St Michael's Is a Vibrant, Progressive, Inclusive Church with a Long Tradition Of

St Michael’s is a vibrant, progressive, inclusive church with a long tradition of nurturing the spiritual well-being of the human person and working for the common good in society. We are proud of our independent spirit; seeking continually to discover new ways to understand faith and to demonstrate it in our lives, and in the heart of the city.

As part of the Uniting Church in Australia, St Michael’s is committed to involvement in social and national affairs. We hold foundational Christian values of the importance of every human being, the need for integrity in public life and concern for the welfare of the whole human race irrespective of race, creed, gender, sexuality, status or age.

Church Council Chair: Laura Beckett Deanery III: Contact and Care Treasurer: Ian Cox Dean: Lyndell O’Brien Secretary: Maree McDonald Deputy Dean: Joy Arnot

Deanery I: Household Deanery IV: Programs Dean: Peter Anderson Dean: Lorraine Woolley Deputy Dean: Jack Morgan Deputy Dean: Neil Blood

Deanery II: Church Services Culture of Safety Contact Person Acting Dean: Cheryl Power (Keeping Children Safe) Deputy Dean: Albert Phillips Val Gill

Organist & Manager of Music Rhys Boak

♥ Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors! ♥

While the coronavirus pandemic continues, Sunday Gatherings will be offered Online and at the Church.

Links for the Online Gathering http://www.stmichaels.org.au/ https://www.youtube.com/playlist/SundayatStMichaels

Huston Smith, 20th century “Might we begin then to transform our passing illuminations into abiding light?”

Richard Bausch, Peace, 21st century “He turned in a small circle and looked at the grass, the rocks, the river, the raining sky with its tatters and torn places, the shining bark of the wet trees all around. He could not think of any prayers now. But every movement felt like a kind of adoration.”

Annie Dillard, 21st century “I think it would be well, and proper, and obedient, and pure, to grasp your one necessity and not let it go, to dangle from it limp wherever it takes you.”

Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, 21st century “Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.”

Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island, 20th century “For each one of us, there is only one thing necessary: to fulfill our own destiny, according to God’s will, to be what God wants us to be.”

Albert Einstein, 20th century “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”

Prophet Isaiah Marc Chagall

Timothy Reynolds & Christopher Watson

Helen Bower (Violin) & Rhys Boak (Organ)

Ave Maria - J.S. Bach (1685-1750) and Charles Gounod (1818-1893) This intriguing work, by two composers who never met, and whose lives did not even overlap, dates from 1853. The accompaniment part is actually a prelude by the German master, Johann Sebastian Bach, whilst the melody, written some 137 years after the accompaniment, is by one of the great operatic composers of the 19th century, Charles Gounod. Like many works, the words Ave Maria were given to it, as they are easy to set and carried great appeal in largely Roman Catholic 19th Century Paris. Gounod originally published the work as 'Méditation sur le Premier Prélude de Piano de S. Bach'. Helen Bower (Violin) & Rhys Boak (Piano)

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 celebrated Paris Conservatoire. Rhys Boak (Organ)

On some Sundays, there may be an additional reading or hymn included in the service that is held at the church.

2nd Sunday of Pentecost – World Environment Day – 6 June 2020 Rev Dr Margaret Mayman Music: Michelle Nelson (Guitar), Meredith Connie (Guitar), Dr Kim Tan (Flute) & Rhys Boak (Organ)

The candles are lit. The chimes call the hour of worship. The people stand, as they are able, as the Bible is carried in.

We meet on the land of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation; on land that was taken from them without consent, treaty, or compensation. We acknowledge, with respect, Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung elders – past, present, and emerging, the ones who carry the traditions and the dreaming. With them we yearn for justice and for reconciliation.

Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, wherever you’ve come from, wherever you’re going to; whatever you believe, whatever you do not believe; you are welcome here.

Spirit of God brooding over the waters of our chaos, inspire us to generous living. Wind of God dancing over the desert of our reluctance, lead us to the oasis of celebration. Breath of God inspiring communication among strangers, make us channels of your peace.

