St Michael's Uniting Church

St Michael's Midsumma Gathering: "Your People shall be my People"
2024-01-28 10:00 - 11:15 (Australia/Melbourne) | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Image: Jesus the Includer by David Hayward

“Your People Shall be my People” – A Celebration of Spiritual Belonging
A joyful service celebrating inclusive community and the courageous faith of queer people, as we claim our place in the church.
Led by St Michael’s LGBTIQA+ minister, Rev Dr Margaret Mayman with St Michael’s members and friends.
Featuring uplifting music by the amazing The Consort of Melbourne LGBTIQA+ choir, singing from their Midsumma 2023 ‘Homophonic!’ repertoire.
All are welcome to this gathering of inspiring liturgy, peaceful reflection and joyful music.
Read about the moving celebrations in 2023 from The Gaurdian – “Spirituality and sexuality – people shouldn’t have to choose’: the Australian church celebrating queer joy”
View the article about St Michael’s Uniting Church from The Guardian Monday January 30th 2023 by Sian Cain here

Lunchtime Organ Recital
2024-01-25 13:00 - 13:30 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
“Music is the food of the soul” – Arthur Schopenhauer
Make an organ recital part of your lunch plans and join us for the St Michael’s Lunchtime Organ Recital series this Thursday.
The recitals series feature St Michael’s organist, Rhys Boak and guest artists.
Today’s organist is guest, Dr R J Stove
Free event. Doors open at 12:30pm
Share our flyer
The Program for Thursday, 25 January

Intrada – Johann Hermann Schein (1586–1630)
Chorale Prelude Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund (‘Since Jesus hung upon the cross’), BWV 621
– Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Sostenuto in A Minor – Carl Umbreit (1763–1829)
Prelude in G Major, Op. 170, No. 1 – Gustav Merkel (1827–1885)
Chorale Prelude Christ ist erstanden (‘Christ is risen’) – Carl Piutti (1846–1904)
Two Intermezzi from Six Intermezzi, Op. 9, Nos. 4 and 6 – Hermann Schroeder (1904– 1984)

Download the program for Thursday, 25 January here

Lunchtime Organ Recital
2024-01-24 08:00 - 17:00
“Music is the food of the soul” – Arthur Schopenhauer
Make an organ recital part of your lunch plans and join us for the St Michael’s Lunchtime Organ Recital series this Thursday.
The recitals series feature St Michael’s organist, Rhys Boak and guest artists.
Today’s organist is guest, Dr R J Stove
Free event. Doors open at 12:30pm
Download the program for today Download the program for Thursday, 25 January here
Share our flyer
Program for Thursday, 25 January

Intrada – Johann Hermann Schein (1586–1630)
Chorale Prelude Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund
(‘Since Jesus hung upon the cross’), BWV 621 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Sostenuto in A Minor – Carl Umbreit (1763–1829)
Prelude in G Major, Op. 170, No. 1 – Gustav Merkel (1827–1885)
Chorale Prelude Christ ist erstanden (‘Christ is risen’) – Carl Piutti (1846–1904)
Two Intermezzi from Six Intermezzi, Op. 9, Nos. 4 and 6 – Hermann Schroeder (1904– 1984)

Day of Mourning Sunday service - In church and online
2024-01-21 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Image: Interwoven story-telling by Grace Williams
Third Sunday after Epiphany
“Day of mourning – truth-telling and justice-seeking”
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music: Peter Sheridan (Flute) & Rhys Boak (Organ & Piano)
Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online church services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here
As we move into 2024, the Uniting Church in Australia, invites the community to mark the Day of Mourning. This Sunday,
St Michael’s will join with other Uniting church communities across the country and hold a service that invites us to listen to the truths of our past and recommit to justice and truth-telling. Importantly, we are asked that we find ways to connect with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) or First Peoples in our local community and consider how we will continue to live out the covenant as a faith community.
Our service will include a short Survival Day video message from UAICC National Chairperson Rev Mark Kickett and UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis which can be viewed here:

Lunchtime Organ Recital
2024-01-18 13:00 - 13:30 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
“Music is the food of the soul” – Arthur Schopenhauer
Make an organ recital part of your lunch plans and join us for the St Michael’s Lunchtime Organ Recital series this Thursday.
The recitals series feature St Michael’s organist, Rhys Boak and guest artists.
Today’s organist is guest, Dr R J Stove
Free event. Doors open at 12:30pm
Download the program for today Download the program for Thursday, 18 January here
Share our flyer
1. Prelude and Fugue on ‘Nun danket alle Gott’ – Percy E. Fletcher (1879–1932)
2. At Eventide – Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924)
3. Interlude XXXIX – Dom Gregory Murray (1905–1992)
4. Capriccietto – Leonard Butler (1869–1943)
5. Élégie Héroïque – Harry Farjeon (1878–1948)
6. Dance – Christopher Steel (1938–1991)

