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: Joe Chindamo (piano)

Music between the readings:  Aria – J.S. Bach (1685-1750) & J. Chindamo
J.S. Bach’s famous Goldberg variations, originally for the harpsichord, are a cornerstone of the classical keyboard repertoire.  Joe Chindamo’s Goldberg Inventions consist of Bach’s original keyboard part, with a completely new violin part beautifully interwoven with Bach’s existing texture.  Chindamo is sometimes described as a musical polymath – famous for his work in the Jazz style, this is only one facet of his creative output as this work, clearly in the high baroque style demonstrates.

Music during the Offering: “Lara’s Theme” – Maurice Jarre (1924-2009) arr. J. Chindamo
This well known theme comes from the 1965 film Doctor Zhivago.

The Postlude: Pilgrim’s Chorus from Tannhäuser – Richard Wagner (1813-1883) arr. Edwin H. Lemare (1866-1934)
This melody is one of Wagner’s most celebrated and most recognisable.  It was transcribed for performance by many organists including Franz Liszt.  The version by the English virtuoso Edwin Lemare is perhaps the most successful and the most difficult to play.  The melody is first heard quietly played in the orchestral version by the woodwind instruments (oboes and clarinets) eventually the accompaniment swells and the melody is heard played by all the brass instruments together (horns, trumpets, trombones etc). From this drammatic climax, the music dies magestically away, the final chords again played by the woodwinds.
Artist Bio: Zoë Black and Joe Chindamo are the new kids on the classical block and are routinely described as edgy and a welcome new and unique voice to Australian Chamber music: their concert performances and two CD releases REIMAGININGS and DIDO’s LAMENT have met with highest acclaim from critics and peers. In the past year, they were highlights at Piers Lane’s AFCM, Anna Goldsworthy’s Port Fairy Festival, ABC FM Sunday Live, Canberra Street Theatre, Melba Hall, Sandgate Festival by the Sea, Peninsula Festival Summer and Spring Festivals and Melbourne Recital Centre. In February 2014, following the release of Dido’s Lament, they were the subject of a 4 page feature in Limelight.  Their 4 and 5 star reviews of concerts and CDs have emphasised their commitment to new music, which displays a daring disregard for boundaries.  

“When two great artists collaborate, you expect a magnificent result. What you don’t expect, what you can’t even imagine, is the transcendent experience that awaits you when under the spell of Zoe Black and Joe Chindamo.” – James Morrison trumpeter and Director of Queensland Festival.

“… instead of breaking down boundaries, this duo appears not to notice them…This recording is brimming with creativity. It’s a delight to hear…The duo must be lauded for forging a style entirely their own.” – Francis Merson, editor LIMELIGHT MAGAZINE