Holy, holy, holy, love now ascending Early in the morning our song shall rise to you. Holy, holy, holy, joy that has no ending Giving, forgiving, breathing life anew.

Holy, holy, holy, love without a limit Care that binds creation in sacred unity, Holy, holy, holy, birthing every minute, Christ, Love's revealer, sets our spirits free.

Holy, holy, holy, infinite compassion, Makes a place for every soul in God's eternal reign, Holy, holy, holy, truth beyond religion, Love that endures should nothing else remain.

Holy, holy, holy, raise your voice in singing, Join the cosmic chorus in praise of Love divine, Holy, holy, holy, God beyond all naming, Echoes our song in harmony sublime. Words: adapted by Jim Burklo Tune: Nicaea John Bacchus Dykes (1823-76)

Source of Life and Love we name God in you we live and move and have our being.

Jesus, Companion and Liberator, with you we walk the way of love.

Empowering and Imaginative Spirit, through you we are made one.

Holy One, trinity of love, we seek you in the dance of life. We embrace your love. We would dance. This is the meaning of the resurrection, that we can dance. Alleluia. Amen.

Remembering Jesus through whose life we know the God of love, let us pray together.

Ground of all being, Mother of Life, Father of the universe, Your name is sacred, beyond speaking. May we know your presence, may your longings be our longings in heart and in action.

May there be food for the human family today and for the whole earth community. Forgive us the falseness of what we have done as we forgive those who are untrue to us. Do not forsake us in our time of conflict but lead us into new beginnings. For the light of life, the vitality of life, and the glory of life are yours now and for ever. Amen.

May the Peace of Divine Presence be with you. And also with you. People are invited to offer a greeting and share a sign of peace.

For glimpses of God in visions and dreams, We give thanks.

For the Spirit’s love for the life of the world, We give thanks.

“God’s bathrobe” by Michael Coffey

God sat Sunday in her Adirondack deck chair reading the New York Times and sipping strawberry lemonade her pink robe flowing down to the ground

the garment hem was fluff and frill and it spilled holiness down into the sanctuary into the cup and the nostrils of the singing people

one thread trickled loveliness into a funeral rite as the mourners looked in the face of death and heard the story of a life truer than goodness

a torn piece of the robe’s edge flopped onto a war in southern Sudan and caused heartbeats to skip and soldiers looked into themselves deeply

one threadbare strand of the divine belt almost knocked over a polar bear floating on a loose berg in the warming sea

one silky string wove its way through Jesus’ cross and tied itself to desert-parched immigrants with swollen tongues and a woman with ovarian cancer and two young sons

you won’t believe this, but a single hair-thin fiber floated onto the yacht of a rich man and he gasped when he saw everything as it really was

the hem fell to and fro across the universe filling space and time and gaps between the sub-atomic world with the effervescent presence of the one who is the is

and even in the slight space between lovers in bed the holiness flows and wakes up the body to feel beyond the feeling and know beyond the knowing

and even as we monotheize and trinitize and speculate and doubt even our doubting the threads of holiness trickle into our lives

and the seraphim keep singing “holy, holy, holy” and flapping their wings like baby birds and God says: give it a rest a while

and God takes another sip of her summertime drink and smiles at the way you are reading this filament now and hums: It’s a good day to be God.

For poetry that reveals the Sacred in fresh ways, We give thanks.

O threefold God of tender unity, Life’s great unknown that binds and sets us free; Felt in our loving, greater than our thought, You are the mystery found, the mystery sought.

O blaze of radiance, source of light that blinds, The fiery splendour of prophetic minds, You live in mystery, yet within us dwell; Life springs from you as from a living well.

Most loving Parent, Child of joys and pains, Creative Spirit, life-force that sustains; In bone and flesh, in blood we touch your hand; Your face we see in water, air and land.

In every making, each creative dream And in the flowing of Life’s healing stream – When love is born or people reconciled, We share your life O Parent, Spirit, Child.

