Upcoming Services
Approaching Advent
Following the Day of Pentecost, we enter a season of Sundays leading to the conclusion of the church year and the beginning of a new one, at Advent. This season was also known as ‘Ordinary Time’, except that Sundays are all celebrations of the Resurrection, so are never ordinary. We also celebrate Saints’ Days and other special occasions as these come up in the annual cycle. Each of the services below is followed by a cup of tea or coffee and some refreshment shared among friends. This season ends with the festival of Christ the King, which ushers in the new season of Advent.
17 November 26th Sunday After Pentecost
9.15 am Sung Eucharist at St James, Thornbury
11.00 am Sung Eucharist at All Saints, Northcote
19 November Service of Commissioning a new Vicar
7:00 pm at All Saints, Northcote
The Reverend Dr Linda Fiske will be commissioned as priest in charge of the Parish of South Darebin
21 November Thursday Weekday Eucharist
10.30 am at St James, Thornbury
24 November Christ the King
One parish service only on this day, at
10.30 am Sung Eucharist at All Saints, Northcote
(Followed by the Parish Annual Meeting)
28 November Thursday Weekday Eucharist
10.30 am at St James, Thornbury
1 December First Sunday of Advent
9.15 am Sung Eucharist at St James, Thornbury
11.00 am Sung Eucharist at All Saints, Northcote
Sunday services
Two services are provided on Sunday mornings, at 9.15 am at St James Thornbury, and 11.00 am at All Saints Northcote. Each of these services is a Sung Eucharist, which includes easy to sing congregational responses along with some hymns. Both are followed by tea or coffee and some light refreshment. For special services choral music is also included, under the direction of our organists.
Weekday service
A Eucharist service is held at St James Thornbury on Thursday mornings at 10.30 am. This is a shorter said service, but includes some music. Again, this is followed by tea or coffee and some light refreshment.
Outreach services
Services are also conducted at local aged care facilities by arrangement. If you would like to arrange visiting or access to services for those who cannot attend in person, please contact the Vicar.
Weddings, baptisms, confirmations, funerals
For information about these services, please contact the Vicar.
The church year
Our services follow the traditional seasons of the church year, beginning with Advent in December, then the twelve days of Christmas, followed by the Epiphany Season. Ash Wednesday, a service in which we receive the mark of ashes, introduces the forty days of Lent. During Lent there is usually some extra emphasis on Bible study or other sessions of prayerful reflection. This leads us to the procession of palms on Palm Sunday, the special services of Holy Week, including Good Friday, followed by the great celebration of Easter Day. The Easter season is celebrated over seven weeks, and concludes with the day of Pentecost. Some weeks later, we come to Advent again, a season of anticipation and preparation at the beginning of a new church year. The major festival days are celebrated with special meals and fellowship together. We also mark occasions such as the feast of St James, All Saints Day and All Souls Day, and each year’s anniversary of the commencement of services at our each worship centre. On special occasions we organise our services and activities to take place together, including sharing celebratory meals. Parishioners get together monthly for a parish pub lunch.
Activity for children
Children are welcome as part of our worship at all times. There are suitable spaces for quiet activity at the back of the churches, and some materials can be provided. Children are protected by our commitment to child safety and all who interact with them are required to meet the child safe standards of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.
Choral music for special services
Special services are held during Holy Week each year, leading up to Easter, and at Christmas. For special services, celebratory music is provided by a parish choir. Our organists and music directors welcome participation and any parishioner can come along to practices and contribute to the choral singing.