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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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Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost (2 November 2014)
Contents 1 Lectionary 2 Thessalonica in the time of Paul 2.1 Location 2.2 History 2.3 Population and religion 3 Diatribe against the Pharisees 4 Jesus Database 5 Liturgies and Prayers 5.1 Music Suggestions Lectionary Joshua 3:7-17 & Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 [Micah 3:5-12 & Psalm 43] 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 Matthew 23:1-12 Thessalonica in the time of…
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Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (25 October 2014)
Contents 1 Lectionary 2 First Reading: Death of Moses 3 Second Reading: Church as religious club 3.1 Collegia and Koina in the early Christian movement 3.2 Categories of voluntary associations 3.3 The Island of Delos 3.4 Paul and the koinonia of Christ 4 Gospel: Jesus and the Pharisees 4.1 The greatest commandment 4.2 Son of…
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Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (19 October 2014)
Contents 1 Lectionary 2 First Reading: Close encounters of the divine kind 3 Second Reading: Paul to the Thessalonians 3.1 New Testament letters 3.2 1 Thessalonians 4 Gospel: Whose head on the coin 5 Jesus Database 6 Liturgies and Prayers 6.1 Music Suggestions Lectionary Exodus 33:12-23 & Psalm 99 [Isaiah 45:1-7 & Psalm 96:1-9, (10-13)]…
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Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (12 October 2014)
Contents 1 Lectionary 2 Kissing calves 3 Gospel: The Feast 4 Jesus Database 5 Liturgies and Prayers 5.1 Music Suggestions Lectionary Exodus 32:1-14 & Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 (Isaiah 25:1-9 & Psalm 23) Philippians 4:1-9 Matthew 22:1-14 Kissing calves The episode of the “golden calf” is an archetypal symbol for apostasy, and it has an interesting…
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Jesus and the divine presence
Notes for a presentation to a symposium on the ‘Divine Presence’ at the Worship Centre, Murdoch University, Perth on Thursday, 2 October 2014 with Harold Ellens, Gregory C. Jenks, Alex Jensen, and Suzanne Boorer It is good to be back in Perth as a guest of the WA Progressive Network, and I am especially pleased to…
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Personal reflections on safety by a frequent visitor to Israel
It is natural — and very understandable — that people would have some concerns about travel to the Middle East, including Israel, at this time. As a general comment, I remind people that Israel is actually a very safe destination for travel. While not entirely reassuring, I often observe that the most dangerous thing about…
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