The Priest’s Thoughts – October 2026
Some time before I was due to move to Australia, I downloaded an app that counted down the days until my departure. It was quite a fun little thing that made the great adventure on the other side of the world feel closer with each passing day. The other day, I thought it was probably time to delete the app, but then I discovered that it had started counting in the other direction. Now, instead, it shows how long I have been here. As I write this, it has been 28 days since I arrived in Australia and came to you in Melbourne.
Time is a strange thing. In one way, it feels as though I arrived only yesterday, with suitcases, expectations and quite a lot of jet lag. At the same time, I have already been here for almost a month and have filled my days with new people, new places and many wonderful encounters.
Above all, I have had the opportunity to get to know fantastic colleagues and members of the congregation. I have been received with such warmth and looked after so well that the distance from home has sometimes felt a little smaller. That means a lot when you are in a new place, far from what is familiar. Soon my journey will continue to Sydney, but I am very happy and grateful that my time in Australia was able to begin here with you.
Of course, much is different here compared with home in Sweden. There, I think we are rather spoiled by BankID, which means that most things can be arranged quickly and easily. Here, you often need more numbers and codes, and sometimes things take a little longer. It is an adjustment, but also part of the adventure of coming to a new country.
Something else I have noticed is the open and friendly manner. Almost every Australian I meet greets me by asking how I am. I am still a little surprised, especially when the cashier at the supermarket cheerfully asks, “How are you?”
Back home in Sweden, I might casually ask someone, “All good?” It is almost a question that can be answered with a simple yes or no, without having to stop. But “How are you?” sounds like something more to me. If there are time and willingness, that question can open the door to a long conversation about how life actually is, about joy, sorrow, longing and everything else that exists within a person.
So sometimes I find myself wondering: Does the cashier really want to know how I am, or is this simply a friendly way of saying hello? Most of the time, I manage to answer that everything is fine and ask the same in return. But sometimes the question comes so unexpectedly that I give a somewhat confused answer that is completely inappropriate. Of course, I only realise this after I have already walked away.
As a priest, I may also be particularly inclined to take the question seriously. Because who among us is really one hundred percent fine all the time? I simply have to keep practising understanding when the question is just a greeting and when there is room for a longer answer. But one thing I have already understood: people here are incredibly friendly. And perhaps it is not such a bad idea to ask each other how we are doing a little more often, if we are also prepared to listen to the answer.
Amidst everything new, I have also had time to discover a little of Melbourne’s culture and nature. It is a beautiful and vibrant city, where high-rise skyscrapers meet green parks and people from every corner of the world. There is so much to see and do here that something new seems to be waiting around every corner.
One of my greatest nature experiences so far actually happened while I was brushing my teeth. Suddenly, outside the bathroom window, I spotted four possums climbing around in the tree outside my apartment. I was, of course, childishly delighted and had to report back to my family and friends immediately. Apparently, you do not always have to venture far into the wilderness to experience Australian wildlife. Sometimes it is enough to go into the bathroom.
Joking aside, it is wonderful to discover a completely new part of the world. The birds sound different here, the trees do not look like they do at home, and almost every day I see something I have never seen before. It is a beautiful reminder of how great and rich God’s creation is and how much there is still left to discover.
During my first time here, I have also celebrated many services, and that has been both wonderful and meaningful. Even though the people and the place are new, there is something familiar in the prayers, hymns and Holy Communion. In the midst of everything new, I get to pause for a while, settle in and feel at home.
Perhaps that is exactly what the service is meant to be: a deep, spiritual breath in the midst of everything that is changing. There we can come exactly as we are, without needing to have a ready-made answer to how we are feeling. We can share both the joy and the things that are difficult with one another and with God.
Soon my journey will continue to Sydney and eventually Brisbane. I am really looking forward to getting to know those of you who are there and sharing services, conversations and wonderful moments together. From my first time in Melbourne, I take with me a deep gratitude for all the wonderful encounters and all the kindness. You have made a place so far from home feel a little more like home.
Pax,
Jonas Helgesson
Priest
Swedish Church in Australia, Sydney
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 October
St Michael’s Day – 4 October at 11.00 am
Theme: The Angels
Holy Communion service
Participants:
Jonas Helgesson – priest
Staffan Thuringer – musician
Bernard Jonson and John Vouros – churchwardens
Thanksgiving Sunday – 11 October at 11.00 am
Danish service
Participants:
Pastor Chistian Ronlov Berwald
Staffan Thuringer – musician
Twentieth Sunday after Trinity – 18 October at 11.00 am
Theme: Living Together
Holy Communion service
Participants:
Parish Priest Katja Lin
Staffan Thuringer – musician
Ebba Marklund, Bernard Jonson and John Vouros – churchwardens
Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity – 25 October at 11.00 am
Theme: Social Responsibility
Lay-led service
Participants:
Gunnar Wenehult – leading the service
Staffan Thuringer – musician
Ebba Marklund and John Vouros – churchwardens
Coffee, cake and soup will be served after every service.
Welcome to our services!
Swedish Meatball Competition 2026
Saturday 17 October at 5.00 pm
Welcome to this year’s great Swedish meatball celebration!
Who makes Melbourne’s Best Meatball 2026? A jury and the meatball-loving audience will decide – and you are very welcome to compete, taste and vote!
Would you like to compete?
Register with the church staff or by email at melbourne@svenskakyrkan.se.
There is room for a maximum of 15 competitors, so first come, first served.