O threefold God of tender unity, Life’s great unknown that binds and sets us free; Felt in our loving, greater than our thought, You are the mystery found, the mystery sought. Words: William L (Bill) Wallace (1933-) Tune: Unity. Alison Carey (n.d)

‘Pie Jesu’ from “Requiem in D minor” - Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) This haunting movement from Faure’s “Requiem” is one of the most sublime moments in all church music. Today it is sung not in its original orchestration, but with organ accompaniment. Georgia Wilkinson (Soprano) & Rhys Boak (Organ)

Thanksgiving and solidarity

A prayer dedicating the retiring offering and gifts given in other ways to support the work of the church.

Eternal Presence of God expand and enhance our lives. Let our gratitude for life be expressed in our generosity. Let our faith be expressed in good actions. Let our belief in the future find full expression in our daily attitude of mind. Amen.

Praise with joy the world's Creator, God of justice, love and peace, Source and end of human knowledge, Force of greatness without cease. Celebrate the Maker's glory - Power to rescue and release.

Praise the Son who feeds the hungry, Frees the captive, finds the lost, Heals the sick, upsets religion, Fearless both of fate and cost. Celebrate Christ's constant presence - Friend and Stranger, Guest and Host.

Praise the Spirit sent among us, Liberating truth from pride, Forging bonds where race or gender, Age or nation dare divide. Celebrate the Spirit's treasure - Foolishness none dare deride.

Praise the Maker, son and Spirit, One God in community, Calling us to leave behind faith's Ghettoes and obscurity. Thus the world shall yet believe When shown Christ's vibrant unity. Words: John L. Bell (1949-) and Graham Maule (1958-2020) Tune: Praise, my soul. John Goss (1800-80)

In us God lives and we are holy. In us God weeps and we are holy. In us God loves and we are holy. Let us go forward with joy to share the love of the Holy Lover, Beloved and Spirit of Love.

The blessing of the God of Sarah and Hagar, as of Abraham…

The blessing of the Son, born of the woman Mary…

The blessing of the Holy Spirit who broods over us as a mother, her children, be with you all.

African-American spiritual Arr. N. T. Johnson

Offerings to support the ministry and shared life of St Michael’s received with gratitude. In church, in addition to the offering boxes placed by the doors, you now have the opportunity to give electronically and securely in church at two Donation Points: one at the entrance on the corner of Collins and Russell, the other in the St Michael’s Walk Colonnade. To give, simply tap your credit or debit card, smartphone or wearable on the ‘tap and go’ device where indicated. Donations are set at $10. If you wish to give more, you can do so by

11 tapping as many times as you like. Online there is a ‘Giving’ button with instructions for online giving. A downloadable donation form is also available. Cheques may be mailed to St Michael’s Office. Online banking: St Michaels Uniting Church. BSB: 083004. A/C: 515113338

“God’s Bathrobe,” by Michael Coffey. http://www.ocotillopub.org/2012/05/gods- bathrobe.html Lord’s Prayer paraphrase by J Philip Newell, in Ground of All Being: The Prayer of Jesus in Color, published by New Beginnings, an imprint of Material Media, 2008. Prayer of Awareness based on a prayer by Kathy Galloway in Celebrating Women. Offering prayer by Dr Francis Macnab. A fine wind is blowing. “Holy, Holy, holy”. Words: adapted by Jim Burklo. Tune: Nicaea. John Bacchus Dykes (1823-76) “O threefold God of tender unity”. Words: William L (Bill) Wallace (1933-). Tune: Unity. Alison Carey. “Praise with the world’s creator”. Words: John L. Bell (1949-) and Graham Maule (1958-2020). Tune: Praise, my soul. John Goss (1800-80) “Sung Amen”. African-American spiritual. Arr. N. T. Johnson. Hymns are printed and streamed with permission. Church Copyright License (CCL): 261070 and Church Streaming License (CSL): 569311

