Thank you for visiting St John’s Cathedral’s events page. Here you will find information about concerts, seminars, workshops, special church services, short-term exhibitions and community events taking place at the Cathedral or in the Cathedral Precinct. On this page, items will generally be presented with imminent or current events at the top of the page, and longer-running or future events beneath. Please see the sidebox below left for more information.
Lenten Quiet Morning
My Ears are Marked for Obedience
Saturday April 4, 9.00-12.30pm
Jane Francis, Cathedral Community member, Formation Student and a member of the Pastoral Care Team at The Mater Hospital, will lead us as we take some time reflect on the Lenten Journey. Jane will help us explore the theme, ‘My Ears are Marked for Obedience’ – what does this mean for us in an age of individual choice. Who and what are we listening to? How do we listen? What do we do with what we hear? We gather in the Southern Chapels in the Cathedral.
Engaging the Gospel
Using a technique known as the African Bible Study we will explore how the Gospel reading for each Sunday in Lent touches our lives and reflect on what it might be asking of us.
Sundays March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5 following the 7.30am and 9.30am Liturgies
Climate Change and the Purposes of God
Climate change puts many questions to us as human beings and particular questions to us as Christians:
How does the faith of Jesus relate to the questions posed by climate change?
What does it mean to see nature as ‘God’s creation’?
What is our relationship to the rest of nature?
If human actions are changing our climate, does that matter?
Given that the effects of human-induced climate change may be very damaging, who is responsible?
What are our responsibilities to!people in other countries and to those not yet born?
What are our responsibilities to the many species that may become extinct? What does justice require of us?
How do we handle our fears and vulnerabilities and uncertainties?
Join The Dr Rev’d Graham Warren to explore these questions.
Wednesdays: March 11, 18, 25, April 8 and 15, 10am to 11.30am.
Saying Yes to Life: The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book
Join Bishop Bill Ray to explore the themes of light, water, land, the seasons, other creatures, humankind, Sabbath rest and resurrection hope to matters of environmental, ethical and social concern.
Sundays March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5.
3.30pm to 4.30pm
The Heart of it All:The Bible’s Big Picture
Join The Rev’d Kate Ross to engage with Samuel Wells’ method of simplifying the Bible’s complexity and to look presents at the sweep of the Bible’s narrative in eighteen key themes.
Tuesday Evenings following the Mediation Group, 7.30pm to 8.30pm
Thursday mornings 10.30am to 11.30am (Followed by Meditation)
MINISTRY OF LAYING-ON OF HANDS
Next: Sunday 1st March, 9.30am
Following the example of Jesus, and his explicit instructions to his disciples, the ministry of healing for any kind of disease or distress is an integral part of the proclamation and application of the Gospel of compassion.
It is administered by the “Laying on of Hands with prayer” by a priest gently touching the head or shoulders of the person in need. No questions are asked although a person may, if they wish, give their name or a brief description of their concern. It is perfectly acceptable, even encouraged, to receive this ministry on behalf of another who cannot be present.
Those who wish to receive this ministry are invited to make their way to the Lady Chapel (north side of the Cathedral) following the reception of Communion.
The Ministry of Laying on of Hands with Anointing is also available at other times, including after each act of worship. Please contact the Cathedral Office.
LABYRINTH WALK
Next: Sunday 1st March, after 9.30am
Walking the Labyrinth occurs on the first Sunday of each month following the 9.30am Eucharist. If you have not walked the Labyrinth before, you would be most welcome to join the group who regularly do so. Please join us to walk the Labyrinth – we meet under the Rose Window.
The path is always new, because,
as a spiritual discipline, the labyrinth
is a path of contemplation,
reflection, prayer …
Beneath the surface, walking the labyrinth
is a profound discipline in listening,
in active silence, in finding movement
and rhythm in the stillneses underneath
and in between everyday’s noise.
Walking the labyrinth is an exercise
in finding the voice speaking in whispers
underneath the whirlwind of sound.
~ Travis Scholl, “Walking the Labyrinth –
A Place to Pray and Seek God” p.17, IVP Books, 2014
What is ‘Spiritual Direction’ …?
Spiritual direction is about making a space for God in your life. Contrary to the name, Spiritual Direction is not about being ‘directed’, it is being encouraged to draw closer to God in a more conscious experience of God’s presence, grace and love in your daily life.
In the midst of life we often find it difficult to notice God’s action within it. And yet we yearn to be able to discern the presence and the voice of God at a deeper level. In the practice of Spiritual Direction you are given the time and space to reflect on the experiences of your daily living, and as this contemplation takes place, you begin to discern God’s invitations and the work God is doing in your life.
Spiritual Direction sessions are now available at the Cathedral. To find out more, please contact Glynis by email
EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY (EfM)
~ a ‘taster’ program!
EfM can be summed up as Exploring Faith Matters! It is formational and transformational for Christian life and ministry. We do EfM in small groups led by trained mentors. Through individual study, sharing discoveries and exploring our faith together, we learn to think theologically. We connect what we come to know of the Christian tradition with our ordinary daily activities.
