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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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It’s complicated
Christ Church Cathedral, GraftonPentecost 8A26 July 2020 [ video ] Another Sunday and another text that portrays women as reproductive pawns in the game of life played by men. In this case we have a powerful old man (Laban) trading his daughters like chips in a card game. “Yes, I know you wanted the younger…
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Peter and Paul
Feast of St Peter & St PaulChrist Church Cathedral, Grafton (28 June 2020)St Paul’s Church, Ipswich (30 June 2024) Fresco from the Cave Church of SS Peter & Paul at Rsovci, Serbia (Wikimedia) [ video from 2020 ] [ video from 2024 ] Around the year 55 CE Paul wrote the following words…
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Hagar the Egyptian
Christ Church Cathedral Grafton Third Sunday after Pentecost (Year A) 21 June 2020 [ video ] Sometimes the lectionary offers us a set of biblical texts that welcome us into a space where we can explore and celebrate the sacred love at the heart of the universe. This is not one of those days! Other…
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Black Lives Matter to Jesus
This post was first published as an opinion piece for A Progressive Christian Voice Australia. There is an age-old divide among religious people about just what God—however understood—wants of humans. For the better part of 3,000 years in the Jewish and Christian spiritual traditions, there have been those stressing the need for purity (often expressed…
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A bountiful harvest
Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton Second Sunday after Pentecost 14 June 2020 [ video ] It is so hard to pass by the iconic story from Genesis 18, when Abraham and Sarah offered hospitality to three strangers only to discover—with hindsight, as always—that it had been God who was at their table all the time.…
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The eighth day of creation
Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton Pentecost. Sunday 31 May 2020 [ video ] Everything begins in chaos Darkness Tohu vabohu, writes the ancient Hebrew poet Formless Empty Immense swirling oceans (the Deep) No light at all from any source Then something happens: ruach elohim Christians like to translate that phrase: ‘Spirit of God’ Jews…
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