ABOUT US
Come on a journey with us
WHO WE ARE
We are a Christian community composed of those who love Jesus and share the message of God’s love and grace for all.
We trust in Jesus for salvation, and in so doing become part of the universal body of Christ. In fellowship with each other we come together to worship God, to grow in our understanding of God’s Word, and to live out our lives in Christ in our community. Jesus asks us to keep this sense of community: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). We gather regularly to share in God’s
peace and forgiveness, and our Christian community strives to be a place where Christ is at the centre. As members of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand ( LCANZ) we share the traditions and fellowship of a Lutheran Community which exists in every nation in the world.
All people of peace are welcome to join with us.
Where We Are Going
The Bible tells us we need to walk together with other believers and wherever that fellowship takes place, believers will thrive and grow.
We attend church so we can worship God with other believers and be taught His Word for our spiritual growth.
Pastor Noel Due is serving our parish currently, during a time of renewal and refreshment for our church. Noel brings with him many gifts with instruction and encouragement in preparing followers of Christ Jesus by strengthening our faith, solidifying our journey and skills to navigate the changes all Christians are facing in the world today. His teaching helps open up all of the promise and grace found in the Word of God and by Holy Spirit.
Noel Due holds a Bachelor of Theology and a Graduate Diploma of Pastoral Studies from Flinders University of South Australia. Noel has previously been engaged as the Pastoral Theology Lecturer at the Highland Theological College. He gained his Doctorate of Ministry from Highland Theological College in 2003, and has served as the pastor for New and Renewing Churches in the LCANZ. The Top End Lutheran Parish is excited to have Pastor Noel join our community in this time of renewal and deepening our connections throughout our community.
A Church For All
We welcome people of all nations. Wherever you are in your own journey towards faith and understanding; or if you are searching for a Christian community; whether you live, work or are just visiting the Top End; you are welcome.
There is a lot going on in our community throughout the year to support, engage, enrich, and connect you. Activities include a wide range of opportunities to grow in knowledge, faith and Christian practice as well as developing community connections. Check the news and events tab and follow the contact instructions to get connected!
Links To Our Community Support Services
We provide a range of services across Darwin and Palmerston including Congregations, Education and Childcare. Please use the quick links below to access information on these services.
In Christian worship we receive from God. We also express to him our thanks and praise for all God is and for all he does. In our worship service we come together to share Christ’s love and grace in music and speech, readings from scripture, prayers, a sermon, and sharing of bread and wine in the sacrament of Holy Communion. This is at the core of how we build our relationship with God. But worship is also a daily response to God, not just something done at church. Worship includes loving one another and serving our neighbour in daily work, vocation, and acts of mercy.
God gives himself to us through the sacrament of Holy Communion. We remember the covenant made between Jesus and humanity on the night he was betrayed. Jesus asked us do this in remembrance of him. He says to all those who believe in him, they will receive forgiveness for their sins in the gift of his body (bread) and blood (wine). If you don’t feel ready to partake of Holy Communion you can come forward to receive a blessing by simply crossing your arms. So, wherever you are in your own journey towards Christian faith and understanding, you are welcome to come forward and receive God’s blessing, for Jesus has made it so.
WORSHIP SERVICE
Our History
In 1966 the Lutheran church of Australia ( LCA) in Adelaide planted a church in the Top End. As a result, in 1967 St Andrew was established as the first Top End (Darwin) Lutheran Church.
In 1976 the St Andrew congregation established a Childcare Centre, now operating as Foundations For Life Early Learning Centre.
In 1983 the congregation established the St Andrew Lutheran Primary School (in a section of what was then the old Carpentaria College building in Nightcliff) which was the pioneer Lutheran School in the Northern Territory. In 1985 St Andrew Lutheran Primary School moved to its permanent location in the Darwin suburb of Leanyer.
As the congregation grew, St Andrew planted a church in Palmerston and in 1997 Good Shepherd was established to serve the people of Palmerston and rural suburbs.
In the mid-1990s a request was made to the Director of Lutheran Schools SA/NT by the Lutheran Church of Australia to consider the establishment of a Lutheran Primary School attached to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Congregation at Palmerston. This led to the opening of Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School in 1998. The development of the new school at Palmerston was sponsored and supported by the St Andrew Lutheran Primary School and the congregations.
In 2007 an additional campus at Howard Springs was added to the School to cater for Years 6 -12, with the original site becoming what is now known as Good Shepherd Lutheran College.
St Andrew Lutheran Primary School officially merged with Good Shepherd Lutheran College in 2015 to become Good Shepherd School Leanyer Campus.
Through the Grace of God our congregations have a long history of service to our community in the Top End.