By: Joni Boyd
This year, Aboriginal Sunday is on January 19.
In response to Aboriginal Christian Leader William Cooper’s original call to the Australian church, Aboriginal Sunday is an opportunity “for continuing the journey of walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
This year, the theme is “defiant hope”, and churches and faith communities are invited to take part, with help from free resources supplied by Common Grace.
“Your church or faith community will be equipped to deeply listen, be inspired, meaningfully engage and take action for justice, reconciliation and the flourishing of First Nations peoples,” reads a statement.
William Cooper was an Aboriginal Australian political activist and campaigner for Aboriginal rights, with a deep and personal faith in God.
He had a heart to see all Australians work towards the flourishing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which led him to call for the church to preach and pray for healing, freedom and justice.
Churches and faith communities are invited to take part, with help from free resources supplied by Common Grace.
William Cooper invited all Australian churches to set aside the Sunday before January 26 each year, marking it as Aboriginal Sunday – a time for people to listen and stand alongside, valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, perspective and justice.
In honour of William Cooper’s Aboriginal Sunday, Common Grace provides a toolkit each year, enabling churches to individually mark the day with their congregations.
The free toolkit includes videos, prayer resources, bible readings, sermon resources, a creative activity and kids’ resources which can be incorporated into services.
Visit commongrace.org.au for more information.
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
Feature image: Image sourced from Canva
About the Author: Joni Boyd is a writer, based in the Hawkesbury Region of NSW. She is passionate about the power of stories shared, to transform lives.