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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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Learning to be brave
St Paul’s Church, IpswichAustralia Day26 January 2025 [ video ] What a week to be preaching. Every week the sermon is an awesome responsibility for any preacher. Some weeks the weight seems heavier. This is one of those weeks. Today we observe Australia Day. That alone puts the preacher between a rock and a hard
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Baptism as epiphany
Baptism of the LordSt Paul’s Church, Ipswich12 January 2025 We are now in the season of Epiphany. This is an elastic season that can be shorter or longer depending on the date of Easter each year. This year Epiphany last for 7 weeks, or 8 Sundays if we count last week when we had the
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an outside-in church
IMAGE: Ethiopian icon of the adoration of the magi. From the collection of the Centre for Coins Culture & Religious History, St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane. #3218 Feast of the EpiphanySt Paul’s Church, Ipswich5 January 2025 [ video ] For much of the Twelve Days of Christmas we focus on the beautifully crafted story to be
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Child of destiny
Feast of the Holy Family (C)St Paul’s Church, Ipswich29 December 2024 [ video ] Last Sunday I encouraged people to take the time to read the whole of Luke’s story about the birth of Jesus, which we find in the first two chapters of his Gospel. As they left the church a few people mentioned their intention
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Not the palace but a cave
Christ Mass 2024St Paul’s Church, Ipswich25 December IMAGE: Public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herodium_02.jpg [ video ] For those familiar with the geography of Bethlehem there is a powerful theological message hidden in plain sight every time the Christmas story is rehearsed. As one stands down the street from the Church of the Nativity and looks towards Jerusalem,
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Be like Luke
Advent 4CSt Paul’s Church, Ipswich22 December 2024 IMAGE: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/city_commemoratives/_thessalonica_RIC_187_arrowhead Listening to Scripture and reading our context [ video ] Throughout this year we shall especially focus on the Gospel tradition attributed to Saint Luke. This is year C in a three-year cycle for the ecumenical lectionary shared by all the major Christian churches. During the