Sunday Gathering - in church and online: Whose voice will you listen for this year?
2024-01-14 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Second Sunday after Epiphany- 14 January 2024, 10am
“Whose voice will you listen for this year?”
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music in church: Hoang Pham (Piano) & Shauna Beesley (Organ)
Music online: Michelle Nelson & Meredith Connie (Guitars), Bruno Siketa (Trumpet)
& Rhys Boak (Organ)

Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Sunday Gathering - in church and online: What is emerging for you?
2024-01-07 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Image by David Dawes
First Sunday after Epiphany- 7 January 2024, 10am
“What is emerging for you”
Guest minister: Rev David Dawes
Music in church: Hoang Pham (Piano) & Shauna Beesley (Organ)
Music online: Paulina Vayenas (Piano), Dr. Kim Tan (Flute) & Rhys Boak (Organ & Piano)

Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Sunday Gathering: In church and online - "Continuity Amidst Change"
2023-12-31 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Image from pexels.com
First Sunday after Christmas – 31 December 2023, 10am
“Continuity Amidst Change”
Guest minister: Rev Peter Burnham
Music in church: Rhys Boak (Organ)
Music online: Francesca Hiew (Violin), David Paterson (Piano), Georgia Wilkinson (Soprano)
& Rhys Boak (Organ & Piano)

Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Christmas Day Gathering - In church and online
2023-12-25 09:00 - 10:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Christmas Day – 25 December 2023, 9am
“Imagine Peace and Act for Peace“
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music in church: Georgia Wilkinson (Soprano), The St Michael’s String Quartet & Rhys Boak (Piano)
Music online: Georgia Wilkinson (Soprano), the St Michael’s String Quartet, The Academy of St Michael, Joe Chindamo (Piano) & Rhys Boak (Piano)
Please note the change of time of 9am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available in the afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Sunday Gathering - In church and online - Anticipating the Holy
2023-12-24 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Image: Nativity by Erland Sibuea
Fourth Sunday of Advent – 24 December 2023, 10am
“Anticipating the Holy“
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music in church and online: The St Michael’s Singers & Rhys Boak (Organ)

Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Christmas Reimagined: Carols and Readings
2023-12-21 19:30 - 20:30 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Join our Christmas Festivities with joyful Carols and Readings.
This special service is one with an uplifting difference.
Rev Dr Margaret Mayman leads the service and is joined by guest reader, Greta Bradman.
Listen to joyous carols performed by soloist Georgia Wilkinson, the St Michael’s Singers and Brass Ensemble conducted by Rhys Boak and enjoy an oppotunity to sing along to some carol favourites.
Free event. Doors open at 7pm.
Download the Christmas Reimagined: Carols and Readings Order of Service here
Let your friends know about Carols and Readings and share our flyer

Advent Sunday Gathering - in church and online
2023-12-17 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Image: Magnificat (detail) by JanRichardson
Third Sunday of Advent – 17 December 2023, 10am
“Desiring God“
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music in church: Joe Chindamo (Piano) & Rhys Boak (Organ)
Music online: Zoe Black (Violin), Joe Chindamo (Piano) & Rhys Boak (Organ & Piano)
Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Lunchtime Organ Recital
2023-12-14 13:00 - 13:30 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Make an organ recital part of your lunch plans and join us for the St Michael’s Lunchtime Organ Recital series this Thursday.
The recitals series feature St Michael’s organist, Rhys Boak and guest artists.
Free event.
Doors open at 12:30pm
Share our flyer
This is the last Lunchtime Organ recital for 2023.
There will be a small break over the Christmas break and no organ recitals on Thursday 21 & 28 December and 4 January 2024.
We look forward to seeing you Thursay, 11 January 2024 at 1pm.

