Bishop

“A Hymn of Comfort for Pandemic Sufferers” – Bishop Paul Smith shares the significant background of the famous Luther hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our God” and how this hymn directly speaks to our contemporary Christian life during this COVID19 pandemic.

In Australia, so many around us are baptised, but we rarely speak of that. Bishop Paul Smith reflects on the amazing Grace of God at work in our baptism and the recent changes amongst the Christian Churches about recognising God at work in each other’s baptism.

As the early Church were formulating their prayers to the Lord Jesus they reflected on the significance of praying to him as one would pray to God – that the person who once walked around Palestine is the Lord of Creation.

How could the Lord Jesus appear behind closed doors? How could he keep his promise, “Surely I am with you always to the close of the age”? How can he… Read more

During such unusual times, the cracks can show. Also, during such unusual times, important things can become more clear. During these times of isolation, we become acutely aware of our need to better connected with others.

You really cannot miss the humanity of the disciples described in the various Gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples were travelling a roller-coaster of emotions. Sometimes frightened. Sometimes doubting. Sometimes wondering. Sometimes inspired. Sometimes overjoyed.

Our world’s response to COVID-19 has finely tuned our ears to the messages of this Holy Week. Our ears are finely tuned to the experiences of our Lord Jesus … Our ears are also finely tuned to the “reason for the season” …

Bishop Paul shares the story of Martin Rinkart who served as a Lutheran pastor through an era of human history we call the “30 Years War” when over 1/3 of the German people died as a result of war and plague.

As we continue in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to serve the people in our care, the communities and agencies of the LCAQD will undertake the following responses to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) declared by the World Health Organisation to be a Pandemic.

In the wake of the coronavirus panic, Bishop Paul shares evangelical advice that Dr Martin Luther gave to the citizens of Wittenberg during a similar situation.