The 2018 EfM group developed a ‘taster’ program for 2019, to introduce newcomers with sample sessions over several weeks. These sessions are held in St Martin’s House at 6.00pm. To find out more, please call the Cathedral Office on 3835 2222 during business hours.
MORE ABOUT EVENTS
Offsite events, particular theme days/weeks or festivals which might be of wider interest are more likely to be found in the GENERAL NEWS section on the home page of this website. This is not a hard-and-fast rule: we will be keeping an eye on the dispersal of information across this new website, to try to minimise the number of clicks and cross-reference links needed.
Regarding links, some of the events featured here (and on the home page) may require registration, ticketing or booking fees. Where this is the case, either the event image or a specific text link should take you to the relevant (external) website for more details.
Please note that St John’s Cathedral provides such information in good faith and cannot be responsible for the veracity or otherwise of such links. If you find a link is broken or are concerned about its redirection, please contact the Cathedral office during business hours, 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, or by email
Each Friday evening during Lent, at 9pm, the building calmly resounds with the sound of thirty minutes of reflective seasonal choral music. This is followed by the intimate liturgy of Compline, where music and words gently bring the day to a close. Please join us for Nocturnes this year, featuring some of Brisbane’s favourite choral ensembles.
Feb 28 – Jaimee Dowsett and Andrej Kouznetsov
March 6 – St John’s Consort
March 13 – St John’s Cathedral Choir
March 20 – Canticum
March 27 – St John’s Cathedral Chamber Choir
April 3 – St John’s Cathedral Singers
Lenten Labyrinth Walks
In the midst of our busy lives the labyrinth offers a time for reflection and renewal, a time to pray, or just “to be”. Walk it with an open mind and an open heart. Make the journey in to the centre and return to the world refreshed.
St John’s labyrinth is a 7 circuit modified Chartres pattern, a canvas labyrinth created by Cedar Prest of Adelaide, and contains at its centre the symbol of St John, the eagle.
In Lent and during the year we offer ‘group’ walks where you can join with others in a themed walk with prayer/meditation cards.
- Sundays 1st March and 5th April after 9.30am service (approx 11am)
- Friday 27th March at 7.30pm, prior to Nocturnes, with candles illuminating the darkness.
Stations of the Cross
Modern reflections tie this age-old walking reflection to our modern lives.
Fridays in Lent and each Day in Holy Week at 1.10pm
Good Friday 2pm
CHORAL EVENSONG
Wednesday 4th March, 7.00pm
Wine before Breakfast
Friday 6th March, after 7.00am Eucharist
End the week well with an early Eucharist in the Holy Spirit Chapel followed by breakfast at a local cafe. The short Eucharistic service will include contemporary reflections on issues of justice and peace and prayers for our communities and our world that reflect recent events of the week.
We will then head to a nearby cafe for conversation with good friends, great coffee and cooked breakfast. All are welcome, with a cost of around $10* for the breakfast (*for those who can afford it).
JACKI’S FLORAL SUMMER CUSHIONS
The cushions chosen for the Christmass Season have a floral motif. The David Binns cushions are on display elsewhere in the Cathedral. So why flowers? When thinking about the Nativity and looking at our lovely cardboard figures I am struck by the fact that Mary is the only female character in the story. She is portrayed as Jesus’ mother and Joseph’s wife but rarely considered in her own right. Jesus is very much the central figure and Joseph is respected as a generous man who married the virgin Mary even though she was pregnant. The Magi arrive bearing gifts for the baby but did anyone think to bring a gift to Mary? It is such a tradition now to give flowers to the new mother both at the hospital and when they return home. So these are our flowers for Mary to congratulate and thank her for the amazing gift she has given us. These selected cushions will be on display through the summer holidays until late January.
Mystics, Theologians, and God-botherers
Sunday 1 March – 6pm
The Gospel is Political – Kenneth Leech
Kenneth Leech was an Anglican priest who was both a contemplative and a social activist.
Leech served most of his ministry in the East End of London. He set up the Soho Drug Group, and Centrepoint (youth homelessness). With Rowan Williams and others he founded the Jubilee Group, a network of Christian socialists in Britain and across the Anglican Communion, most of whom were Anglo-Catholics.
Come, hear Dean Peter Catt speak about his discovery of Kenneth Leech and the help he gained from Leech for his own spiritual journey. Discussion, questions and answers, wine and cheese to follow evensong.
WASTING TIME WITH GOD
Wednesday 4th March, 9.30am – 11.30am
Is the fourth mark of mission: “to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the Earth” an important aspect of our Christian journey?
The presentation will consider how we can value and respect creation, understand the impact we are having on it and explore ways of reducing our environmental footprint on the planet, individually and collectively. Will an understanding of our impact influence our vote in local and state elections this year?
The Reverend Peter Moore is the chair of Angligreen in the Anglican Church Southern Queensland. He is also a member of the diocese’s Social Responsibilities Committee, deputy chair of the Queensland Churches Environmental Network, a member of the management committee of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, and a leader for the Climate Reality Project.
