Current Notices
New Members of Parish Council
Congratulations to Richard Uglow and Tony Gissing who have been appointed to serve as members of our Parish Council.
Sunday 2 March: Safe Ministry Refresher
We are fast approaching the 3 year anniversary for many of us completing our Safe Ministry training. To make sure that your training is up to date, and renew your certificates, a short refresher course is required. This can be completed online here. We will also be holding a group session on Sunday 2 March after the 10am service. A sign-up sheet will be available in the Narthex or sign-up here.
If you are a volunteer and you have not completed Safe Ministry training or you have questions about completing the refresher, please contact the Parish Office; 9826 1434 or enquiries@saintjohnstoorak.org.
Ash Wednesday, 5 March
Lent will soon be upon us, commencing with the Service of Ash Wednesday at 7pm on 5 March. The service will be held in the nave of the church and includes a service of eucharist with the anointing of ashes on participants’ foreheads. Pop it in the calendar – and start thinking and praying about what Lenten disciplines you will take on this coming Lent.
Lenten Studies 2025
This year our Lenten Study will be following “Journeying Through Lent with New Daylight” by Sally Welch, with contributions from Helen Julian CSF, Stephen Cottrell, Tony Horsfall and Brother Ramon. This book is only available on order from the UK, so we have ordered several books in advance. If you pre-ordered a copy with us, we will be in touch to arrange collection.
If you want to participate in our lenten studies and you did not pre-order with us, we do have a limited number of copies available for purchase at $10.00 each – contact the Parish Office to reserve a copy. Alternatively, if you are happy to read a digital copy of the book, it is available to purchase online at BRF here, make sure you select ‘PDF’ format, the paperback will not arrive in time!
There are two opportunities to attend a study: Sundays at St. John’s, 11.30am, March 9, 16, 23 & 30 OR Tuesdays with our fellow Christians from St. Peter’s, Toorak Uniting and The Swedish Church March 11, 18, 25 & April 1 (locations TBA).
A Weekend Parish Retreat in Queenscliff: March 21-23 2025
Journeying with Jesus through Lent
You are invited to experience a gentle and quiet weekend in the season of Lent, offering space and time away from the demands of your everyday life. The reflections during the retreat will be led by the Reverend Dr Wendy Crouch in the lovely surrounds of Santa Casa by the sea. A sign up sheet to express interest is available in the narthex today along with registration forms. You may also complete a registration form online here. For further information contact the parish office enquiries@saintjohnstoorak.org or Wendy, assistantpriest@saintjohnstoorak.org.
Process of Selection of our New Archbishop
I attended Archbishop Philip’s last service on Sunday afternoon, February 9, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where at a service of Evensong the Archbishop laid up his pastoral staff to denote the end of his tenure, on that his 70th Birthday. Immediately our bishop, The Rt. Revd Genieve Blackwell, as senior assisting bishop in the diocese, became the Administrator of the Diocese a position she will hold until the election of the new Archbishop, as per the process detailed below. The Rt. Revd. Alison Taylor, former curate at St. John’s, will serve as our bishop in Bp. Genieve’s place. The Vicar.
The Board of Nominators has chosen May 23 and 24, 2025, as days when the election synod for the new Archbishop of Melbourne will take place. General information about the process can be found here: www.boardofnominators.org
PRAYER FOR THE SELECTION OF OUR NEW ARCHBISHOP
Eternal God, shepherd and guide, in your mercy give your Church in this diocese a shepherd after your own heart, who will walk in your ways, and with loving care watch over your people. Give us a leader of vision and a teacher of your truth. So may your Church be built up and your name glorified;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer Book for Australia, p. 212.
Community Groups
Various community groups meet in our church hall, ‘Buxton Hall’, on a regular basis.
Happy Destiny
AA
Wednesday 6.30pm
Toorak Tuesday
NA
Tuesday 7.30pm
Kumon
Maths & English Learning Programme
Monday, Tuesday & Friday
3pm-6.30pm
Outreach
St. John’s Toorak supports various worthwhile community organisations.
