Please join us at St James’ for the Annual Service of Prayer For Reconciliation
This is a joint initiative of
Anglican Diocese of Brisbane
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane
Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba
Rev’d Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia.
Professor Dr Hoon Chang Yau, Director of Asian Studies, University of Brunei Darussalam.
Mr Carl Maurer, Manager of Welfare and Self Reliance Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Speaker Panel: Rev’d Charissa Suli, Prof Dr Hoon Chang Yau, Mr Carl Maurer.
Panel Moderator and Host: Rev’d Melissa Conway
The forum will be followed by a vegetarian meal in the adjacent Parish Centre hall.
This is a free event, but bookings are needed for Catering purposes. Please RSVP by Wednesday 13 October at this link: https://events.humanitix.com/community-and-faith-leaders-forum
Thank you to Pure Land College for providing the meal and hospitality. Thanks to the Anglican Parish of Toowoomba – St James’ for the use of the venue.
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
The inaugural Bible Book Club, focussing on the Gospel of Luke, will happen online via Zoom on Sunday 24 November from 3 pm to 5 pm. Email melissa@stjames.org.au for the link code to join.
How Bible Book Club works:
Each Book Club meeting will focus on a book or set of chapters from the Bible, coinciding with the lectionary cycle. Participants are encouraged to read the book or chapters before the meeting, but it’s not essential. The meeting will be live via Zoom and recorded to be accessed later by anyone who can’t attend in person. This recording will be publicly available.
Our inaugural meeting will be on the Gospel of Luke, as we prepare to enter year C of the lectionary cycle, which is the year of Luke. We’ll talk about the origins and structure of the book, key themes and passages, and highlights to look out for during the year.
It is hoped that Bible Book Club will enhance participants’ and viewers’ understanding of the Sunday readings. Meetings during 2025 will relate to the books and chapters that occur in a significant series in the lectionary.
Why a Blue Christmas?
Cries of “Merry Christmas!” and non-stop carols contrast with the feelings of many people at this time of year. For those suffering from the recent or impending death of loved ones, for the lonely and for those whose families are in crisis, it can be a very isolated and dreary time. Every greeting and every song reminds the grief-stricken of how unhappy life is at this moment. Many churches have begun to recognize that Festivals of Lessons and Carols, celebrations of Christmas, and children’s pageants do not meet everyone’s needs. To fill this gap we offer a Blue Christmas service, a Service of Solace for those who find this to be a painful time of the year. People who are not having a very merry Christmas and friends who support them are invited to come and sit with one another in a liturgy that speaks of the love of God for the grieving.
5.30 pm, Sunday 8 December 2024
St James’, Toowoomba
St Anne’s, Highfields
at St James on
Sunday 15 December 2024 at 5pm
followed by parish party meal, two courses plus wine for $20 per person.
Funds raised from the meal will go towards mission projects supported by the parish.
All are welcome!
Please RSVP by email here.
Join us at St James’ in Toowoomba, at 5.30 on Christmas Eve for a special telling of the Christmas story for families with young children, with lots of carols. Children are invited to come dressed as angels, shepherds, wise persons, royalty or farm animals.
We understand that small children have needs, so it’s OK to bring snacks.
We humans are story-makers and story-tellers, but for Christians, the Christmas story is the most precious story, the story of when the one great God came to be with us, and to be exactly like one of us, in the form of the baby Jesus. That’s so important because it means that God, in Jesus, knows the joys and sorrows, the exciting times and the pain of being human.
We would love you to join us to celebrate that God is with us at Christmas and always.
This service includes Holy Communion.
Join us at St James’ in Toowoomba, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve for a traditional Midnight Mass Service, with lots of carols.
After this service, we say Merry Christmas, with bubbly and cake!
Join us at St James’ in Toowoomba, at 7.30 am on Christmas Day for a traditional Christmas Service, with lots of carols.
Children and adults are always welcome at St James’. No prior experience is necessary! We understand that small children have needs, so it’s OK to bring snacks.
We humans are story-makers and story-tellers, but for Christians, the Christmas story is the most precious story, the story of when the one great God came to be with us, and to be exactly like one of us, in the form of the baby Jesus. That’s so important because it means that God, in Jesus, knows the joys and sorrows, the exciting times and the pain of being human.
