Sunday Service

St Michael’s is a unique church in the heart of the city. Unique for its relevant, contemporary preaching that embraces and inner wellbeing as its core message.

Sunday services include a mix of traditional and modern presentations interspersed with inspirational music performed by world-class musicians.

St Michael’s affirms and encourages the best expression of humanity, not only through the Sunday service but though our wellbeing programs and our commitment to counselling and psychotherapy. We believe faith, spirituality and a meaning to life are vital ingredients for our health and wellbeing and that there is a need to get hold of a more authentic religious understanding.

Sunday services commence at 10am.
Free Entry

Guest Artist: Joshua de Graaf (Oboe)

Music between the readings: Air from the orchestral suite No. 3 in D major BWV 1068 – J.S. Bach
This well known work is perhaps best known by its nickname, the ‘Air on the G string’.  The orchestral suite from which it comes was composed by Bach during his time in Leipzig, sometime around 1730.

Music during the offering: Allegro from the oboe sonata in G minor, Op. 6 No.1 – G.F. Handel (1685-1759)
This Sonata, published in London and written by Handel (born the same year as Bach) dates from 1732 and comes from a set of 12 sonatas.

The Postlude: Toccata in 7 – John Rutter (b. 1945)
This brief, and very contemporary toccata for organ demonstrates Rutter’s considerable rhythmic invention, using the unconventional time signature of 7/8.  About the music of John Rutter,  The London Evening Standard claimed “For the infectiousness of his melodic invention and consummate craftsmanship, Rutter has few peers.

Artist Bio: Joshua de Graaf began studying oboe at the age of 11 under the guidance of Neil Stafford.  He went on to complete a Bachelor of Music Performance with Honours in 2004 at the Victorian College of the Arts, studying with Anne Gilby and Eve Newsome.  In his final year he was a finalist in the VCA concerto competition, performing the Mozart oboe concerto.

In 2005, Joshua accepted a scholarship at the Australian National Academy of Music and studied with Jeffrey Crellin.  In 2006, after two years at ANAM, Joshua won the position of Associate Principal Oboe in Orchestra Victoria, the position he holds today. 

Joshua has also performed across the country as a member of the Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.  He has also performed with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.  As a chamber musician, Joshua has performed with the Southern Cross Soloists, and has toured with AYO’s Young Australian Concert Artists Wind Quintet as well as Musica Viva’s Crosswinds Trio in rural Queensland.