St Michael's Uniting Church

French Conversation
2015-08-02 11:45 - 12:45, 2015-07-05 11:45 - 12:45, 2015-06-14 11:45 (Australia/Melbourne) | Wellbeing Studio, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Join native French speaker, Johanna Hersey, for a fun and informal French conversation class where all are welcome to practice their French and receive some pointers in basic French conversation skills.
Beginners and fluent speakers alike will find someone to chat to in French and help and guidance on hand.
Cost: free
Bookings not required

Sunday Service
2015-08-02 10:00 - 11:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
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

Artists: The St. Michael’s Singers
Music between the readings: Cantate Domino – Guiseppe Ottavio Pittoni (1657-1743)
This motet, Cantate Domino has the text “come ye with joyfulness, come, sing ye a new song to your Maker. O praise him with the saintly congregation. Israel, be joyful and glad in him. Rejoice and be glad in your King.
Music during the offering: Lord, I trust thee – G.F. Handel (1685-1750)
Handel is of course, best remembered for his oratorio Messiah. However he wrote a truly vast amount of excellent music. This anthem comes from his 1716 oratorio The Passion of Christ.
The Postlude: Toccata in B minor – Eugène Gigout (1844–1925)
Gigout was a pupil of Camille Saint-Saens and a renowned organist, composer and teacher. His toccata in B minor is perhaps his best known work.
Artist Bio: Founded in 2007, The St. Michael’s Singers are based here at St. Michael’s Melbourne. Many of the singers here today have been singing for us regularly now for nearly a decade. This choir is made up of professional and semi-professional singers, many from the now defunct, but internationally famous Choir of Ormond College and other choirs throughout Melbourne. The St. Michael’s Singers are with us during our bigger services to help boost the confidence of the St. Michael’s Congregation, (who are excellent hymn singers) and are also often present at communion services. The St. Michael’s singers are one of three groups that regularly enrich our worship, the others, the St. Michael’s Brass Ensemble and the Academy of St. Michael’s fulfil a similar role. Many of the members of this group worship with us regularly, and have done so over many years.

SAGE Healthy Ageing
2015-07-31 11:00 - 13:00 | St Michael’s Hall, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
SAGE is a monthly seminar program that is presented by renowned psychotherapist and author Dr Francis Macnab. Each month we choose a theme and bring you a series of strategies and tools to help you cope with the big stresses in the years post 55, reshaping your meaning of life, dealing with the fears that flit through these years, living well and knowing the books to read, the music to listen to that will inspire wellbeing.

This month Dr Macnab will be exploring:

Cost: $20 (which includes tea, coffee and a light lunch.)

Lunchtime Recital
2015-07-30 13:00 - 13:30, 2015-07-23 13:00 - 13:30, 2015-07-16 13:00 - 13:30, 2015-07-09 13:00 - 13:30 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Every Thursday at 1 pm, the St Michael’s Carillon is sounded and the grand organ comes to life for a free 30 minute recital. Now into their seventh year, these recitals are well attended by the public.
Performed by organist Rhys Boak, and visiting artists, brings the joy and beauty of live music to many Melbournians and visitors.
Please check your orders of service or our Facebook page each week to see who will be performing the following Thursday.
Music has an important role to play in the functioning of society and has had for many thousands of years. No human culture appears to be without music. Singing, in particular, seems to be universal. Music is invariably expressed in relation to religion. The music program at St Michael’s each week brings us some of the best musicians and music that Australia has to offer to enrich our experience during our Sunday services at special events during the year.

Philosophy for Beginners
2015-07-26 11:45 - 12:45, 2015-06-28 11:45 - 12:45 | Kurrajong Room, 120 Collins, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Thinking Outside The Square
A lively, interactive discussion group, presented by Dr Peter Kingsbury, focusing on thinking outside the square. Designed to inspire creative and innovative thinking.
Cost: free
Booking not required