We would love you to join us to celebrate that God is with us at Christmas and always.
This service includes Holy Communion.
Join us at St James’ in Toowoomba, at 10 am on Christmas Day for a traditional Christmas Service, with lots of carols.
Children and adults are always welcome at St James’. No prior experience is necessary! We understand that small children have needs, so it’s OK to bring snacks.
We humans are story-makers and story-tellers, but for Christians, the Christmas story is the most precious story, the story of when the one great God came to be with us, and to be exactly like one of us, in the form of the baby Jesus. That’s so important because it means that God, in Jesus, knows the joys and sorrows, the exciting times and the pain of being human.
We would love you to join us to celebrate that God is with us at Christmas and always.
This service includes Holy Communion.
Join our South Sudanese community at St James’ in Toowoomba, at 1 pm on Christmas Day for a Christmas Service in the Dinka language.
Children and adults are always welcome at St James’. No prior experience is necessary! We understand that small children have needs, so it’s OK to bring snacks.
We humans are story-makers and story-tellers, but for Christians, the Christmas story is the most precious story, the story of when the one great God came to be with us, and to be exactly like one of us, in the form of the baby Jesus. That’s so important because it means that God, in Jesus, knows the joys and sorrows, the exciting times and the pain of being human.
We would love you to join us to celebrate that God is with us at Christmas and always.
This service includes Holy Communion.
All Souls Day gives us the opportunity to remember those who have gone before us, forming the “great cloud of witnesses,” but who are not recognised as saints: family, friends, teachers, ancestors. In this traditional service we use prayer and symbol to remember, grieve and celebrate those who have gone before us.
This is a “high church” service, which includes a large sanctuary party wearing special robes, candles, incense and bells, as well as our wonderful choir.
Tap into the rich history of Anglican tradition.
Rev’d John Rolley Preaching, Rev’d Melissa Conway Presiding.
October 15th is International Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day, where bereaved parents from Australia and around the world pause to remember their babies who’ve died.
Around this day we offer a special, quiet remembrance service for those who have experienced the loss of a child, no matter how old or how long ago, but with special care for those who have experienced a stillbirth or infant loss in the past year.
Join us at St James’ Church, 145 Mort Street Toowoomba.
This service is sensitive to the needs of people of all faiths and those who have no faith. It will be held outdoors in our peaceful grounds, weather permitting.
More information about October 15 at: Oct 15 | SANDS - MISCARRIAGE STILLBIRTH NEWBORN DEATH SUPPORT
Photo by Alfred Schrock on Unsplash
Join us to mark the 155th annivesary of the Dedication of St James’ Church in Toowoomba.
This will be a combined whole of parish service - there is no service at St Anne’s this weekend. Our Holy Communion Service will be followed by shared morning tea. You are invited to bring something special to share.
Our special guest presider and preacher will be Archbishop Jeremy Greaves.
“Almighty God, we give you thanks for the work you have done in this place. We give you thanks for your love and faithfulness. When we called on your name, you made your presence known to us. When we prayed, you heard us. When we preached your Word and administered your Sacraments, you were in our midst. You have accepted our humble sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. You have listened to our confessions and forgiven our sins. And you have sent your Holy Spirit to heal and comfort our hurts, our sorrows, our infirmities, and our losses.”
At St James’ Toowoomba, we treasure our pets and welcome yours.
You are invited to join us for the blessing of animals.
Come to our 10 am service to receive a blessing for your pet.
A sausage sizzle will be available for the humans.
All pets (and their owners) welcome! If you don’t feel comfortable bringing your pet, then please bring a photograph.
CONCERT
Ars Cantorum presents Spring Smorgasbord on Friday 6 September @ 7pm at St James Anglican Church,
corner Russell and Mort Streets, Toowoomba.
The concert features choral music drawn from the 19th to 21st centuries including works by current Sydney Town Hall organist, YouTuber @peporgan Australian young musician and composer Titus Grenyer, Irish composer the late Charles Villiers Stanford and contemporary English composer Sir John Rutter.
Tickets can be pre-purchased from St James Parish Office ( M - F 9am - 3pm ) or purchased at the door subject to availability
Tickets - $25. Accompanied school aged children - no charge
The concert will be followed by light refreshments for the audience and performers in the adjacent Parish Centre.
