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Nyhet / Publicerad 29 oktober 2020 / Ändrad 30 juni 2025

Newsletter

Summary in English

Newsletter July 2025

The Vicar’s Thoughts

"Now comes the time of blossoming, with joy and beauty bright. Now lovely summer nears, when grass and crops take flight."

We sing these words every year when summer is in full bloom, and they ring true every time. Summer truly is a season when nature shows itself from its most beautiful side – with blooming meadows and bright, long evenings. It’s as if all of creation breathes out and says: “Now you may rest for a while.”

We’ve just celebrated Midsummer – and it was a joy to share it with so many of you at the church. A warm thank you to everyone who came to celebrate together! It was wonderful to see the sense of community, the laughter, and the dancing around the maypole.

I also want to give a special thanks to our talented musicians, Mats, Jessica, and Steven, who set the tone for the whole day with music that got both children and adults dancing. And not least – a big thank you to all the volunteers who gave their time, energy, and care to organise the café, the refreshments, and all the practical details. Without you, we couldn’t have had such a beautiful and memorable day.

Now it’s time for my holiday. I’m travelling to Sweden and looking forward to seeing family and friends. It also feels valuable to have time for rest and recovery – something we all need, especially after intense periods. And I’m looking forward to experiencing the Swedish summer with its scents, greenery, and that special light.

This year, our staff are taking holidays at different times. This means the church will remain open until the beginning of August, before we take a short summer/winter break. All activities will continue as usual until then, so you’re warmly welcome to drop by – maybe to light a candle, say a prayer, have a coffee in the café, take part in a service, or simply enjoy a moment of stillness.

I want to end with a prayer by Ylva Eggehorn – a beautiful reminder of what summer can mean on a deeper level:

“God, I want to thank You for the gift of Midsummer. The earth is breathtakingly beautiful when evening falls and the light lingers. Thank You, my Creator, for the blackbird’s flute. It plays to everyone’s longing.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your wine for lovers and Your comfort for the lonely. Thank You, Holy Spirit, who breathes life into my winter soul. You whisper within me: “Midsummer is for you. One day, all evenings will brighten in the sun that never sets.”

With these words, I want to wish you a blessed summer – or winter. We’ll see each other again soon!

Katja Lin
Vicar in Melbourne, Australia

Church Opening Hours

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays: 10 AM – 4 PM
Sundays: Service at 11 AM. Café and shop open from 12 PM – 4 PM

NOTE – Winter Closure: August 4–22
The Swedish Church in Melbourne will be closed for a winter break from August 4
and will reopen on Saturday, August 23.

Thursday lunch will have a break after July 10th. However, there will be sandwiches, hot dogs, waffles, and ”fika” as usual in the café. The Thursday lunch will be back when the church reopens after the winter break.

The Online shop will be closed from July 31 to September 15.

Church services in July

Third Sunday after Trinity
Sunday, July 6 at 11 AM – Layman-led service
Theme: Lost and Found
Gunnar Wenehult – Layperson
Ebba Marklund – Churchwarden
Staffan Thuringer – Organist

Fourth Sunday after Trinity
Sunday, July 13 at 11 AM – Danish service
Pastor Christian Rønlev Berwald
Staffan Thuringer – Organist

Apostles’ Day
Sunday, July 20 at 11 AM – Layman-led service
Theme: Send Me
Staffan Thuringer – Layperson and Organist
Mia Herrick – Violin
Ebba Marklund – Churchwarden

Sixth Sunday after Trinity
Sunday, July 27 at 11 AM – Lay-led service
Theme: Discipleship
Gunnar Wenehult – Layperson
Michael Spencer – Organist

Transfiguration Sunday
Sunday, August 3 at 11 AM – Lay-led service
Theme: Jesus Glorified
Staffan Thuringer – Layperson and Organist
Ebba Marklund – Churchwarden

Welcome!

Welcome Abbe

Hello hello!
My name is Abbe, and from mid-July I will be one of the Swedish Church's volunteers here in Melbourne. I'm 23 years old and currently studying Engineering Physics in Uppsala. This coming semester (spring or fall?) I’ll be doing an exchange semester in Melbourne, and alongside my studies, I’ll be volunteering at the Swedish Church.

When I’m not studying or hanging out with friends, I enjoy long-distance running, so I hope to find some great running trails nearby. I’m really looking forward to this new adventure and can’t wait to meet you all!

Warm regards,
Abbe Tanndal

“The Swedish Church is a Safe Place – and I’m So Grateful”

The series about church regulars continues.
Hanna Barlow feels that she became a regular at the Swedish Church a bit too late. Her youngest son Adam was already three and preferred running around with toys in the Children’s group "Lille Skutt" rather than sitting still on her lap during the singing session.

“When we had our third child, it no longer made sense for me to work and pay for preschool for all three kids, so I used to take Adam to Lille Skutt. But I regretted not going earlier because the songs were so lovely – but by then he was already a bit too old and didn’t want to sit still,” Hanna recalls. “Still, I met a friend there I still go on walks with – that made it all worthwhile.”

Since then, all three children have been confirmed in the church and became involved in volunteering early on.

“When my eldest daughter Ella was 14 and preparing for confirmation, she was offered to volunteer at the church’s Christmas market. I mostly came along to make sure she found her way. She was going to sell ice cream, but when we passed the kids' corner, the Danish woman in charge there swiftly took care of my other two kids and made sure they could help too. So I didn’t have much choice but to volunteer myself in one of the other tents. They didn’t need more helpers in the Swedish tent, but when I said I was from Skåne, the Danes gladly welcomed me into their tent,” she laughs.