Sunday Service
2015-07-26 10:00 - 11:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
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: Amir Farid (Piano)
Music between the readings: Moment Musicaux no. 1 D780 – Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Franz Schubert was extraordinary productive during his short lifespan of just 31 years. Along with his vast output of songs and several great symphonies, Schubert also wrote great deal of superb music for the piano.
Music during the offering: Armenian Rhapsody – Javad Maroufi (1912-1993)
Javad Maroufi was born in Tehran (Iran) and studied western classical music alongside Persian classical music. He became one of the first composers to write for the piano in the traditional Persian style.
The postlude: Clair de Lune from Suite bergamasque – Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Debussy began writing his Suite bergamasque at age 28, though strangely it was not fully completed and published till he reached the age of 42 (1905). It remains unclear exactly when much of this suite was written, though we do know that the title of this work, Clair de lune was originally Promenade Sentimentale. The suite draws it’s inspiration from the poetry of Paul Verlaine (1844-1896).
Artist Bio: Winner of the 2006 Australian National Piano Award, pianist Amir Farid has been described as “a highly creative musician – a pianist of great intelligence and integrity. He brings strong musical substance to all that he does, imbuing it with his own particular experience and understanding”, and who “in a well-populated field…distinguishes himself for all the right reasons”. Throughout his career, Amir has been working and developing under the guidance of Professor Ronald Farren-Price, with whom he completed his Bachelor of Music (Hon) degree, and is currently undertaking a Master of Music degree at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne. He also attended the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) where he studied with Rita Reichman, Geoffrey Tozer and Timothy Young. In 2009, he graduated with distinction as a Scholar supported by the Gordon Calway Stone Memorial Award at the Royal College of Music London, studying with Andrew Ball.
Along the way, Amir has participated in masterclasses and lessons with Michele Campanella, Aquiles Delle Vigne, Nikolai Demidenko, Christopher Elton, Gordon Fergus-Thompson, Cord Garben, Mark Gasser, Angela Hewitt, Ian Holtham, Leslie Howard, Julian Jacobson, Geoffrey Lancaster, Stephen McIntyre, Malcolm Martineau, Dominique Merlet, Hamish Milne, Lisa Moore, Ian Munro, Ruth Nye, Adrian Oetiker, Max Olding, Bart van Oort, Christina Ortiz, John Perry, Geoffrey Saba, Natasha Vlassenko, Frank Wibaut, Gerard Willems, Oxana Yablonskaya and John York.

New Faith Discussion Group
2015-07-19 11:45 - 12:45 | Waratah Room, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Dean of Programs at St Michael’s, Neil Blood, leads a study group to discuss the theology of St Michael’s as presented by its Minister of 44 years, Dr Francis Macnab in his book, Discover a New Faith: Energy for a Better Life.
Discussions follow a particular theme each session and involve taking an in depth look at the humanistic philosophy of this unique place, as described through the chapters of the book.
——————————————————————————-All are welcome to join in the conversation as we continue exploring the New Faith theology, as taught at St Michael’s by Dr Francis Macnab.
The New Faith embraces the great themes of the gospels– life, growth, health, wholeness, acceptance and worth –
How does it work for youWhat does it mean to you
Cost: freeBookings: not requiredTea and coffee provided

Sunday Service
2015-07-19 10:00 - 11:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
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

Relationships: School of Love
2015-07-16 11:00 - 12:00, 2015-06-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Wellbeing Studio, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Due to unforeseen circumstances this events has been cancelled.

Poetry Group
2015-07-12 11:45 - 12:45 | Camellia Room, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Due to unforeseen circumstances today’s poetry group session has been cancelled

Sunday Serivce
2015-07-12 10:00 - 11:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
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

Inaugural Exhibition at St Michael's Gallery
2015-07-05 12:00 - 12:30
Our new St Michael’s Gallery opens this Sunday
Featuring 13 artists from the St Michael’s community
All of their artworks express something on the
themes now well-known at St Michael’s
We thank the following exhibiting artists
Wilmore Bajada
Barbara Bateman
June Furness
Dr George Galanis
Ken Gosbell
Robyn Horton
Ronald Leonard Muller
Stephen Ngaa
Eric Anthony Phillips
Rose Rokicki
Josephine Telfer
Ingrid Wilson
Patsy Worledge
We invite you to be present as we open the gallery after the Sunday Service on July 5. And – of course, there will be a celebration to mark this inspiring event.

Mobile Minds
2015-07-05 11:45 - 12:45 | Waratah Room, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Expand the usefulness and enjoyment of your phone and tablet in this friendly forum exploring how mobile technology can have a positive impact on our lives.
Bring out your inquisitive nature with these workshops designed to share new and interesting apps and activities, and learn new ideas for both Android and iOS devices. Participants are encouraged to “show and tell” their favorite apps and ideas.
This workshop is complemented by our blog which will contain notes from each meeting, ideas for upcoming meetings and general ideas and comments from any interested mobile device user. You can access the blog by visiting http://www.themobileminds.blogspot.com.au

Sunday Service
2015-07-05 10:00 - 11:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
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

Artists: The St. Michael’s Singers
Music between the readings: Locus Iste – Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
Music during the offering: Jesu, joy of man’s desiring BWV 147 – J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
The postlude: A Trumpet Minuet – Alfred Hollins (1865-1942)

Bayside Book Group
2015-06-28 14:30 - 17:00
The next meeting of the Basyside book group will be held on Sunday 28 June from 2.30 at the home of Janette James in Cheltenham.
We have chosen a book written by Mariam Issa called A Resilient Life – one woman’s refugee journey.
Any further details contact Janette 0409139404

Sunday Service
2015-06-28 10:00 - 11:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
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

This weeks address:

Guest Artist: Rebecca Adler (Violin)