The Youth Gathering @St James’ are invited to attend a workshop with Rev’d Catherine Masila from Kenya. Rev’d Catherine will lead the young people in reflecting on why prayer is important for us and for God. Their work will then be presented at the 6 pm eucharist service.
Order of events:
4 pm - Youth Gathering for workshop in the Parish Hall at St James’ - young people from year 6 to university age are invited to attend. Snacks provided.
6 pm - Everyone is welcome to join us for the eucharist in the church.
7 pm - Everyone is welcome to gather again in the hall for a casual meal and fellowship.
Image by Mayur Gala on Unsplash
Members of the Youth Gathering @StJames’ will be walking the Toowoomba City Labyrinth at St Luke’s Anglican Church. This walk will take place after the 10 am service at St James’.
(The photo is of a labyrinth in Alice Springs, NT).
Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, after his sacrifice for everyone on the cross, to bring us back into relationship and eternal life with God.
Services are at the usual Sunday times of 7.30am, 10am and in Dinka at 1pm. Please join us!
Join us in vigil as we wait the coming resurrection of Christ on Easter Day.
Good Friday
Remembering the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us.
This service continues the service begun the night before… with communion that was consecrated then set aside and watched over, as representative of Christ’s body and blood.
We re-enter the church for this service in quiet and relative darkness…
Again the service continues with readings and prayers echoing the journey of Jesus to his crucifixion.
Join us for this moving liturgy, which includes the symbolic memorial of Jesus washing his followers’ feet on the night before he died.
Our service concludes in darkness, silent prayer and the opportunity to sit quietly in keeping vigil with Christ awhile.
The word Maundy comes from a middle English word meaning command, and we use that word today to remind us that Jesus commanded that we should love, serve and care for one another.
Inviting children and young people, parents and parishioners. No cost.
In the evening, before he was betrayed, Jesus shared the Passover meal with his friends and this was the beginning of our Christian Holy Communion.
Celebrate through a Passover meal with readings and explanation of symbolism, through sensory combinations of sound, smell, and tastes, involved in following the age-old rituals of the Jewish people.
Our Thursday evening will begin in the hall at 5:15 for our meal continuing over to Church for Maundy Thursday service with the washing of the feet and clearing of the church.
Lynne Cain must have definite numbers please by 24 March - as we want to supply the exact amount of food. Lynne: 0437 465 623
Palm Sunday (sometimes also known as Passion Sunday in some Christian traditions) celebrates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. Citizens waved palm fronds and laid them in front of him, as one would to pave the way for their king.
In celebration and remembrance, we make fresh palm crosses to give out today at our services.
Each year, our palm crosses are kept and brought back before the next Ash Wednesday. Then the old palm crosses are burnt, ground and mixed with Chrism oil, to become the ash used in signing of the cross on our foreheads at the Ash Wednesday ceremonies.
presents a concert in St James Church of
featuring an Easter cantata:
with supporting items by the choir and Amity Singers
followed by light refreshments in the Parish Centre
Conductor - Andrew Doecke
Accompanist - Pam Duane
Cantata soloists - Ian Kammholz | Robert Williams
Tickets can be pre-purchased
from St James Parish Office (4639 1858) or at the door prior to the concert
Tickets $25 | school aged children - no charge
Enquiries - 0439 355 089
Members of Parish Council meet monthly via Zoom from 7pm.
We all thank you for your continued service to our Parish!
Please join us for a cuppa at 9.30 am - BYO mug. The quiet morning will commence at 10 am.
RSVP by 6 March 2024: Joanne Anderson, ph 0431373978 or joa4350@gmail.com
On Ash Wednesday our special service of Holy Communion includes the imposition of ashes and the Lenten litany. All are welcome.
This service will be followed by our first session of our Lenten Bible Study: Living in Harmony.
Image by Ahna Ziegler on Unsplash
On Ash Wednesday our special service of Holy Communion includes the imposition of ashes and the Lenten litany. All are welcome.
Image by Ahna Ziegler on Unsplash
Join us at St James’ in Toowoomba, at 10 am on Christmas Day for a traditional Christmas Service, with lots of carols.
Children and adults are always welcome at St James’. No prior experience is necessary! We understand that small children have needs, so it’s OK to bring snacks.
