NAIDOC Week 2024

You can watch the bible readings and sermon here, or scroll down to read the rest of the Sunday prayers and content, and watch this video at the point it occurs during worship.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

As we gather to worship, we acknowledge the Dharawal peoples and offer our respect to their elders past and present. We honour their care of this Country. We acknowledge their unceded sovereignty. We hold that God is always drawing us into togetherness. May we walk together as First and Second Peoples motivated by love, seeking justice and reconciliation.

SAFE STATEMENT

God loves and accepts us just as we are. Engadine Uniting is a safe place for all people to gather regardless of age, ability, sexuality, or culture. We gather today accepting each other in our diversity to seek love and joy in the presence of God. Know that you are loved and that your presence here this morning both enriches each one of us and our worship time together.

PRAYER OF ADORATION AND THANKSGIVING

Loving God

You are the source of all goodness and grace.

Guide us in the ways of Jesus, we pray.

Help us to live according to his ways of love and justice.

Enable us to be aware of your Spirit in our midst,

that our faith may be deepened, and our calling made clear.

Almighty God,

look upon us and see the extent of our love for you.

We praise you for your loving kindness that accompanies

and sustains us on our journey.

We know that there is never a moment when we are not enveloped in your love,

a love that permeates every corner of the universe.

We are filled with awe at the beauty of creation that extends to the

farthest reaches of the cosmos.

Your creativity and wisdom bring us overwhelming joy, when we think that you hold all things together in grace and mercy.

We worship and adore you and give you our praise. Amen

You are our hope and strength.

SONG All Creatures Of Our God And King (alternate words)

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing

Alleluia Alleluia

Bright burning sun with golden beam

Soft shining moon with silver gleam

O praise Him O praise Him

Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia

People and nations take your part

Love and forgive with all your heart

Alleluia Alleluia

All who long pain and sorrow bear

Trust God and cast on Him your care

O praise Him O praise Him

Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia

Cool flowing water pure and clear

Make music for your Lord to hear

Alleluia Alleluia

Fierce fire so masterful and bright

Giving to us both warmth and light.

O praise Him O praise Him O praise Him O praise Him

O praise Him O praise Him Alleluia Alleluia

Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia

Jon Buller, Kevin Aichele, Louis Bourgeois, Nolan Balzer, Olaf Pyttlik, St. Francis of Assisi, William Henry Draper

CCLI License #31951

CCLI Song #7185141

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE On Screen

During a few moments’ silence, let us place ourselves within the light of Christ, examine our hearts and minds, and recognise where we have lost our way and neglected our calling.

* Silent prayer

If we have been so busy that we don’t notice the needs of others,

or have resented those who do take time to be kind and generous,

or have disgraced our faith by becoming self absorbed:

Forgive us, loving God, and save us from ourselves.

If we have been too proud to undertake humble tasks,

or too impatient to do tasks that have no immediate reward,

or too stubborn to seek the help of others.

Forgive us, loving God, and save us from ourselves.

If we have magnified small wrongs done to us,

or have allowed tiny difficulties to frustrate us,

or have been thick-skinned, inflexible or unteachable.

Forgive us, loving God, and save us from ourselves.

*time for silent prayer

The Lord has mercy.

Christ has mercy.

The Lord has mercy.

FORGIVENESS

My fellow pilgrims on Christ’s road, take heart.

God does not have to be persuaded to forgive us;

it is more likely our pride that holds us back from accepting forgiveness.

let down your guard, open you mind and heart,

repent and accept the Gospel of free grace.

In Christ there is grace.

In Christ there is peace.

In Christ there is love and joy.

Thanks be to God!

AMEN

NAIDOC WEEK – Kathy

NAIDOC Week is an annual week-long celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements in the first week of July every year (Sunday to Sunday). This year, NAIDOC Week starts today with the theme ‘Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, Loud and Proud’.

NAIDOC WEEK – Kathy

We are inspired by the resilience and tenacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Their encouragement to not give up, to engage, and join their efforts to bring change through justice, truth-telling, treaty and genuine relationship. Non-Indigenous Australians can support by showing up, by listening, learning, and amplifying First Nations voices – this is how we add logs to the fire, taking actions together to keep the flame of justice, truth and hope burning so all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, now and into the future, are safe, free and flourishing.

This morning I would like to share two stories of aboriginal Christian Leaders of the past – leaders that continue to inspire us.

Aunty Pearl Gibbs (Gambanyi) was a leading Aboriginal activist in the 1900’s, advocating especially for Aboriginal civil rights and the rights of Aboriginal women and children.

Aunty Pearl Gibbs was a key member of the Aborigines Progressive Association and was a lead organiser of the Day of Mourning protest in 1938.

Aunty Pearl Gibbs campaigned against the discriminatory policies of the Aborigines Protection Board including the terrible conditions of Aboriginal people living on reserves and young Aboriginal women working as domestic servants. In 1954 Aunty Pearl became the first and only Aboriginal women to be given a seat on the Board.

In 1956 Aunty Pearl Gibbs co-founded the Aboriginal Australian Fellowship which brought together Aboriginal people and non-Indigenous allies to campaign for equality and citizenship rights for Aboriginal peoples, including the right to vote.

Aunty Pearl Gibbs’ role in advocating for justice for Aboriginal peoples inspires us this NAIDOC Week.

Aboriginal Christian Leader Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls was a professional athlete, pastor, social worker, and key advocate for equal rights and justice for Aboriginal peoples.

Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls was a talented AFL player, playing for Northcote and Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League. As a young footballer, Nicholls was taken under the wing of his great-uncle and mentor William Cooper. Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls became the secretary, and later the president, of the Australian Aborigines League. Nicholls was also part of the Day of Mourning protest on the 26th January 1938.

Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls served the Aboriginal community in Fitzroy, Melbourne, as a social worker, and became pastor of the Fitzroy Church of Christ, the first Aboriginal Church of Christ in Australia.

Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls formed the Victorian Aborigines Advancement League in 1957 and was a foundation member of the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement in 1958.

In 1976 Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls was appointed Governor of South Australia.

The advocacy of Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls contributed to the success of the 1967 referendum.

We thank God for Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls and we honour his contribution to the Australian Church and to the work of Reconciliation and justice for Aboriginal peoples.

Safina Stewart has written a prayer for NAIDOC Week 2024 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to keep the fire burning, and a prayer for the church to continue walking together for truth and justice. Let’s join together in prayer:

_________________

Creator God,

You are the sustainer of life, the composer of creation’s song

You taught our Elders how to listen to Country’s rhythm

To stand to protect, sustain and care for Country

Open our ears and enflame our commitment toward creation justice