The Third Sunday of Advent (or thereabouts) [Re-light the first two purple candles] We Remember the Meaning of Advent Advent is a word that means “coming” or “visit”. In the Christian season of Advent we prepare for the “advent” of Christ at Christmas. Our preparation includes many things: • We remember Israel’s hope for the … Continue reading Advent: Lighting the Third Candle – Waiting for Joy
Advent: Lighting the Second Candle – Waiting for Forgiveness
The Second Sunday of Advent (or thereabouts) [Re-light the first purple candle.] We Remember the Meaning of Advent Advent is a word that means “coming” or “visit.” In the Christian season of Advent we prepare for the “advent” of Christ at Christmas. Our preparation includes many things: • We remember Israel’s hope for the coming … Continue reading Advent: Lighting the Second Candle – Waiting for Forgiveness
Advent: Lighting the First Candle – Waiting for the Shepherd
The First Sunday of Advent (or thereabouts) We Remember the Meaning of Advent [Note: Someone can read or paraphrase the following. Or you might want to discuss the meaning of Advent together.] Advent is a word that means “coming” or “visit”. In the Christian season of Advent, we prepare for the “advent” of Christ at … Continue reading Advent: Lighting the First Candle – Waiting for the Shepherd
Advent – Preparing for the Coming of Christ
Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve, Advent helps us prepare for the coming, or “advent” of the Christ child at Christmas. (The word “advent” comes from the Latin word that means “coming.”) For hundreds of years, Christians have used an Advent … Continue reading Advent – Preparing for the Coming of Christ
World Animal Day (October 4th)
Okay, so today is World Animal Day. World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. October 4 was chosen as World Animal Day as it is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. … Continue reading World Animal Day (October 4th)
World Beard Day
Did you hear? Yesterday was World Beard Day! Yes, the first Saturday of September is the official day to celebrate great facial hair. This is timely for me, as I returned from my recent holiday sporting a beard that ties me to my Scottish roots (see picture to the right of my great, great grandfather … Continue reading World Beard Day
Happy Father’s Day!
Today is Father's Day, a time to honour all of our dads. I am thankful for my own father and the positive role model he has been for me, despite that fact that he was an orphan and never had either a father or a mother his entire life (see his biography This is my Story for … Continue reading Happy Father’s Day!
In the beginning …
On August 30-31st, City Bible Forum is hosting a symposium of science and the Scriptures, looking at three views of origins: atheist naturalism, young-earth creationism, and old-earth creationism. What happened in the beginning? Was there a creator? How old is the earth? How do we understand Genesis? Over 2 days, this symposium brings together experts … Continue reading In the beginning …
Is it Reasonable to Believe there is a God?
The City Bible Forum is hosting an event in Melbourne on August 16th entitled "Is it reasonable to believe there is a God?" The evening will feature a lively conversation between Lawrence M. Krauss and William Lane Craig. Lawrence M. Krauss is a renowned cosmologist and science popularizer, and is Foundation Professor in the School … Continue reading Is it Reasonable to Believe there is a God?
ORIGINS
Welcome to the second half of the year! This month, we’ll be taking a fresh look at the first part of the book of Genesis, as we commence a series of messages called ORIGINS. Sometimes it helps to look backward before you move forward, so you live your life from God’s perspective. By going back to … Continue reading ORIGINS
Happy Mother’s Day!
Tomorrow is Mother's Day, a day to honour mothers all around the world. Mother's are special people who we owe so much to - in addition to our very existence! Mother's are faithful, loyal, hard working (where do mother's go when they want to resign?), loving and caring. We honour and applaud them at this … Continue reading Happy Mother’s Day!
ANZAC Day
Tommorrw is ANZAC Day here in Australia. ANZAC Day is commemorated in Australia and New Zealand on April 25th every year to remember members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who landed at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. ANZAC Day is one of the most important days on the Australian … Continue reading ANZAC Day
The Purpose of Lent
Tomorrow is Lent, an important part of the liturgical year for many Christians, lasting approximately six weeks leading up to Easter Sunday. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, repentance, generosity and fasting (or the giving up of certain types of luxuries). You may want to consider committing yourself … Continue reading The Purpose of Lent
Happy New Year – 2013
Happy New Year! Aren't you glad that life isn't just one long unchanging time-period. God has divided time into days so that every 24 hours we have a fresh start. Then there is the new week, the new month and the new year. Each new year is a new beginning, the start of a new … Continue reading Happy New Year – 2013
The REAL Christmas Story (Pt.2)
After presenting an extensive genealogy, something that would have been very important to his Jewish readers (a high value for heritage, inheritance, legitimacy and rights), Matthew moves on to tell us about the birth of Jesus ... It’s a unique story about a unique person with a unique conception and a unique message and ministry. … Continue reading The REAL Christmas Story (Pt.2)