St John's Canberra Talks

LitD 2 - Living with VAD: the impact on end of life care 27.02.2026 48:33 ↓

What is VAD and euthanasia? What is not euthanasia? How will it affect our existing practices of end of life care? (Megan Best) Slides and other resources at ⁠tinyurl.com/SJ-LitD⁠ .

LitD 1 - Welcome and Rationale 27.02.2026 12:20 ↓

Why are we having this conference called 'Light in the Darkness'? (Dave McLennan) Other resources at ⁠tinyurl.com/SJ-LitD⁠ .

Lent 1: Temptation - You are what you eat. (Gen. 2:15–17, 3:1–7; Psalm 32; Rom. 5:12–21; Matt. 4:1–11) 21.02.2026 26:20 ↓

Temptation slithers in sneakily. It relies on desire. What to do, when our desire for what's very good, goes very bad? To whom shall we look? (Rev'd Dave)

Ash Wednesday: Use it to make a plan. (2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10; Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21) 18.02.2026 12:44 ↓

We make plans for a lot of things. Why not for the rest of your (eternal) life? (Rev'd Murrary)

What to look for when everything is dark (Exodus 24:12-18; Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 7:1-9) 15.02.2026 18:38 ↓

When we're in a dark place, we're desperate for a spot of light. But where do you look? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

How not to develop your brand (Isaiah 58:1–12; 1 Cor. 2:1–16; Matthew 5:13–20) 08.02.2026 24:16 ↓

Being 'salt' and 'light' sometimes has a bad outcome, and sometimes a good outcome. How much does that matter? (And why are 'values' a bit rubbish?) (Rev'd Dave)

The roadmap for tough lives (Micah 6.1–8; 1 Corinthians 1.18–31; Matthew 5:1–12) 01.02.2026 33:08 ↓

What ways forward does Jesus gives for lives that are really, really hard? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

What darkness? (Isa 9:1-4; 1 Cor 1:10-18; Matt 4:12-25) 25.01.2026 22:50 ↓

Rev'd Dave looks at all the kinds of darkness Christ came to change.

What do you see when you come and see? (Isa 49:1-7; Ps 40: 1-14; 1 Cor 1:1-9; John 1:29-42) 17.01.2026 26:09 ↓

'Seeing'. You can see just what's in front of you. Or what's coming. Or what was behind. Or, a whole lot more. (Rev'd Dave)

What if no one had ever heard *this* speech? (Isa 42:1–9; Acts 10:34–43; Matt 3:13–17) 11.01.2026 20:12 ↓

Rev'd Andrew on a speech that changed everything, for Cornelius, and the world.

Through the WHAT??! (Isa. 60:1–6; Eph. 3:1–12; Matt. 2:1–12) 04.01.2026 20:48 ↓

Rev'd Andrew on the surprising continuation of God's Epiphany to the world ...

How long? (Jeremiah 31:15–20; Matthew 2:13–18) 28.12.2025 16:04 ↓

The Massacre of the Innocents, straight after Christ's birth, shows how suffering is 'baked in'. But Rev'd Andrew shows how 'Rachel's weeping' might actually hint at some hope.

* * * L I G H T * * * (Titus 3.4-8; Luke 2:1-20) 25.12.2025 15:05 ↓

How do you end the darkness? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

After Bondi: I believe in the virgin birth. (Isaiah 7.10-16; Romans 1.1-7; Matthew 1.18-25) 21.12.2025 22:22 ↓

Rev'd Dave on how the Virgin Birth of Christ give us hope and meaning--and exposes the worldview that you're trusting in.

After Bondi ... (Isaiah 35.1-10; James 5.7-10; Matthew 11.2-11) 17.12.2025 22:36 ↓

Rev'd Andrew revisits this week's passages, in the aftermath of the Bondi tragedy. (Includes a statement by the Primate.)

Nine Lessons and Carols (not a great recording, but still fun!) 14.12.2025 1:16:01 ↓

John the choir, readers, and congregations of St John's as we hear again the epic biblical story of Jesus' coming, with *so much music!*

When trouble makes you weak at the knees (Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11) 14.12.2025 20:50 ↓

What do you do when you need a result, but God's time does not match your time? (Rev'd Andrew)

How to exit your desert (Isaiah 11.1-10; Romans 15.4-13; Matthew 3.1-12) 07.12.2025 28:21 ↓

What makes our lives like a desert? And why was even John the Baptist unsure if Jesus led the way out of it? (Rev'd Dave)

When you are anxious, claim the power (Isa. 2:1-5; 1 Thess. 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-38) 30.11.2025 19:18 ↓

What are you going to do when world events get you down? Jesus' disciples had the same problem. (Dr Winifred Lamb)

Christ the King (Jeremiah 23:1-6; Colossians 1.11-20; Luke 23.33-43) 23.11.2025 21:28 ↓

What to say yes to, though kinging ain't what it used to be (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

Preparing for a future you can't see (Luke 21.5-19; 2 Thess. 3:6-13) 16.11.2025 17:31 ↓

We can't know in advance what shape our trials will take, but we are still supposed to prepare for them. How? (Rev'd Dave)

Single people: showing us the resurrection (Luke 20:27–40; 2 Thess. 2:1–5 & vv13–17) 09.11.2025 14:39 ↓

What's so special about single people? A lot, actually. (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

From Spectator to Participant: The Unlikely Convert (Luke 19:1-10) 01.11.2025 17:49 ↓

What happens when Jesus meets Joe Pesci? (Rev'd Dave)

What is it about children? (Luke 18:15–30; 2 Tim. 4:6–18; Psalm 65:3) 25.10.2025 13:29 ↓

What makes kids a better fit for God's place, than you and I? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

Out of exile (Jeremiah 31:27-34; Luke 18:1-14) 19.10.2025 18:35 ↓

Hear God's ancient promise: of a return us to our true home (Rev'd Dave).