Acoustic Cathedral
Second Wednesdays, 5.30pm
A new offering for 2020, held on the second Wednesday of each month, 5.30pm to 6.20pm, leading into the Contemplative Eucharist.
Dr. Michael Knopf is a concert guitarist and composer, a dedicated teacher and a music researcher from the United States residing in Southeast Queensland, Australia. The Acoustic Cathedral experience is not a recital but an aural aesthetic assistance to help drain away stress/anxiety/pain for all comers. Michael would love to see people of all walks of life, status and condition benefit. He will be playing some original music, classical guitar repertoire and improvisations, each piece aesthetically modified to encourage a relaxed engagement and to impart the sense of beauty, colour and other-worldliness that we sometimes experience within ourselves as we are immersed in better thoughts and feelings. Michael’s CDs can be purchased from The Cathedral Shop.
Contemplative Eucharist
Second Wednesdays – 7.00pm
A gentle contemplative Eucharist including silence, song, bread and wine. Silent meditation from 6.30pm to 6.55pm. Join us on Wednesday 11th March.
COFFEE ON WEDNESDAYS
10.00am-2.00pm
Please feel ‘mooved’ to join us at our regular COWS (Coffee on Wednesdays) gatherings between 10.00am and 2.00pm ~ followed by free English conversation sessions between 2.00pm to 3.00pm. Good friends, good food and great conversation all round.
ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLASSES
Wednesdays, 2.00pm-3.00pm
Every week we host English conversation classes in the Darnell Room, in which our wonderful team of volunteers assist people who would like to practise their English speaking skills. We are also seeking more volunteers to help. You don’t need any special qualifications at all, just a patient and friendly demeanour and the urge to help others. Please contact the Cathedral office on 3835 2222.
Conversation classes for 2020 resume on 29th January.
The FREE MORNING CONCERTS will begin again at 11am this Thursday 5 March with Harry Swainston (viola) performing solo Bach, and violinist Fiona Qiu playing with associate Artists Alex Raineri and Matthew Garvie (piano). Fiona and Alex will play Sibelius; Matthew and Fiona will play Szymanowski.
On Thursday 2 April, the Conservatorium Outreach program continues each first Thursday of the month.
As usual, all concerts will be preceded by coffee and cake from 10.30am.
Sunday, 8 March 2020 @ 2.00 PM
Beyond Messiah: Highlights of Handel. The overwhelming popularity of Messiah may make Handel appear as a one-hit-wonder. How far this is from the truth! We have over 40 operas and 20 other oratorios that prove the genius of this legendary composer. In this concert we explore choral highlights from this vast canon. We guarantee you will leave this concert whistling new tunes, and with thrilling Handellian sounds ringing in your ears
This is the opening concert of the Brisbane Chamber Choir’s 2020 season with Brisbane Chamber Players conducted by Graeme Morton and the orchestra is lead by Alan Smith.
Adult $30.00 | Concession $20.00 | School Students free
Sunday 8 March is International Women’s Day. Evensong at 6pm will include an address from The Honourable Justice Debra Mullins, Chancellor of the Diocese of Brisbane.
Discussion, wine and cheese will follow.
Commonwealth Day, held on the second Monday in March each year, is an opportunity for individuals, communities and organisations to promote the Commonwealth’s shared values of peace, democracy and equality, and to celebrate the Commonwealth’s rich diversity
The theme for the 2020 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), for Commonwealth Day and for the work of the Commonwealth more generally is:
Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming
Monday 9th March 10am
Love Took My Hand: Faith, Poetry and George Herbert
March 31
10am to Noon
The Darnell Room
Mark Oakley will explore the place of poetry in the life of faith and then guide us through some of the poems of George Herbert, whose poems are thought to be some of the best in the English language. Mark Oakley is Dean of St John’s College, Cambridge and was formerly Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, London. He is Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, King’s College London. He is widely admired for his preaching and for his writing, especially in the areas of poetry and spirituality. His The Splash of Words: Believing in Poetry won the 2019 Michael Ramsey Prize for theological writing and his recent collection of sermons, By Way of the Heart, and his introduction to the poetry of George Herbert, My Sour Sweet Days, made Rowan Williams comment: ‘Mark Oakley is one of the most distinctive, intelligent and refreshing voices in the Church of England, always illuminating, never stale or second-hand’. Mark is also committed to human rights and in 2016 won the UK’s first national prize for those who stand up against hate crime.
TWO Christian Meditation Groups
Tuesday evening + Thursday morning
The Tuesday evening group meets at 6:45pm in the Lady Chapel, or in St Martin’s House if there is another event being held in the Cathedral. All are welcome also to join us for a shared meal before meditation any time after 5:30pm in the St Martin’s House kitchen. For entry at this time come to the rear corner door and press the buzzer marked “Passage”. Newcomers are invited to come to the Lady Chapel at 6.30pm to be introduced to the space and to our method.
The Thursday morning group meets from 11.30am to 12.15pm in the Choir Room in St Martin’s House. All are welcome to gather for conversation over morning tea before meditation at 11.00am and/or to attend the 12.30pm Eucharist afterwards. Come to main reception in St Martin’s House.