Music before the service: Gavotte from the Partita in E major BWV 1006 – J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Music between the readings: Prelude from Quiet Girl Suite for Solo Violin (2013) – Charles MacInnes (b.1966)
This suite is made up of five Baroque-influenced dances and is inspired by Danish author Peter Høeg’s novel of the same name. The Prelude introduces the book’s protagonist – a violin playing clown who is being pursued by the authorities for tax evasion.
Music during the offering: Meditation from Thais – Jules Massenet (1842-1912)
This cornerstone of the violin repertoire, this work comes from Massenet’s 1894 opera, Thais. This meditation is played during a scene in which the character Athanaël, a Cenobite Monk tries to convert Thais (who is a devotee of Venus) to Christianity. Athanaël, realises however that his efforts to convert Thais are motivated purely by selfish lust instead of higher religious calling.
The Postlude: Toccata – Th. Dubois (1837-1924)
This joyous toccata was written by the French organist and composer Théodore Dubois. Dubois was a noted composer, conductor, organist, pianist and music educator. He served as organist at Paris’ Église de Madeleine for many years as well as directing the noted Paris Conservatoire.
Artist Bio: Rebecca Adler is a freelance violinist based in Melbourne. A graduate of the University of Melbourne and former student of Wilma Smith, she is a regular guest performer with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria, as well as frequent visitor to St Michael’s. Rebecca plays a violin made in 2005 by Adrian Studer of Nelson, New Zealand.

SAGE: Healthy Ageing Seminar
2015-06-25 11:00 - 13:00 | St Michael’s Hall, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
SAGE is a monthly seminar program that is presented by renowned psychotherapist and author Dr Francis Macnab. Each month we choose a theme and bring you a series of strategies and tools to help you cope with the big stresses in the years post 55, reshaping your meaning of life, dealing with the fears that flit through these years, living well and knowing the books to read, the music to listen to that will inspire wellbeing.

This month Dr Macnab will be exploring the principles of self-soothing.

Cost: $20 (which includes tea, coffee and a light lunch.)

Searchers’ Group Excursions
2015-06-21 12:00 | Various, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
This open and reflective group invites you to explore other religious and cultural institutions of Melbourne.
This month we will be visiting the Jewish Museum, 26 Alma Rd St Kilda, for a 2 pm conducted tour
Please contact Janette 0409139404 / Simon 0458272709 for travel or lunch arrangements.

Sunday Address
2015-06-21 10:00 - 11:30 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
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.

Poetry Group
2015-06-14 11:45 - 12:45 | Camellia Room, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
A group that meets to read poetry, share work and be inspired about all things poetry.
This group aims to cultivate an atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to explore the wonders of poetry in a supportive and fun environment.
Facilitated by Dr Peter Kingsbury this program is free of charge and there is no need to book in advance.
Cost: free
Bookings not required

Sunday Address
2015-06-14 10:00 - 11:30 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
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: Lydia Sharrad (Flute)
Music between the readings: Bergère Captive – Pierre-Octave Ferroud (1900-1936)
Pierre-Octave Ferroud commenced his training as a musician by learning piano from his mother. He then took up studies as an organist under the great Parisian organist, Eduard Commette. After moving to Paris in 1923, Ferroud gradually won the attention of many prevalent composers of the day including Prokofiev, Poulenc and Stravinsky. Tragically, Ferroud’s blossoming career was abruptly cut short; on 17th August 1936, whilst walking in Debrecen on holiday in Hungary, he was decapitated in a road accident. Poulenc, devastated on hearing of his death, dedicated many of his later religious works to his friend.
Music during the offering: Jade – Pierre-Octave Ferroud (1900-1936)
The Postlude: Allegro from Sonata VI – C.P.E. Bach (1714-1788)
Carl Philippe Emanuel Bach was the fifth child and second son of the great Johann Sebastian Bach. Many of J.S. Bach’s more than twenty children went on to become extraordinary musicians in their own right. Many of whom achieved greater fame and success in their lifetimes than their father.
Artist Bio: Lydia Sharrad is a freelance flautist who has been based in Melbourne for the last 3 and a half years. She undertook a BMUS with first class honours in Adelaide with Elizabeth Koch and Geoff Collins, before moving to Melbourne to complete a Masters in Performance under the tutelage of Lisa-Maree Amos. She is a casual member of Orchestra Victoria and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and has played for a diverse range of organisations and music groups, including the Australian Youth Orchestra (principal flute 2007-09 and part of the European tour last year), Australian National Academy of Music, Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, The orchestra Project, Monash Academy of Performing Arts, and the Australian Concert Orchestra to name a few.
She has appeared as soloist with the Cologne New Philharmonic, playing 53 performances of the Mozart G Major flute Concerto throughout Australia and New Zealand, and with the Burnside Symphony Orchestra, playing the Liebermann Concerto.

All Weather Walkers
2015-06-13 10:15 - 14:00
Please join us for a pleasant and easy stroll along the foreshore from St Kilda to Port Melbourne.
We will meet under the clocks at Flinders Street Rail Station at 10.15 AM, then take the Tram to St Kilda where we will have morning coffee. After coffee our walk will allow us to enjoy wide views of the bay as well as the interesting varied architecture and historic buildings. On arrival at Port Melbourne our lunch will be at the Light Rail Terminus Café or a venue close by. Those wishing just to come for lunch can meet us at The Light Rail Station Terminus Café around 12.30 PM.
Contact Nancy Doherty 0468373413 or David Doherty 0402000729

Writing Seminar
2015-06-11 18:30 - 19:30 | St Michael’s on Collins, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