Since then, she and her children have been frequent volunteers at the church, and she is very thankful for that. All her children, in turn, have also studied Swedish as a VCE subject. Her youngest son is currently enrolled. Although the classes aren’t held in the Swedish Church building, Hanna opens the church café every Tuesday evening for parents and others who would rather stay and relax than drive back and forth.

“I come early to avoid traffic, and it’s nice that other parents can also come for coffee. It’s so comforting just sitting at church. It smells good – just like in Sweden – and it’s a little oasis,” Hanna says.
“The Swedish Church has meant so much more than just a church to me – like the collaboration with the Swedish School. I’ve learned so much from other visitors that I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.”

“It’s great to attend a Swedish church, sing Swedish hymns, speak Swedish, meet people, and eat Swedish food. The kids and I always clean out the shop when we’re there – not just lollies, but we also buy gifts and some household items. Small things that remind us of Sweden and mean a lot. The Swedish Church keeps the Swedish calendar alive for us – even if it’s a bit backwards, sweating at Christmas and freezing at Midsummer. It’s a safe place, and I’m very grateful for it,” says Hanna Barlow.

Are there any other activities you'd like to see or help develop at the church?

“Right now, I’m going through all the closets and corners in the house, sorting and decluttering – maybe because the children are getting older. I’ve sent several metres of Swedish children’s books to the church and hope others can enjoy them now. But I’d also love to have a flea market at the church – it was a hit last time. That would be so much fun!”

This year’s National Day speech


On Saturday, 7 June, Sweden’s National Day was celebrated. It was a well-attended event where visitors could enjoy both strawberry cake and sandwich cake. In the church chapel, a music programme was performed in which the choir Skutan sang Swedish classics, and the choir’s conductor, Suzann Frisk, delivered a much-appreciated National Day speech.

Unfortunately, the speaker volume was a bit low, making it difficult for many to hear Suzann’s speech, both in the venue and in the stream on the church’s Facebook page. For this reason, Suzann Frisk’s National Day speech has now been published on the church’s website.

You can read the National Day speech here.

Church Election 2025

From September 8–21, it’s time for the Church of Sweden election.
To vote, you must be at least 16 years old by election day (September 21, 2025), registered in Sweden by August 15, 2025, and a member of the Church of Sweden.

How do I vote from abroad?
You’ll need your voting card and a postal voting kit.

If you haven’t received a voting kit, it’s available at most Church of Sweden congregations abroad, including the Swedish Church in Melbourne.

If you don’t have your voting card, you can order a new one from the Church Election website starting August 25. The card will then be sent electronically to the overseas church of your choice. Bring ID when collecting it. If you have BankID and a printer, you can also order and print the card yourself.

Postal votes must arrive no later than Wednesday, September 17.
More information at svenskakyrkan.se/kyrkoval

Thursday Lunches in July

July 3: Pasta Bake
July 10: Christmas Plate
A vegetarian option is always available.

Lunch is served from 12:15 – 1:15 PM (midday prayer at 12 PM) and includes salad, bread, and coffee.
Cost: $18 for members, $22 for non-members, and $1 per year of age for children up to 12 years.

Note: Stina will be on vacation from July 13. Thursday lunches will pause and resume in August when the church reopens after the break. However, there will be sandwiches, hot dogs, waffles, and ”fika” as usual in the café.

Stina welcomes suggestions for future lunch dishes. Email your ideas to: 
Email: stina.dunstan@svenskakyrkan.se

Church Records

Deceased
Anne Nilsen – Passed away June 3, 2025
Funeral held at the Swedish Church in Melbourne on June 11, 2025. Officiated by Pastor Katja Lin

Karin Linnea Ralph – Passed away May 28, 2025
Funeral held at the Swedish Church in Melbourne on June 18, 2025. Officiated by Pastor Katja Lin

Give them, O Lord, your peace and let your eternal light shine upon them. Amen.

Questions about baptism, confirmation, wedding, or funeral?

Contact Vicar Katja Lin
Phone: 0421 045 112
Email: katja.lin@svenskakyrkan.se 

Recurring activities every month

Sunday Services: Sundays at 11:00 AM

Midday Prayer: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:00 PM in the chapel

Children’s Group "Lille Skutt": Thursdays 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, singing at 11:30

Tuesday Gathering: Second Tuesday of the month at 12:00 PM – (paused in July/August – next time Sept 9)

Book Club: Third Tuesday of the month at 1:30 PM – next time July 15

Choir "Skutan": Wednesdays 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Thursday Lunch: Thursdays 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM

Garden Group: Fridays at 10:00 AM

Ecumenical Prayer Group: Last Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM at rotating churches in Toorak – This month: July 31 at Toorak Uniting Church

Have questions about any of the activities or groups?
Contact the church via email: melbourne@svenskakyrkan.se

We are here for you

Contact us via phone or email if you want to talk or need support.
You can also contact us if you wish to receive a home or sick visit.

How to reach us:
Katja Lin, Vicar
T: 0421 045 112
E: katja.lin@svenskakyrkan.se

Gunnar Wenehult, educator
T: 0459 225 532
E:  gunnar.wenehult@svenskakyrkan.se

Do you want us to pray for you or for someone you know? 
Every week we, who work at the Church, gather to pray for the needs that arise. We include everyone in our thoughts and prayers. No one should feel forgotten. Get in touch with your prayer topics to Katja or Gunnar.