In partnership with Common Grace we are holding a service of prayer and lament as we remember January 26th 1788. Come along at 4pm on Sunday 22nd of January to prepare yourself for Australia Day, to remember our history and explore our common future with Brooke Prentis.
image credit: Will You? by Jasmin Roberts
NATIONAL SERVICES OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, LAMENT & PRAYER
We are one of eleven churches holding services of acknowledgement, lament and prayer (today at 4pm) as we approach January 26th as part of a national movement organised by Aunty Jean Phillips, in partnership with Common Grace.
The concept for these services was developed by Aunty Jean Phillips, one of our great Aboriginal Christian Leaders. Aunty Jean will tell you that “the cross has all the answers”, and so starting a prayer service in Brisbane with about 30 people she has marked January 26th in the church for many years. The services have been gaining momentum and last year the Brisbane service had nearly 200 people attend. This year in 2017 Aunty Jean is holding three services in the Brisbane area.
Aunty Jean with the support of Common Grace saw that it was important that these services were held in other cities around Australia and we have aimed to have one in every capital city in 2017 – symbolically showing that Aunty Jean and Common Grace are calling our nation to prayer.
These services are a way that non-Aboriginal people can come to learn and acknowledge the true history of our nation, to lament the present day disadvantages and injustices facing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters and to pray for “a nation built on truth, justice, love and hope”. This is also a way to acknowledge that Aboriginal peoples are hurting, grieving and mourning on this day, and as Christians we must love our neighbour as ourselves.
Hi Jess, could you please comment on how kid friendly this might be and how long it might go for? Thanks 🙂