Georgia Wilkinson With over 14 years of experience performing, Georgia Wilkinson is making a name for herself as one of Australia’s most versatile young sopranos. Since beginning her classical voice training at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Georgia has progressively built her repertoire of operatic and musical theatre credits. Companies she has worked with include Victorian Opera, Left Bauer Productions, Gippsland Opera, Weimar Lyric Opera Studio (Germany) and Gertrude Opera. Georgia has had the pleasure of performing alongside some of Australia’s most celebrated and illustrious artists, including Yvonne Kenny, Marina Prior, David Hobson, Sylvie Paladino, Roy Best, Kahmahl, and James Morrison. She also works regularly with Teddy Tahu Rhodes.In addition to opera, Georgia has also taken on many musical theatre roles. These include the roles of Christine in Phantom of the Opera, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and Maria in West Side Story. For her impressive musical theatre performances, Georgia has been recognised with a Guild Award and four Lyrebird Awards. Georgia graduated from the University of Melbourne’s Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music and has studied opera abroad in Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Georgia’s studies in London and New York, where she had the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s most renowned vocal coaches, were supported by grants from the Ian Potter Foundation and the Australia Council for the Arts. Through her operatic career, Georgia has received various awards, including ‘Opera Scholar of the Year’ through the illustrious Opera Scholars Australia program and first place in the Ringwood Aria Competition. She was the youngest Opera Scholar of the Year and Robert Salzer Voice Awardee. Georgia’s career highlights of 2018 included being a part of Victorian Opera’s 2018 Young Artist program, performing in Gertrude Opera’s Yarra Valley Opera Festival, performing on her first Bravo Cruise: Radience of the Seas, and being featured in Sydney’s Carols in the Domain in December 2018 (televised on Channel Seven) as one of Australia’s finest upcoming opera singers.2019 has seen Georgia perform in Victorian

Opera’s Parsifal, become a young artist with Gertrude Opera, star in her 5th Opera by the Lakes, perform at Sydney Town Hall, present the title role in Victorian Opera's Alice Through the Opera Glass, and perform at Opera Under the Stars in Broome. She will soon be stepping onto the stage of Hamer Hall for the first time in Concert Work's production of Jekyll and Hyde starring Anthony Warlow, before taking part in Opera Australia's production of Turandot. On October 23rd, Georgia won Australia's prestigious Herald Sun Aria competition.

Helen Bower UK born violinist Helen Bower studied at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, and upon graduation was awarded the Vivian Prindl Outreach Prize for her music/dance collaboration In the Loop. Alongside her classical music background, she is passionate about commissioning and performing new music and collaborating with artists from a wide variety of disciplines. Helen has spent several years exploring the use of live electronic looping equipment within the context of contemporary classical music with her project The Looping Glass, which has been performed in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Since relocating from London to Melbourne in 2012, Helen has forged a prominent name for herself in both the classical and contemporary Australian music scenes, with performances at venues such as Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne State Theatre, The Forum and La Mama Theatre, and for festivals including Melbourne Festival and WHITE NIGHT. She currently performs in Australia with new music ensemble Forest Collective and contemporary improvisation group Ensemble Density, and across China with Australian International Productions.

2nd Sunday after Pentecost – World Environment Day – 6 June 2020 Rev Dr Margaret Mayman Music: Samantha Sheldon (Piano) & Rhys Boak (Organ)

St Michael’s has a Victorian Government QR Code which you can scan, or alternatively a Welcomer will record your name and phone number. Collection of this information is required by law. It will be only ever be used for COVID tracing. When entering St Michael’s, please say hello to a Welcomer, scan the QR code or check -in. St Michael’s COVID-Safe requirements remain in effect. Please read before visiting.

Online Gatherings will continue for the foreseeable future. Links to videos, orders of service and the latest eNews are on the front page of our website.

Wearing a St Michael’s name tag would greatly assist us all to get to know each other by name. If you would like to have a name tag, or a new one, please write your name in the book marked ‘Name Tags’ on the bench in the eastern colonnade. The book will be sent up to the

13 church office and your new name tag will be waiting for you on the bench, the following Sunday.

