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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
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 web of life
Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton First Sunday of Creation: Ocean 1 September 2019 [ video ] Season of Creation: Ocean Sunday Well, we have no shortage of themes to consider here this morning: For starters, it’s Fathers’ Day (at least here in the southern hemisphere). In addition, it is the first Sunday of the season of…
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A great cloud of witnesses
Christ Church Cathedral Grafton Pentecost 10(C) 18 August 2019 [ video ] A great cloud of witnesses Once again this week, I am going to break with my usual practice and start the sermon with the second reading: another passage from Hebrews chapter 11. That reading comprised the final verses of chapter 11 along…
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Heart and treasure
Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton Pentecost 9 (C) 11 August 2019 [ video ] Each week the lectionary serves up a selection of texts for us to explore as we seek spiritual wisdom for everyday life. Most times those readings are not chosen for their connection with one another. However, there is a logic to…
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For whom the bell tolls
Almost 400 years ago, John Donne penned the words which became a modern proverb, and have proved with the passing of time to be prophetic as well: No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by…
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Mary the Tower
Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton Feast of the Magdalene 21 July 2019 [ video ] The Magdalene Today we are celebrating the feast day for Mary Magdalene, who has been everyone’s favourite disciple and saint at various times in history and especially in recent times. From Jesus Christ Superstar in the 1970s to Dan Brown’s…
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No purse, no bag, no sandals
Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton Pentecost 4C 7 July 2019 [ video ] Today we going back into the lectionary cycle after several weeks when we have stepped aside from the lectionary to focus on the key phrases in the great commandments: Love God with all our hearts, with our souls, with our minds and…
