Episode

Many years ago, this church had an important conversation (1st picture). I am not referring to this many years ago! The church looked more like this (2nd picture) at the time, but actually that first picture (1st picture) reminds us that this is a conversation we have been having for Read more…

One of the aspects of our Mark reading this morning that the commentators comment on is the reoccurrence of the word ‘immediately’! ‘Immediately’ brings a sense of urgency, of drama, to the story. For example, if I told you that on Wednesday night, driving to a conference in Sydney, Rebecca Read more…

Life outside the bubble – Psalm 46 I assume you are all familiar – considering where we are right now– with the concept of the Canberra bubble! Made popular by of our last Prime Minister and the Australian National Dictionary Centre’s 2018 word of the year, the Canberra bubble is Read more…

God’s gonna trouble the water. I love the ambiguity of this African American spiritual lyric – so simple, but so evocative, so layered in Scriptural meaning! Wade in the Water refers to both the Israelites escape from Egypt and the end times – promising a future freedom. (Robert Waltz and Read more…

God in a manger Luke 2:1-12 There is a lovely little story for children – and for adults – written by Frank McCourt, who wrote Angela’s Ashes (some of you will have read), about his poverty-stricken childhood in Ireland. This, however, is an earlier story about his mother Angela who, Read more…

Prelude Choir – Alleluia, hurry the Lord is near Call to Worship Family of Christ, siblings by adoption, let us come together and seek peace! The Prince of Peace is here, making his home in our hearts. When we are at peace, our hearts are not afraid. When we are Read more…

The sheep and the goats – Matthew 25:31-46 Well, it is a challenge to be the third speaker – especially to follow… But it is a greater challenge to reflect on the past year for Canberra Baptist Church in the light of this familiar, but always unsettling parable about the Read more…

Rejoice in the Lord greatly – Philippians 4:10-20 Eight weeks ago (with a little break for the Blessing of the Animals and the Open Baptists weekend) we began a series on Philippians, and today is the last in this series. But joy, (hallelujah!), goes on! It is firmly and deeply Read more…

Rejoice in the Lord – always. – Philippians 4:1-7 Poor Euodia and Syntyche! What a way to be remembered for posterity! I was tempted, when I was planning this series to skip the beginning of chapter 4, but as I did more reading, I was intrigued by the fact that Read more…

Luke 2: 1-20 Written by Rebecca Hilton, who considers that Luke would be comfortable with a retelling of the story he wrote, given that the story is for everyone, now matter who they are, and where they live. Congregational responses are bolded (because they are likely to be difficult to Read more…