Sunday Service: Worship: Community
Spiritual Direction
Rev. Alexandra Sangster is a trained Spiritual Director who offers a compassionate listening space for those seeking clarity, calm, and courage. Spiritual Direction is the practice of discerning the movement of the Spirit in the everyday rhythms of our lives.
It is the gentle art of being deeply listened to.
It is the careful, grace-filled practice of speaking from the heart and allowing one’s story to unfold in a safe and sacred space.
Rooted in ancient Christian traditions, Spiritual Direction is an intentional meeting between two people who seek to notice and respond to the movements of the Spirit in daily life. Inspired by the Ignatian way of prayer and discernment, it nurtures an attentive listening to the subtle invitations of God within our experiences and our unfolding journey.
This practice also resonates with the spirit of deep listening and narrative therapy—honoring the stories that shape us, exploring them with curiosity and compassion, and discovering where the Holy is present within them. As writer Anne Lamott reminds us, grace often shows up in the small, ordinary moments of honesty. Through this shared listening, new meaning, clarity, and freedom can gently emerge.
Weddings
The Uniting Church welcomes all people into the sacred act of marriage.
Here at St Kilda South Port, we delight in co-creating a wedding ritual that is joyous, meaningful, and deeply personal—crafted with you, for your love.
A wedding is a celebration of love and of the families we weave together, a commitment to nurture life, hope, and community.
And yes—same-gender couples are joyfully welcomed and celebrated here.
This Marriage –poem by Rumi
May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk,
this marriage, like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade
like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion,
a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,
an omen as welcome
as the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe
how spirit mingles in this marriage.
Funerals
Funerals are part of the ancient, ever-renewing work of our faith.
It is our honour to walk with you as you farewell the one you love—
with honesty, creativity, and deep reverence for what is sacred.
We offer gentle grief support and a safe space to explore the complex and sometimes painful feelings that arise for those who remain.
“Just walk fearlessly into the house of mourning,
for grief is just love squaring up to its oldest enemy.
And after all these mortal human years,
love is up to the challenge.”
— Catherine Burns