• Nazareth Then and Now

    Nazareth Then and Now

    Ancient Nazareth lacked the critical advantages for its development as a significant settlement: abundant water supply, an elevated site for defensive purposes, and strategic location adjacent to a major highway. The most comprehensive recent study of the archeology of ancient Nazareth and its local region was completed by Ken Dark over several seasons between 2004…

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  • The oldest hatred

    The oldest hatred

    Presentation to a panel discussion sponsored by the Jewish Council of Australia at St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane on Monday, 29 September 2025. The topic of the event was: Should anti-Semitism be exceptionalised or should we combat all forms of racism together? Co-hosts for the event included: Doykeit (a local Jewish group in Brisbane), St John’s…

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  • The binding of Isaac

    The binding of Isaac

    Pentecost 5 (Year A)28 June 2026St Paul’s Church, Ipswich IMAGE: Sacrifice of Isaac (Caravaggio, ca. 1603 CE) Wikimedia Commons As you may have noticed from the many sermons you have heard me deliver, I typically focus on the Gospel of the day. However, sometimes one of the other readings needs to be addressed. Today’s reading…

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  • Jesus, Sepphoris and the Stoics

    Jesus, Sepphoris and the Stoics

    From time to time (and twice in the past couple of weeks) I am asked about the idea that Jesus may have been part of a casual workforce from Nazareth employed on the rebuilding of Sepphoris prior to commencing his public activity as a prophet of the basileia tou theou (the empire of God). This…

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  • Faith hope and love

    Faith hope and love

    [ video ] Season of Holy Women 3Ipswich Anglican Community3 August 2025 It has been quite a journey since that first Sunday in May last year. In my sermon that day, I reflected on the question: Are we there yet? Perhaps that was a question the women asked themselves as they made their way through…

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  • Martha and Mary (and Abigail)

    Martha and Mary (and Abigail)

    Feast of Martha and Mary St Paul’s Church Ipswich27 July 2025 [ video ] Most of the time in our calendar of holy days and holy people, we look to celebrate extraordinary events: people who stand out from the crowd, events that amaze us, achievements that defy the odds,  and so on. Today is different. Today we…

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