St Michael's Uniting Church on Collins St, Melbourne - Have Your Say

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• Bridget
  12th December, 2011
  11:21pm

  I recently came across Dr Macnab's book in Readings in Carlton, and it spoke to me in a way I cannot express in words. It was as if everything I thought about how I saw Christianity but couldn't explain in a way that satisfied either Christians or Atheists. I felt like I was going home when I read this book, and when I entered St Michaels for the first time, I was terrified, having never attended a church by myself before, but I felt that spirit all around the room.
  
  After years of searching I have found a network to help me. I watched the baptisms on Sunday, and watched them being told they belonged to something bigger, well that's how I feel having St Michaels to attend. Maybe one day I will be brave enough to stand in front of the congregation and be baptized too. As a 21 year old maybe that makes me weird.
  
  Anyway this is a total ramble that pretty much just says THANK YOU!

• rev dr malcolm sinclair
  3rd November, 2011
  9:46am

  Francis, you really are one of my "incoming angels". Rise and shine. Do not go gentle into that good night...

• Vath S
  8th July, 2011
  11:05pm

  I agree with the sentiment behind Dr Macnab's "New Faith". But he seems to be replacing the dogma of the church with his own. I appreciate the zeal in which he denounces guilt and points away from the messiness of the faith of Christianity and comes back time and again to the message that Jesus preached. Macnab is a preacher too. He has his own agenda. I sense that the inclusive/ collaborative style of a church that offers real solace for the troubled mind (or soul) is exactly what we need. But courting controversy by emphatic spouting of facts without appreciating the irony, the ambiguity, the absence of certainty around all things holy, is the very requirement to a very real faith. It is only when one embraces the paradox, or lives with the doubt, that one can survive "the fall".
  It seems to me, that in life, we learn to forgive our parents, our partners, ourselves and our children, not necessarily in that order. Somewhere is the needed healing. God should be in the healing. Whether He is in the wound is neither here nor there.
  
  "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction". If you generate a series of statements you'll get a series of questions. The church down the ages seems to think that their role is to provide said statements and to judge and condemn. It should concentrate more on their role of serving the needs of their community not enticing more people to attend their services.
  
  Community gardens, meditation centres, life skill lessons, physical exercise and therapeutic communities can enhance spirituality for the dispirited. That is why, in essence, I think St Michael's is amazing.
  

• Melissa Iddles
  14th March, 2011
  9:36pm

  Firstly, a note to say how great yesterday’s service was (Sunday 13th March). My favourite topic – forgiveness. You can view/read Dr Macnab’s address via this website.
  
  Is it just me, or are there other “young” people (I’m 37 this week!) who relish traditional ceremonies, religious robes, classical hymns, and all the trimmings – flowers, candles etc.? And the architecture of St Michael’s is incredible.
  I’m going to write a thoughtful response to Dr Macnab’s forgiveness address. It will take me a bit longer than this quip, so I’ll post it some time soon.
  
  Cheerio, Melissa
  

• salt
  31st March, 2010
  8:25am

  An extraordinarly well-educated man. A pleasure to listen to - a soft yet compelling method of delivery.

• David Collins
  21st September, 2009
  2:38pm

  The Spirit discerns wickedness, and this place is wickedness of the most deceptive kind. Jesus is God's begotten Son, He is God, He is The Word, He gave we followers God's Spirit and His Spirit will teach us from ALL of God's Word, not from a man's deceptive mind. This is accursed deception! Leave this citadel of Satan before your conscience becomes seared and you lose your Way to life. A shameful place indeed.

• chaffcutter
  19th June, 2009
  8:57am

  Inclusive
  There are many great things about Sunday service at St Michael's. I particularly like Dr Macnab's hints on what comes next, quirks of procedure and tricky parts of hymns (and his jokes). I now attend on a (semi) regular basis but still appreciate the welcoming, open and inclusive approach. You should check it out.

• chaffcutter
  12th April, 2009
  6:33pm

  (as usual) i first had to battle with ambivalence; should I go to church this Easter Sunday or not. I did. Easter Sunday at St Michael's was indeed beautiful. Thanks to Dr McNab, the musicians, the soprano and, of course, the spirit. rj AKA chaffcutter

• Toni Sanfilippo
  12th April, 2009
  2:05am

  I have only ever attended the church a couple of times, however have always had a deep fascination with this church. Dr Macnab has acknowledged that the message of the Lord MUST evolve and be kept real.. after all there really is only one true message..love.... and there is only one true world, what we see before us.. IT must be kept relevant. Yes the 10 commandments of the old testament do have relevance, however, like anything, we must keep reflecting and making things real and relevant. this is love.. the ability to think intelligently and reflectively about ones current situation…… the situation of the world. Let us take responsibility and let us all have the ability to feel the love of the lord.. There is no firm doctrine or rule that can help us in our deepest and darkest time of need.. There is only hope, and I would hate to think that were a rule!! If this is church is for intellectuals so be it, however I challenge you, think and keep thinking.. I am still deciding what to think about Dr Macnab’s commandments, and I am sure he would encourage me to think for as long and as deeply as I felt fit..

• Bill Raper
  10th March, 2009
  5:21pm

  As an Anglican chorister of some 50 years standing (on and off), together with some formal and informal theological studies, I occasionally come to St. Michael's.
  
  I do this to revitalise my spirit, which flags badly in the old church. Generally, I find much at St. Michael's which I have learned and which the clergy have been taught for decades - but do not have the courage to pass on to their congregation (often for good reason!).
  
  It is a great joy to not need to "check my brain at the door".
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