Continue reading to find out more!
Richmond Churches Food Centre
The Richmond Churches Food Centre is an ecumenical, grass roots initiative that has been providing food security for hundreds of people each week for some 30 years. At Richmond Churches Food Centre people receive enough food and a warm welcome, regardless of their background, culture, beliefs or lifestyle.
Christ Church Mission Community Centre
St Kilda’s Little Mission
The Centre offers opportunities for social interaction and personal growth, particularly through free weekly meals, emergency support, volunteering opportunities, engagement in free or low-cost activities, and community outreach.
Saint Mark's Community Centre
St Mark’s Fitzroy, partnered with Anglicare Victoria, provides support to people in the community who are experiencing primary and secondary homelessness in the City of Yarra and the City of Melbourne. Including emergency relief, case management, facilities such as showers and laundry as well as hot meals.
Dixon House
Anglicare Victoria
Dixon House is a neighbourhood centre located in the heart of Clayton, in the City of Monash, Victoria, Australia. They have a range of programs and services that cater to the needs of those in the local community. Their hope is to provide a place where you can make friends, learn new skills, volunteer your time, and get support.
Connie Benn Centre
Brotherhood of St Laurence
BSL believes that all children have a right to quality and affordable early education and care regardless of cultural or social background. BSL runs a variety of programs, offering opportunities for both parents and children to make connections and learn in a safe and culturally caring environment.
Sunday Suppers
Anglican Parish of
St. Silas & St Anselm
The Parish of the Parks community offers meals to those in need every Sunday from 4:30pm to 5:30pm in the church hall.
For Port Phillip residents with a concession card, food parcels are given out on the first Sunday of each month from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.
“Get Out for Good”
Anglican Criminal Justice Ministry – Anglicare Victoria
This program provides people who have been released from prison access to social and emotional support. Drop in Centres, phone calls and informal meetings provide safe spaces to talk about what they are going through and encouragement to reconnect with family, friends and community. The program acts to strengthen people’s ability to identify and develop their own resources and build capacity while making the adjustment from prison to the “outside”.
Refugee Child Outreach
Brotherhood of St Laurence
This program works with children and families who are newly arrived in Australia. Settling in a new country is challenging and navigating a complex system of services for children can be confusing. The program is open to families with young children of a refugee background, who are seeking asylum or arrived in Australia on community detention.
The Lazarus Centre
St Peter’s Eastern Hill,
East Melbourne
The Lazarus Centre operates onsite at St Peter’s in East Melbourne. The centre provides food, pastoral care and essential support to people experiencing homelessness; it provides people a warm and secure place to eat breakfast seven days a week, every day of the year. Breakfast is available daily between 7:30am and 9:00am. On Fridays at 11.00 am a BBQ is held in conjunction with Doutta Galla Community Health Services.
Order of St Lazarus Victorian Commandery Foundation
Charitable Trust
A foundation to help poor, disadvantaged and marginalised members of our community. OLJ aims to promote and assist education in hospital care and administration, nursing and first aid and to establish and promote aid and assistance to hospitals, medical centres and institutions for the treatment of human ills of every kind.
The Mission to Seafarers Victoria
(MTSV)
The Mission to Seafarers Victoria has operated from its heritage-listed building in Melbourne’s Docklands since 1917. Serving a special place in the life and community of those who live and work at sea, the dedicated team of staff and volunteers provide comfort, a friendly face, and a sense of community to the thousands of seafarers who visit the Port of Melbourne annually.
The Queen’s Fund
Since 1887, The Queen’s Fund has been dedicated to supporting single women & children in Victoria who are in distress, crisis, or emergency situations. They are committed to providing them with the necessary resources and assistance to help them overcome their challenges and lead a better life. The Queen’s Fund is one of Victoria’s oldest charities, run by women for women.
