Combined Parishes Gather at St Dunstan’s for a Memorable Pentecost Evensong
CAMBERWELL — On Sunday evening, 24 May 2026, a congregation of over 110 people gathered at St Dunstan’s Camberwell for a vibrant and inspiring combined Pentecost Day Evensong.
Initiated by Fr Jobby, the service brought together clergy and parishioners from five local Anglican communities: St Faith’s Burwood, St Peter’s Box Hill, St Paul’s Canterbury, St John’s Camberwell, and host parish St Dunstan’s. The occasion marked the Great Festival of Pentecost while offering a chance to give thanks for their shared spiritual heritage within catholic Anglicanism. It also formed part of St Dunstan’s ongoing centenary celebrations following their festival Eucharist the previous week.
Following the success and strong turnout of the evening, all clergy in attendance agreed to convene similar combined events in the future to continue fostering fellowship and shared worship among the neighboring parishes.
Magnificently Enhanced Liturgy
The evening’s worship was musically enriched by the St John’s Choir, who sang the Evensong service magnificently under the direction of Lachlan McDonald. The choir's sacred music set a deeply reflective, prayerful, and peaceful tone for the gathered community.
Preacher Highlights the Beauty of Catholic Anglicanism
The guest preacher for the evening was the Revd Heather Scott, Vicar of St Faith’s Burwood. Drawing upon the day's readings (Joel 2:28–32, Psalm 103:13–22, and Galatians 5:13–26), Revd Scott delivered a warm and thoughtful sermon reflecting on the enduring treasures of the Catholic tradition within Anglicanism.
Key themes from her sermon included:
The Universal Pouring Out of the Spirit: Reflecting on the prophet Joel and the Pentecost narrative in Acts, Revd Scott noted how the Holy Spirit breaks down barriers and is generously shared "upon all flesh"—drawing diverse communities together into one body.
Sacred Space and Rhythm: In a world often felt as "noisy, hurried, and uncertain," she emphasized how Anglican liturgy, music, sacraments, and sacred spaces gently draw believers into the presence and mystery of God.
A Continuous Lineage of Faith: Quoting early church writer Justin Martyr (First Apology, c. AD 150) and St Augustine (The Confessions), she reminded worshippers that modern Eucharistic and liturgical practices directly connect today's Church to the earliest generations of Christians.
Fruit of the Spirit: Emphasizing St Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Revd Scott reminded the congregation that the true test of the Spirit’s presence is seen in transformed lives filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and generosity.
Bringing a touch of gentle humor to the sermon, Revd Scott shared a childhood memory of attending Evensong in a bluestone church in Hamilton, where a stray pigeon once flew laps high in the nave during the service—a testament to how Evensong can be both serene and unexpectedly memorable!
A Shared Mission
The service concluded with a call for local communities to carry the warmth, hope, and peace of Pentecost beyond the church doors into daily acts of service and compassion. Parishioners and clergy alike expressed deep gratitude for the fellowship, rich music, and unity shared across the regional Anglican community.
You can watch the full service on St. Dunstan's YouTube Channel.