Activities
Melbourne’s Mikael Agricola Finnish Lutheran Congregation organises a range of special events and regular activities to its members and the broader Finnish community. All of our activities are organised by volunteers, and everyone’s participation and contribution is welcome!
Market days
Our congregation has previously held three market days every year around Easter time, in the heart of winter, and in November. Since moving the office and manse to new premises in Point Cook, the church now participates in the annual Christmas Bazaar organised by the Finnish Society of Melbourne at the Finnish Hall in Altona. Items for sale at the FSM bazaar usually include Finnish delicacies such as cinnamon scrolls and other baked goods, crafts such as ragrugs and hand-knitted socks, and Finnish deli goods from the Suomi-shop including coffee, sweets and crispbreads.
The funds made at market days are an important source of income for the congregation. All sale items are made and sold by volunteers. Come and join the fun at our next market day! For dates of future markets, please see the Events Calendar.
The funds made at market days are an important source of income for the congregation. All sale items are made and sold by volunteers. Come and join the fun at our next market day! For dates of future markets, please see the Events Calendar.
Suomi-shop
The Mikael Agricola congregation operates Suomi-shop selling a range of Finnish deli goods including coffee, spices and sweets. Suomi-shop is open when other events or activities are held at the church. For more information contact the Pastor.
Special events
Several times a year, we hold special events in conjunction with our usual Sunday worship services and at other times. Events include bilingual children’s worships, garden parties, mother’s and father’s day celebrations and Christmas carols. For dates of future special events, please see the Events Calendar, and for the details of upcoming events, follow the links on our Home page.
The Gospel Choir
The Gospel Choir (or Gospelkuoro) is currently on an extended break, but here is a little history...
The choir was formed in 1987 by the then pastor’s wife, Anna-Mari Kaskinen – well-known already in Finland for her poetry and song-writing talents. Running alongside the traditional church choir, the gospel choir performed many lighter styles of music, including African negro spirituals and songs in other languages apart from Finnish and English. Upon the Kaskinens’ return to Finland in 1990, Satu Kirk (the current Director of Music and long-time organist for the congregation) continued to lead the choir to this day. The names and faces of the members have changed throughout the years, and in 2007 we celebrated 20 years of the gospel choir with a highly praised new service, written by Satu, which was followed by a concert of gospel choir members’ favourite pieces and a concert by rock band “Degrees of Separation”!
The choir was formed in 1987 by the then pastor’s wife, Anna-Mari Kaskinen – well-known already in Finland for her poetry and song-writing talents. Running alongside the traditional church choir, the gospel choir performed many lighter styles of music, including African negro spirituals and songs in other languages apart from Finnish and English. Upon the Kaskinens’ return to Finland in 1990, Satu Kirk (the current Director of Music and long-time organist for the congregation) continued to lead the choir to this day. The names and faces of the members have changed throughout the years, and in 2007 we celebrated 20 years of the gospel choir with a highly praised new service, written by Satu, which was followed by a concert of gospel choir members’ favourite pieces and a concert by rock band “Degrees of Separation”!
Monday group
Monday Group meets monthly in private homes from 7pm to
around 9.30pm. There is usually a discussion topic or a film after the
coffee, provided by the host family. Topics are wide-ranging and
discussions informal. This provides a non-threatening and supporting
atmosphere where life’s joys and concerns can be shared. The evening
concludes in a short devotion by the pastor or one of the
participants. Everyone is welcome to Monday Group. The dates
and venues are published in the Suomi-Newspaper, or you can get them by contacting the Pastor.