Each competitor must prepare at least 85 meatballs, using their own recipe and any type of meat.
The meatballs must be submitted hot or cold no later than 4.00 pm on the day of the competition.
It is free to enter the competition.
Would you like to come and enjoy the evening?
As a guest, you can taste the entries from all the competitors and vote for the audience’s favourite.
During the evening there will also be sing-alongs and classic Swedish meatball songs – all surrounded by community, music, excitement and, of course, really delicious food!
Tickets
Adults: $32
Children 5–12 years: $12
Children 0–4 years: Free – no booking required
Competitors are included.
Places are limited, so please book well in advance.
Online bookings close on 15 October.
Book your place via TryBooking here
The Meatball Competition is more than a feast – it’s also a fun and important fundraiser for the church.
Thank you for your support, and a warm welcome to this year’s great meatball adventure!
Confirmation Class 2027 – starting February 2027
The date for the confirmation service will be decided together.
Confirmation is about God, life and the things that are important to you. You will learn more about the Christian faith, but also about yourself and your own thoughts.
We start with the questions you carry with you and talk about everything under heaven and earth – relationships, forgiveness, grief, joy and everything else that belongs to life.
Curious or would you like to register?
Please contact our priest Katja Lin:
Email: katja.lin@svenskakyrkan.se
Mobile: 0421 045 112
A Greeting from the Church Council
Dear members of the congregation and friends,
As most of you know, this year carries a particular historical significance for all of us. We are very proud to celebrate the fact that our congregation has now been active in Toorak House for 70 years. This milestone reminds us of the secure point of reference that the church has been for generations of Swedes in Australia. To celebrate this, we will be organising a number of events. The first was a photographic exhibition showing pictures from our rich history, which I hope many of you saw.
On the First Sunday of Advent, a jubilee service will be held exactly 70 years after our first service in Toorak House.
A big and warm thank you goes to the members of the Parish Council’s events group and the church staff, who are putting a great deal of work into making these events possible.
We are also very pleased to announce that our new parish regulations have been approved by the extraordinary parish meeting. The parish regulations are necessary for us to be able to continue as a congregation within the Church of Sweden. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to and been active in this work.
At the same time, the Parish Council and the Board continue their intensive work in preparation for the upcoming visit from SKUT (the Church of Sweden Abroad) in November–December. Our focus is on making the visit as productive and successful as possible for the congregation.
Finally, we would like to remind you that it will soon be time for our traditional Christmas market once again. The Christmas market is one of the congregation’s largest sources of income. It is a much-appreciated way of supporting the congregation. We warmly welcome you all to visit the market, enjoy the atmosphere and contribute to our community.
The Parish Council is very much looking forward to welcoming you to an autumn filled with both solemn jubilee celebrations, important steps towards the future and a warm sense of community.
Martin Reftel
Vice Chair of the Parish Council
An Evening to Look Forward To – A Little Further Ahead
The fundraiser we had planned for the church, in the form of an evening celebrating 70 years as a Swedish church in Toorak House, has been postponed.
We look forward to being able to present our cocktail party, An Evening to Remember – now planned for after the height of summer.
Would you like to help spread some Christmas cheer?
Our Christmas Market is just around the corner, and we’re looking for volunteers to help make it a wonderful event! We especially need extra hands for Scandinavian Food and Fun Day on 28 November – a day filled with delicious food, community and Christmas cheer.
There are many ways to get involved, and your help makes a real difference. Register your interest at the church café or sign up online via the link here.
We look forward to making this year’s Christmas Market a wonderful event together with you!
Lucia Celebration with the Choir Skutan
You are warmly welcome to celebrate Lucia with us!
The Choir Skutan will offer atmospheric singing in one of the most beautiful traditions of the Christmas season.
We are offering two Lucia concerts:
12 December at 5.00 pm at the Swedish Church in Toorak
21 St Georges Rd, Toorak 3142
13 December at 8.00 pm at St John’s Anglican Church in Toorak
88 Clendon Rd, Toorak 3142
Participants:
Skutan Choir – singing
Suzann Frisk – choir director
David Bergius – piano
Paul Frisk – didgeridoo
Admission: $20 per person, children under 10 – free (children’s tickets must also be booked via TryBooking).
Tickets for the Lucia concert can be booked via TryBooking here.
Don’t forget to bring your ticket to the concert. Places are limited, so book now.
Thursday Lunches in October
1 October – Taco pie
8 October – Sausages baked in the oven with mashed potatoes
15 October – Pastabake
22 October – Pea soup and pancakes
29 October – Fish gratin
A vegetarian alternative is always available at each lunch.
Lunch is served from 12.15 – 1.15 pm (midday prayer at 12.00 noon)
and includes salad, bread and coffee.
Lunch costs $18 for members, $22 for non-members, and for children $1 per year of age up to 12 years.
Stina is happy to receive suggestions for lunch dishes for coming months.
You can email your suggestions to stina.dunstan@svenskakyrkan.se.
Church Records
Deceased
Inga-Britt Burgoyne
Died 31 August 2026
Funeral held at the Swedish Church in Melbourne on 11 September.
Funeral officiant: Tim Hanna.
Give Britt, O Lord, your peace and let your eternal light shine upon her. Amen
Do you have questions about baptism, confirmation, weddings or funerals?
Contact Parish Priest Katja Lin. T: 0421 045 112. E: katja.lin@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 noon for a joint devotional service and lunch.
The next gathering will be on 13 October, when cabbage casserole 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 20 October.
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
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.