Advent Sunday Gathering - in church and online
2023-12-10 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Image: Bethlehem New Light by Mike Torvelli
Second Sunday of Advent – 10 December 2023, 10am
“Preparing a space…for peace” “
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music in church: Peter Sheridan (Flute) & Rhys Boak (Organ)
Music online: Peter Sheridan (Flute) & Rhys Boak (Organ & Piano)
Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Lunchtime Organ Recital
2023-12-07 13:00 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Make an organ recital part of your lunch plans and join us for the St Michael’s Lunchtime Organ Recital series this Thursday.
The recitals series feature St Michael’s organist, Rhys Boak and guest artists.
Free event.
Doors open at 12:30pm
Share our flyer

Don’t forget to check out our Christmas Reimagined Servie: Carols and Readings
Thursday, 21 December at 7:30pm

Sunday Gathering - Awake to the Sacred
2023-12-03 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Image: Hope by Lois Armstrong
First Sunday of Advent – 3 Decmber 2023, 10am
“Awake to the Sacred“
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music in church and online: Edwina Cordingley (Cello) & Rhys Boak (Orga & Piano)
Music online: Amir Farid (Piano), Bruno Siketa (Trumpet) & Rhys Boak (Organ & Piano)
Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Lunchtime Organ Recital
2023-11-30 13:00, 2023-11-16 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-11-09 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-11-02 13:00 - 13:30 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Make an organ recital part of your lunch plans and join us for the St Michael’s Lunchtime Organ Recital series this Thursday.
The recitals series feature St Michael’s organist, Rhys Boak and guest artists.
Free event.
Doors open at 12:30pm
Share our flyer

Growing Around Grief with Dr Irene Renzenbrink
2023-11-26 11:45 - 12:45 | Waratah Room, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
The first in a series about loss, grief, and bereavement, with Dr Irene Renzenbrink.
This session will explore Lois Tonkin’s model of “Growing around Grief”
The late Lois Tonkin, a leading grief counsellor and educator from New Zealand suggested that rather than grief diminishing over time we grow around our grief and our lives develop in different and often surprising ways . Please join us to explore how this model might be helpful in your own life and in supporting others.
About Dr Irene Renzenbrink
St Michael’s member, Dr Irene Renzenbrink, PhD, DVATI, M.Soc.Admin. B.A. Dip.Soc.Studs. is an Australian social worker and pioneer in the field of grief and bereavement, having worked in hospice/palliative care, paediatric and adult oncology services and the funeral industry since the late 1970s. She qualified as an art therapist at the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute where she currently teaches an Art of Loss course. She also holds a PhD in Expressive Arts Therapy from the European Graduate School in Switzerland. Irene works as an art therapist and volunteer at Melbourne City Mission Palliative Care in Thornbury.
Irene is long standing member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement. She has worked for the Irish Hospice Foundation developing volunteer training and staff support programs, the Prairie Hospice Society, Saskatoon Saskatchewan and was a regular instructor at St.Christopher’s Hospice in London. She has spoken at international grief and bereavement conferences.
This year Irene participated in a palliative care study tour in Northern India led by David Oliviere, the former head of Education and Training at St Christopher’s Hospice, UK. She will return to India in February 2024 to visit hospices and cancer treatment centres in South India and to participate in teaching.
Irene’s has published numerous articles and book chapters, most recently, a book based on her doctoral research, An Expressive Arts Approach to Healing Loss and Grief: Working Across the Spectrum of Loss with Individuals and Communities
(Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2021).
Reliable Resources for Helping Others and Ourselves with Grief and Bereavement
Googling the word ‘grief’ will generate 294 million results.
The word ‘death’ gives even more results , 3 billion at least count. Not all websites are helpful nor accurate. The websites listed here are recommended:

Grief Kind , a program developed by the Sue Ryder Foundation in the UK
www.sueryder.org
Grief Australia.
Helpful information, free grief counselling and support in all circumstances of bereavement, including pet loss. Opportunities for on line and in person training and education.
www.grief.org.au
Canadian Virtual Hospice
For people who are wanting to find out more about death, dying and bereavement
http://www.virtualhospice.ca

Irish Hospice Foundation
An excellent website with a wide variety of information and creative resources for grieving people and their carers.
http://www.hospicefoundation.ie

Local services that can be contacted at times of need.

