The Vicar’s Thoughts
Did you know that we have lots of anniversaries to celebrate right now? In addition to our own parish, which is celebrating 70 years at Toorak House (read more about how we are celebrating below), this is also a very special year for the Church of Sweden Abroad as a whole.
It is, in fact, 400 years since the very first congregation abroad was established!
As it says on the Church of Sweden's website:
“Together, across the world, we celebrate 400 years of commitment, encounters and community in the Church of Sweden Abroad. We remember our history, take note of where we are today, and continue to look and plan ahead.”
Some of you may already know that Parish Educator Gunnar Wenehult and I will be travelling to a conference in Uppsala in a few weeks. It is called “Mötesplats 2026”. There we will meet colleagues from all over the world, as well as elected representatives, representatives for the Church of Sweden Abroad in Sweden, and many others who are involved in supporting the Church of Sweden Abroad.
There will be a full programme of lectures, activities and conversations, as well as a large anniversary dinner. Everything will conclude with an anniversary service in Uppsala Cathedral. It feels wonderful to have the opportunity to go there, share experiences and strengthen our connections with the others.
We all have the same mission: to be a living, listening and present church – no matter where in the world we are. We carry that sense of community and joy with us into our continuing work. That is precisely the heart of everything we do.
The invitation to the conference put it so beautifully:
“Let us continue to build bridges together, light candles and create spaces where people can feel God's presence, wherever they may be.”
I hope that our parish can be that for you too. A place where you can simply arrive, settle in and be yourself. A safe place where you can light a candle when things feel difficult or simply have a coffee and a chat for a while and be reminded that you are not alone – no matter how far from home you may be.
I would like to recommend two things, and also share the anniversary prayer written by Archbishop Martin Modéus:
Watch the anniversary film: There is a film about the history of the Church of Sweden Abroad. Click here to watch it.
Listen to the anniversary hymn: Per Harling has written a brand-new hymn called Vi hör samman (We Belong Together). It is accompanied by a beautiful slideshow featuring old archival photographs from the Church of Sweden Abroad. Look closely, because I actually think you might recognise some photographs from our Melbourne parish! Click here: Vi hör samman
Anniversary prayer written by Archbishop Martin Modéus
Let us pray.
God, you who created us as one humanity, with a sense of belonging across cities, seas and lands. Let us find a home in the embrace of your church. Even when we are far away and when we feel lonely.
God, you who are with us wherever we go. We thank you for the Church of Sweden Abroad, for places where people can meet, and for people who carry a sense of community across seas and borders.
We thank you for places where we can feel at home. And for priests and staff who move among travellers and residents, and who everyday share faith, hope and love.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Here in Australia, the distances can feel incredibly tangible, and sometimes we can feel quite far away from everything. At those times I remind myself that in God's presence there are no borders or time zones. So, when we meet at church, have coffee, celebrate a service or light a candle, we belong together. We are part of something greater, and we carry that sense of security with us wherever we are in the world. We are connected to one another – and to God – in a presence that always surrounds us.
While Gunnar Wenehult and I are in Sweden, Jonas Helgesson, our new vicar in Sydney, will be responsible for the activities together with Stina Dunstan. Jonas will also lead the services in Melbourne during that time, which we are very grateful for. You will find Jonas's contact details further down and also at the bottom of the newsletter under the heading: We Are Here for You.
With those words, I wish you a truly wonderful, safe and blessed week. You are warmly welcome to join us for worship and fellowship – see you at church!
Katja Lin
Parish Vicar in Melbourne, Australia
-------------------------------
Jonas Helgesson, präst i Sydney
T: 0452 272 812
E: jonas.helgesson@svenskakyrkan.se
Church Opening Hours
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Sundays:
Service: 11.00 am
Café & Gift Shop: 12.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Services in September
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity – 6 September at 11 am
Theme: Unity in Christ
Service with Holy Communion
In this service, we are especially pleased to welcome our new priest, Jonas Helgesson, who will be starting his work in Sydney. Jonas will preach at the service.
