The cover of Labor MP Lindsay Tanner's book Crowded Lives is filled with an unattractive, blurry photo of an overloaded power outlet, symbolising the author's message. Tanner, also the Federal Opposition spokesperson for communications, persuasively argues in little more than a hundred pages that our lives are in overload with insufficient alternative energy sources to draw upon. We are driven by agendas of economic and personal advancement and are consequently increasingly diminishing the web of relational support that is vital for a healthy society. Tanner asserts that the key is to reverse the undervaluing of relationships.

There are many books of the Bible that challenge seekers of any age. One such book is the Old Testament narrative Job.

As of January 1, the parish of St Paul's, Cambridge Park and St Thomas' Cranebrook will be resigned to the history books, with Cranebrook becoming a separate parish. It is an exciting prospect, says Archdeacon Ken Allen, who says the split has been quite a few years in coming. “When a parish becomes its own unit there is an immediate encouragement to continue to grow,” he said. “It's going to be a great encouragement to the locals; it's [also] a challenge to them. It's saying, ‘we want you to work really hard to reach the area and build it up'.”

A friend of mine lives in an inner-city suburb where varieties of ‘family' are to be found. A lesbian couple live not far from her. Through IVF processes they have a son, a dear little boy. He has two Mummys. It causes some confusion for older-aged neighbours who don't know which woman to call Mummy when they are talking to him. This may be confusing to those neighbours now, but what about the child when he goes to school? While other children talk of Mummy and Daddy, he will have to talk about Mummy and Mummy. Who ever considered his rights as a young boy? For there's no doubt, children do have rights.

Last month Anglican Media Sydney launched www.themission.com.au – a website devoted to the Archbishop's Mission for the Diocese of Sydney.

Archbishop Peter Jensen has announced the appointment of Deaconess Margaret Rodgers as his Media Officer, effective from 1 January, 2004.

Anglicare celebrated the 60th anniversary of its Chesalon Aged Services on November 1, with a special service in St Andrew's Cathedral. But the celebrations come with a sting in the tail.

When Doug and Judy Lawrence bought 400 acres of land on Sydney's south coast in 1973, they weren't dreaming of an idyllic country getaway for themselves. Rather, they hoped and prayed that God would use the land for children's and youth camping ministry, in their own lifetime and beyond.