Lifeline
Griefline
Beyond Blue

Sunday Gathering - In church and online
2023-11-26 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Reign of Christ – 26 November 2023, 10am
“Sharing hope: the impact of the Christmas Bowl“
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Reflection: Stephanie Lenert
Music in church and online: Helen Bower (Violin) & Rhys Boak (Organ & Piano)
Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

"One Health" with Cheryl Power
2023-11-19 11:45 - 12:45 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
“One Health” is an approach that recognises that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment.
This approach is becoming increasingly important as we experience climate change, the encroachment of people into new geographic areas and international travel and trade increases.
Cheryl Power spoke on this recently in church and will discuss this in more depth in this session.
Facilitator: Cheryl Power

Sunday Gathering - In church and online
2023-11-19 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost – 19 November 2023, 10am
“An unsettling story about money“
Guest Minister: Rev Peter Burnham
Music in church: Jesika Clark (Soprano) & Rhys Boak (Piano)
Music online: Fancesca Hiew (Violin), David Paterson (Piano) & Rhys Boak (Organ)
Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Repair, Reuse, Refashion: The Christmas Edition
2023-11-12 11:45 - 12:45 | Waratah Room, 120 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Get into the spirit of a green Christmas with a wardrobe refashion.
Ange Tang presents her popular workshop to make tired clothes new again.
During the session Ange will offer tips (and a place) on repairing buttons, replacing zips and hooks, and inserting drawstrings.
For those with no repair projects, come along for a session in making simple felt Christmas decorations for a heartfelt gift (felt supplies will be provided).
Facilitator: Ange Tang

Sunday Gathering - in church and online
2023-11-12 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost – 12 November 2023, 10am
“Living courageously in a spirit of radical connectedness”
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music in church: Joe Chindamo (Piano) & Oscar Herrick (Organ)
Music online: Zoe Black (Violin) & Joe Chindamo (Piano) & Rhys Boak (Organ)
Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Meditation in Mingary
2023-11-05 12:00 - 12:30 | Mingary, The Quiet Place, St Michael's Uniting Church, Russell Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Regroup and refocus. join this calming meditation session to help you reset in the beautiful space of : Mingary, The Quiet Place
Facilitator: Neil Blood

Sunday Gathering - In church and online
2023-11-05 10:00 - 11:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Image: World of peace and justice by John-August-Swanson
Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost – 5 November 2023, 10am
“Justice is the Path to Peace”
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music in church: Edwina Cordingley (Cello) & Rhys Boak (Organ)
Music online: The St. Michael’s Singers conducted by Rhys Boak (Organ)
Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here

Exploring the Act2 Project
2023-10-29 11:45 - 12:45 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
The Road to Eemmaus by Daniel Bonnell
The Uniting Church of Australia is engaged in a major transformational change project called Act2.
Act2 is focussed on discerning and deciding the future of the Uniting Church in Australia.
The Act2 Project is an invitation to every Uniting Church member and council to discern together where God is calling us into the future.
St Michael’s Council is considering its response to the third stage of this Project. Chris Phillips will lead a discussion on Act2 and to explore how faithfully following Christ in our time and place shapes the life of the Uniting Church.
It’s been over 45 years since the The Uniting Church of Australia was founded. The Uniting Church looks very different now, than in 1977. In response the UCA is currently engaged in a major transformational change project called Act2, a comprehensive review of the structure and functioning of the Uniting Church.
‍As a Uniting Church congregation, St Michael’s is governed by the UCA rules and regulations. It also means St Michael’s has been offered the exciting opportunity to engage with the Act2 report to ensure our needs, collectively and individually, are met going forward. There are proposed changes that will affect St Michael’s. For example, the responsibilities of the other Uniting Church councils; Presbytery, Synod, Assembly; are likely to be restructured and regulations regarding the responsibilities and flexibility St Michael’s as a congregation have are also to be discussed.
The ACT2 project is seeking feedback on some of the options and proposals on its latest report Act2: In Response to God’s Call.
St Michael’s Council is preparing a response, but the the Act2 project are inviting people to provide individual feedback that can help shape the change.
On Sunday, Chris Phillips will summarise the history and current position of the Act2 project to keep people up to date and informed should they wish to submit feedback to the project individually to the Act2 project.

Sunday Gathering - "Living Fully in the Face of Death" - In church and online
2023-10-29 10:00 - 23:15 | St Michael’s Uniting Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Image: Sleeping beauty by Marie Louise Anderson
Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost – 29 October 2023, 10am
“Living Fully in the Face of Death”
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Reflection: Irene Renzenbrink
Music in church: Dr. Kim Tan (Flute) & Rhys Boak (Organ)
Music online: Zoe Wallace (Cello), Dr Kim Tan Flute) & Rhys Boak (Organ & Piano)
Sunday Gatherings are in church at 10am.
For those unable to attend, online services still continue and are available Sunday afternoon.
Watch the Online Gathering here