Participants:
Rev. Katja Lin, Vicar
Jonas Helgesson, Priest
Staffan Thuringer, Musician
Bernard Jonson och John Vouzos - Churchwardens
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity – 13 September at 11 am
Danish service
Participants:
Pastor Christian Ronlov Berwald
Staffan Thuringer, Musician
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity – 20 September at 11 am
Theme: Death and Life
Service with Holy Communion
Participants:
Jonas Helgesson, Priest
Staffan Thuringer, Musician
Bernard Jonson och John Vouzos - Churchwardens
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity – 27 September at 11 am
Theme: Rich in the Sight of God
Service with Holy Communion
Participants:
Jonas Helgesson, Priest
Staffan Thuringer, Musician
Bernard Jonson och John Vouzos - Churchwardens
After each service, coffee, refreshments and soup will be served.
Welcome to our services!
Little Skutt Is Growing – We Are Now Meeting Two Days a Week Again!
It is with great joy that we see more and more children and adults finding their way to Little Skutt. The group has grown, and we are therefore expanding our activities by one additional day each week.
Since a couple of weeks ago, Little Skutt has been meeting both Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. During the morning there is plenty of time for play, coffee and fellowship. At 11:30 am, we gather for a shared singing session with Swedish children's songs.
No registration is required. Come on whichever day suits you best – or why not both?
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 am–12:00 pm. Singing session at 11:30 am
Singers from Skutan performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
The representatives of Swedish choir Skutan performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Hamer hall as part of the chorus in a day concert on the 22nd of August 2026.
We performed Cantique de Jean-Racine, and Requiem by Fauré and Panis Angelicus by Franck under the chorus director Warren Trevelyan-Jones and Principal Guest Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Benjamin Northey.
We formed a super choir with over 150 members coming from other community choirs singing side by side with the MSO chorus. With only 2 rehearsals for this concert, we had a very intense learning and performance experience! For some of us it was ‘very far out of the comfort zone’, for some it was ‘more scary than moving to Australia’.
At our first rehearsal, the choir director Warren seemed a bit worried as most of us has not sung those works before or know how to sing in French or Latin. However, it turned out that we all worked hard individually on our own part, which made the coming together possible.
Apart from learning to sing in French and Latin, we learnt the Hamer Hall’s acoustic and how our sound travels in this space. Benjamin, our conductor who has studied conducting at Finland’s Sibelius Academy and Stockholm Royal College of Music, taught us to listen to what is being communicated through the sound the orchestra made, through the connections we have with each other, and to project our voice to connect with the audiences. He asked us to focus on the present moment rather than the mistakes or fear and remind us about the gratitude and love the composer is trying to convey.
ClassikOn review wrote ‘The MSO Chorus and community choristers sang their hearts out, bringing great solemnity, patience and inspiration to music whose quietness is as demanding as its grandeur.’
Being part of this super choir and sing with MSO was a magnificent and unforgettable experience, however, to benefit from singing in a choir weekly, you can join us in Skutan under the wonderful choir director Suzann Frisk to experience the joy, the beauty and the connections the choir brings.
/ Stephanie Lai (singer in Choir Sjutan)
A Greeting from the Church Council
Dear members of the congregation and friends,
Following a period of summer holidays for the church, the members of the Church Council are now back together and ready to continue the work of leading and developing the activities of the congregation.
The administrative work is progressing at a good pace. As you know, our main focus is currently on completing the operational plan that will form the basis for our discussions with SKUT (the Church of Sweden Abroad) and their official visit later this year. This is an important strategic document in which we set out our vision and emphasise the importance of the Church of Sweden’s continued presence and work here at Toorak House.
This year also carries special historical significance for us all. We are very proud to celebrate that our congregation has now been active at Toorak House for 70 years. This milestone reminds us of the important place the church has provided for generations of Swedes in Australia.
The Church Council very much looks forward to welcoming you to the various anniversary activities and church services planned over the coming months.
With warm regards,
Martin Reftel
Vice-Chair, Church Council
Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting
Sunday, 6 September 2026 at 1:00 pm
Swedish Church Australia – Melbourne
The members of Swedish Church Australia – Melbourne are hereby invited to attend an Extraordinary General Meeting on Sunday, 6 September 2026, at 1:00 pm, following the service and church coffee.
The purpose of the meeting is to consider and decide on the adoption of the new Parish Constitution for Swedish Church Australia – Melbourne.
The agenda for the meeting can be found here.