If you are going through difficult times or would like to have a chat with someone, a member of our Contact and Care Team would be very happy to have a talk with you. Any personal information shared, would remain confidential. You can speak with the Dean of Contact and Care, Lyndell O’Brien, on a Sunday at church, or leave your name and phone number or email address with the church office and she will get in touch with you. Lyndell O’Brien: Dean of Contact and Care Joy Arnot: Deputy Dean

We are a small group of people, part of the St Michael's Contact and Care team, known as The Prayer Tree. We commit to prayer and support for you, or someone known to you, who is going through difficult times. All requests are treated with confidentiality, sensitivity, and respect. To request our support, please phone the St Michael's office (9654 5120). Ask for your first name and phone number to be passed on to Catherine Jones, who will contact you. Or you can speak with Catherine following morning service. She will pass on your request to the remainder of the group. We are here for you. Please don't hesitate to contact us. Catherine Jones, Prayer Tree Leader

Our minister, Rev Dr Margaret is available for pastoral care meetings by phone. Please phone the office to arrange a time for Margaret to call.

Discounted Sunday parking is available at the Grand Hyatt. Pick up your discount voucher after service at from the Bench Table in the Eastern Colonnade. Validation ticket discount reducing Sunday rate to $7 subject to conditions: a) Tickets will be valid for use on Sundays only between the hours of 6am and 5pm, b) Tickets will allow for $7 discount for a maximum of 5 hours after which it will revert to the standard weekend rate of $10. An alternative car park option: AC DC Garage –14-128 Flinders Street, Melbourne 3000 Entry 113 Flinders Lane (between Exhibition and Russell Streets). Park on the Ground Floor and walk through the lane to Collins Street. Fee: $10.00. Enter after 5:00am | Exit before 5:00am next day.

https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelsmelbourne/

https://www.youtube.com/user/StMichaelsChurch/videos

Podcast www.soundcloud.com/stmichaelsunitingchurch

Facilitator: Pamela Blood A new program with the aim to combine the interests of women, spirituality and poetry. Pamela’s inspiration is the poetry Margaret has gifted us with, through the contemporary readings. Will re-visit some of the poetry we have heard over the past year and more, and especially during Melbourne’s long second lockdown. We will consider the experience we had of the poems then, and what it is like for us now. All women are welcome to share in the discussions of these wonderfully appropriate and insightful poems. When: Sunday 6 June | 11.30am - 12.30pm Where: Wellbeing Room, 1st Floor

Imagine you have woken up in the Australia of your dreams… What is it like?

A new Public Squares Project: Remaking Public Good, is an initiative launched by Australia reMADE, to encourage communities to come together and connect in joyful, purposeful ways across differences; without being treated as a means to someone else’s predetermined end.

Public good means ensuring that the things we (the population) decide are important are available and accessible where and when they are needed, regardless of whether they can make anyone a profit.

Public squares are the spaces (physical and virtual) for us (the population) to come together to share ideas, debate nuance, and actively contribute and participate in community life and governance.

What does the public good mean for you? You are invited to contribute your thoughts and dreams to a national conversation series on the public good.

When: Sundays 6 June, 11 July & 5 September | 2.00pm - 3.30pm Where: Waratah Room, 1st Floor

Further information Contact: Yana Canteloupe & Neil Blood c/: [email protected]

Further reading: https://www.australiaremade.org/the-vision https://justact.org.au/economy-for-life/actions/

Presenter: Karen Ellis Meditation has been an important part of Karen’s life for 40 years. Sessions encourage slow breathing and an increased awareness of being in the present moment. If you haven’t tried it, now is the time, so please join Karen in the after church sessions. When: Sunday 27 June | 11.45am sharp – 12.15pm Where: Wellbeing Room, 1st Floor

Our Monday afternoon Zoom Connect is taking a break. The last meeting was last Monday 24 May. We thank you for taking the time to stop by and say hi.

In light of the Victorian government’s announcement of a seven-day lockdown, the Thursday 3 June organ recital will be postponed. We hope to reopen the church doors and bring you another organ recital soon.

The Mingary Counselling Service offers appointments for counselling and Vocational Assessments via telephone and Zoom. For more information, please see our website at www.mingarycounselling.org.au To make an appointment, please call the service on 9654 5120.