedom from every spiritual law and power over us.

As such, Paul urges these Colossians to stick with the Jesus who has already saved them. 

Listen to the heart of his letter, from chapter 2, verses 6 and 7:

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

These are words that every Christian today needs to hear and heed. So, as we start working through this letter on Sunday, let’s pray that these very verses would be true of us, across the Holy Trinity churches:

Heavenly Father,

As we look at your word over the coming weeks, we pray that each one of us would continue to live our lives in Jesus, being rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as we were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness to you.

We pray this in Jesus’ saving name.
Amen.

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

18 June 2025

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Image from Pexels

A Spirit-filled church

What a joy it was to celebrate Pentecost together on Sunday! As we remembered the coming of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of the first disciples in Acts chapter 2, we were also reminded that we too have the wonderful gift of the Spirit as followers of Jesus today, the very presence and power of God within us.

But what does it actually look like for us to be a Spirit-filled church?

We don’t have to go very far in the Bible to get a picture of that. In fact we see it only a few verses later, at the end of the chapter. In response to Peter’s Pentecost sermon, 3000 people turned to Jesus, were forgiven of their sins, were baptised as his followers, and were filled with the Holy Spirit (2:38-41).

However, these new believers didn’t simply go back to their own individual lives. Rather, they were knit together as a new spiritual community. And while there was no repeat of the wind, fire or tongues from earlier that morning, the lives of these 3000 people were nevertheless powerfully transformed by the work of the Spirit, in four significant ways:

1) Learning

Through the Spirit’s power, they became a learning community.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” (Acts 2:42)

As John Stott writes: “the Holy Spirit opened a school in Jerusalem that day, with 3,000 new students”, hungry for the life-giving words of Jesus.

2) Caring

Through the Spirit’s power, they became a caring community.

“They devoted themselves to … fellowship” (Acts 2:42)

They devoted themselves to those who were devoted to Jesus. That meant more than sharing a cup of tea after the service (as good as that is). They shared their whole lives together. In fact, rather shockingly, they were willing to share everything with their fellow believers:

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” (Acts 2:44-45)

It’s important to note that they weren’t forced into communal living. They still met in each others homes after all (2:46). Rather, they freely chose to give what they could, when they could, to meet the needs of others.

3) Worshipping

Through the Spirit’s power, they became a worshiping community.

“They devoted themselves … to the breaking of bread and to prayer. … They broke bread in their homes … praising God.” (Acts 2:42, 46, 47)

Saved by God’s grace, they worshiped him in response: sharing the Lord’s Supper together, praying, and praising God with ‘glad and sincere hearts’.

4) Growing

Lastly, through the Spirit’s power, they became a growing community.

“... enjoying the favor of all the people. The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-7)

As they lived out the truth, generosity, and joy of Jesus, others were drawn into this community—ultimately to meet the loving Saviour at the centre of it all.

What a vision of the kind of community our churches could all be!

Let’s continue to pray that these four spiritual marks would become more and more a reality for each of our four centres in the Holy Trinity Parish, through the power of the Spirit, for the glory of Jesus.

Yours in Christ,
Mark Barry

Assistant Minister
Community Connections

9 June 2025

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The image above is a Wikipedia Commons (copyright free) image of El Greco's 1597 Pentecost painting.

How good are you at prepping?

Mark 6:1-13

If I am honest the worst part of going on holiday for me is the preparations. 

I know - I get it - things don't just happen, there needs to be some form of preparation.

But sometimes the extent of those preparations can almost make me question whether I should just stay home.

My wife is great at prepping for a trip - she should have a qualification in it. That's not to say she doesn't get stressed - and you can understand why, when she has to put up with me dragging my feet!

The disciples haven't recently been seen in the best of lights as they fear for their lives in the storm on the Sea of Galilee. With all the talk around fear and faith that has been going on so far in the preceding chapters - if I were one of Jesus' first disciples, I think it is fair to say that my nerves wouldn't be much soothed by the scant instructions Jesus now gives them as he sends them off in the first half of chapter 6.

After all, they are about to head off and encounter demons - yet Jesus says (6:8-9) "Take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt...". On the one hand that's my kind of prepping - on the other...yikes!

We often get a bit hung up on details don't we. I wonder if that's the point. Jesus is sending the twelve disciples off with 'his authority' (v 7). The task is the same as their master's, the need is urgent and focused on proclaiming the coming kingdom. No time for worrying about personal well-being.

And cutting through this short account is how gracious and supportive Jesus is. Mark hasn't exactly given a complimentary account of these men. So far they do not understand Jesus' teaching (4:10), do not trust his will or power to protect them (4:28), nor are they sensitive to his extraordinary perceptions (5:31). Yet here we have Jesus sending them out nonetheless. 

I wonder if the key for us to consider is that often no amount of preparation, hearing, teaching or observing God at work will be enough. Sometimes you just have to step forward and take a risk, depending on God and believing that He is enough.

Hopefully seeing that Christ is enough will be what shapes us as a community in The Parish of Holy Trinity, Launceston in the months and years ahead.