The proposed Parish Constitution can be found here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
70TH ANNIVERSARY · SPRING 2026
As the church celebrates 70 years at Toorak House, we have several exciting events coming up and would love to invite you to join us.
Here you will find the important dates and a brief description of each event.More information, including how to register, will be provided in the next newsletter.
5–13 SEPTEMBER
Photo Exhibition
📍 Veranda Room, Toorak House
Open: 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 & 13 September
Join us on a photographic journey through the history of the Church of Sweden at Toorak House and discover photographs from the seven decades that have shaped its activities. The exhibition offers glimpses of everyday life, celebrations and important moments – from the people and community who have created the Church of Sweden here at Toorak House.
Party Like It's 1956 – Toorak House 70th Birthday Party
7 NOVEMBER
📍 Toorak House | 7:00 pm
It is time to celebrate 70 years of Toorak House – and we are doing it with a proper party! There will be live music, delicious food and drinks, a great atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to dance for those who wish to.
Information about how to register for the party will be provided in the next newsletter.
29 NOVEMBER
Anniversary Service on the First Sunday of Advent
📍 Church of Sweden in Melbourne, Toorak House | 11:00 am
The First Sunday of Advent is the first day of the church year – a day filled with anticipation, hope and joy. On the First Sunday of Advent in 1956, the very first service was held at Toorak House, the same year that the congregation moved in. Now, 70 years later, we will gather once again on the First Sunday of Advent to celebrate this significant day in the history of our parish.
We will celebrate a solemn and festive anniversary service with plenty of singing and music, featuring the Skutan Choir.
You are warmly welcome to share this special anniversary day with us!
Thursday Lunches in September
3 September – Korv Stroganoff
10 September – Swedish beef patties and potatoes
17 September – Chicken casserole and rice
24 September – Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes
A vegetarian option is always available at every lunch.
Lunch is served from 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm (midday prayer at 12:00 pm)
Lunch includes salad, bread and coffee.
Lunch costs $18 for members, $22 for non-members, and $1 per year of age for children up to 12 years old.
Stina is happy to receive suggestions for lunch dishes for the coming months.
You can email your suggestions to stina.dunstan@svenskakyrkan.se.
Regular Monthly Activities
Church Service
Sundays at 11:00 am.
Midday Prayer
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:00 pm in the chapel.
Children's Group – Little Skutt
Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm in the church hall. Singing session at 11:30 am.
Tuesday Gathering
A meeting place for people who are free during the day, meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 12:00 pm for a shared devotional and lunch.
The next gathering will be 8 September, when pea soup and pancakes will be served.
Book Club
Meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm to discuss current Swedish books.
The next meeting is 15 September.
Young Adults
A gathering for young adults who are permanently or temporarily living in Melbourne and would like to meet new people.
Keep an eye on our social media for more information.
Skutan Choir
Rehearsals Wednesdays, 7:00–9:00 pm.
Thursday Lunch
Thursdays from 12:15–1:15 pm.
Garden Group
The garden group meets Fridays at 10:00 am to look after the church garden.
Ecumenical Prayer Group
Meets on the last Thursday of each month at 10:30 am in one of the churches in Toorak.
If you have any questions about any of our activities or groups, please contact us at:
melbourne@svenskakyrkan.se
Do You Have Questions About Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage or Funerals?
Contact Parish Priest Katja Lin.
T: 0421 045 112
E: katja.lin@svenskakyrkan.se
We're Here for You
We are here if you would like someone to talk to, whether by phone, email or in person.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you would like pastoral support or if you would appreciate a visit at home or in hospital.
Contact Us
Katja Lin
Parish Priest
Phone: 0421 045 112
Email: katja.lin@svenskakyrkan.se
Jonas Helgesson, präst i Sydney
T: 0452 272 812
E: jonas.helgesson@svenskakyrkan.se
Gunnar Wenehult
Educator
Phone: 0459 225 532
Email: gunnar.wenehult@svenskakyrkan.se
Would You Like Us to Pray for You?
Each week, the church staff gathers to pray for those in need and for the prayer requests we have received.
You are welcome to share your own prayer requests—for yourself, for someone you care about, or for a particular situation.
Everyone is held in our thoughts and prayers, and no one should ever feel forgotten.
If you would like us to pray for you or someone close to you, please contact Katja, Jonas or Gunnar.