We humans are story-makers and story-tellers, but for Christians, the Christmas story is the most precious story, the story of when the one great God came to be with us, and to be exactly like one of us, in the form of the baby Jesus. That’s so important because it means that God, in Jesus, knows the joys and sorrows, the exciting times and the pain of being human.
We would love you to join us to celebrate that God is with us at Christmas and always.
This service includes Holy Communion.
Join us at St James’ in Toowoomba, at 7.30 am on Christmas Day for a traditional Christmas Service, with lots of carols.
Children and adults are always welcome at St James’. No prior experience is necessary! We understand that small children have needs, so it’s OK to bring snacks.
We humans are story-makers and story-tellers, but for Christians, the Christmas story is the most precious story, the story of when the one great God came to be with us, and to be exactly like one of us, in the form of the baby Jesus. That’s so important because it means that God, in Jesus, knows the joys and sorrows, the exciting times and the pain of being human.
We would love you to join us to celebrate that God is with us at Christmas and always.
This service includes Holy Communion.
Join us at St James’ in Toowoomba, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve for a traditional Midnight Mass Service, with lots of carols.
After this service, we say Merry Christmas, with bubbly and cake!
Join us at St James’ in Toowoomba, at 5.30 on Christmas Eve for a special telling of the Christmas story for families with young children, with lots of carols. Children are invited to come dressed as angels, shepherds, wise persons, royalty or farm animals.
We understand that small children have needs, so it’s OK to bring snacks.
We humans are story-makers and story-tellers, but for Christians, the Christmas story is the most precious story, the story of when the one great God came to be with us, and to be exactly like one of us, in the form of the baby Jesus. That’s so important because it means that God, in Jesus, knows the joys and sorrows, the exciting times and the pain of being human.
We would love you to join us to celebrate that God is with us at Christmas and always.
This service includes Holy Communion.
at St James on
Sunday 17 December 2023 at 5pm
followed by parish party meal
All are welcome!
Why a Blue Christmas?
Cries of “Merry Christmas!” and non-stop carolling contrast with the feelings of many people at this time of year. For those suffering from the recent or impending death of loved ones, for the lonely and for those whose families are in crisis, it can be a very isolated and dreary time. Every greeting and every song reminds the grief-stricken of how unhappy life is at this moment. Many churches have begun to recognize that Festivals of Lessons and Carols, celebrations of Christmas, and children’s pageants do not meet everyone’s needs. To fill this gap we offer a Blue Christmas service, a Service of Solace for those who find this to be a painful time of the year. People who are not having a very merry Christmas and friends who support them are invited to come and sit with one another in a liturgy that speaks of the love of God for the grieving.
6 pm, Sunday 10 December 2023
St James’, Toowoomba
St Anne’s, Highfields
Please join us to pray for peace in Israel, Palestine and the Middle East. We join together in prayer, meditation, reflection and song across the diversity of religion and culture in our community.
This event is an initiative of the Toowoomba Inter-Faith Working Group, hosted by St James’ Anglican Church.
Please arrive at 2.30 pm for a 2.45 pm start. Afternoon tea will be served in the hall after the service.
Image by Joshua Sukoff on Unsplash.
At St James’ Toowoomba, we treasure our pets and welcome yours.
You are invited to join us for the blessing of animals.
Come to our 10 am service to receive a blessing for your pet.
A sausage sizzle will be available for the humans.
All pets (and their owners) welcome! If you don’t feel comfortable bringing your pet, then please bring a photograph.
Waste time with God. Please join us for a quiet, contemplative morning away from our busy lives.
9.30 cuppa for 10am start - 12.30pm
St James Parish Centre Toowoomba
Registration by 16/8/23, by contacting our Parish Centre.
Venue: St James’ Toowoomba Anglican Parish, 145 Mort St, Toowoomba City
Dates: 12 & 13 July 2023 (Tues and Wed)
2-day course (attendance both days required to gain Mental Health First Aid Officer accreditation for 3yrs)
Time: 9am to 5pm each day
Cost: $150 per person
(Diocese contributing $100 per person to reduce full cost of $250 down to $150)
Price includes course delivery/materials, take-home manual, opportunity to become accredited for 3yrs as a MHFA Officer, morning/afternoon teas and lunch each day.
Register Your Interest - https://acsq.wufoo.com/forms/w1nxekvu0ynamy8/
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A hand tosses a light bulb
