RESOURCES FOR FAITH GROUPS

Prayers for use in the churches, Sorry Day 2007, prepared by Rev Dr John Brown.

(Sorry Day actually falls on 26 May, 2007, the tenth anniversary of the launching of the Report on the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families.   It is hoped that churches will incorporate these prayers into worship services on 26 and 27 May)

God of many names, compassionate, merciful and just,
Defender of the oppressed and hope of the despairing,
Father, Mother, Creator of all people and all peoples,
We worship you.
Eternal God, Baiame, we remember in you presence
those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
who, from whatever motives,
were taken from their families, and land as children,
and suffered loneliness, fear, abuse and exploitation
of which they still bear the scars.
We pray for healing for them.
We pray that they may hear from the nation an acknowledgment
that what happened to them should not have happened,
and a determination to repair the damage that was done.  
We pray that we as a congregation and as individuals
may lend listening ears, encouraging words
and a will to make amends to those who were wronged.
We remember their children and grandchildren
who still struggle with the effects of that history.
We are glad that in the midst of the suffering of many
there were some who found good homes,
and continue to show their gratitude
through the service they give to the community.
Give us as a nation the humility to apologize
for past mistakes and deliberate wrongs.
Save us from the further wrong of turning deaf ears
to pleas for help and for justice.
Give to us the will to walk together in mutual respect and justice,
in the way of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Sorry Day Prayer

Almighty and loving God, you who created ALL people in your image,
Lead us to seek your compassion as we listen to the stories of our past.
You gave your only Son, Jesus, who died and rose again so that sins will be forgiven.
We place before you the pain and anguish of dispossession of land, language, lore, culture and family kinship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced.
We live in faith that all people will rise from the depths of despair and hopelessness.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families have endured the pain and loss of loved ones, through the separation of children from their families.
We are sorry and ask God’s forgiveness.
Touch the hearts of the broken, homeless and inflicted and heal their spirits.
In your mercy and compassion walk with us as we continue our journey of healing to create a future that is just and equitable.
Lord, you are our hope.
Amen.

Aboriginal and Islander Commission
National Council of Churches in Australia, 2002.

Prayer for the Journey of Healing

A contribution to the nation, for use and adaptation - from the WA Reconciliation Inter-faith Working Group

Dear God …

We who have come from every land give thanks for Australia;
this earth that feeds us;
the shores that bind us;
the skies that envelop us in freedom.

We stand together, united as one people:
proud of our ability to work together;
grateful for our gifts;
nourished by our diversity and our harmony.

Yet we turn to the original owners of our land and see, too, what we have taken.
We weep for their loss of freedom, of country, of children -
even of their very lives
We stand in awe at their survival, and in debt for their land.

We have shadows in our history which if unfaced diminish us
We have taken without asking;
Our nation has taken without asking;
Lives are wounded. We see the pain, feel the sorrow and seek forgiveness

Let us look back with courage; see the truth and speak it.
Let us look around with compassion; see the cost and share it.
Let us look forward with hope; see what can be and create it.

Give us courage to face the truth;
compassion to share the burden -
strength to play our part in the healing -
and hope to walk forward to a place of justice.

With courage, compassion, strength and hope, we will walk together on the journey of healing.

____________________________________________________________________

In Perth a Nyoongah elder concluded our prayer with the following words:

Ngullu maamauky djurpiny nunuk kulliny nitchu waangkiny, burdu ngullu kulliny… [Nyoongah language]

(Our Father God, Mother Earth is happy that you have come here to talk ….. Later we’ll walk together)

The 'Journey of Healing 2000' segment of the NCCA pages can be accessed via http://www.ncca.org.au/ .

Caritas Australia in collaboration with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) has produced a reconciliation liturgy to commemorate Journey of Healing and National Reconciliation Week.

Caritas also has news of reconciliation initiatives at www.ozspirit.info