When we acknowledge something, we accept its truth and existence and recognise that it is of importance or significance. Acknowledgment is an act of noticing something and honouring it with our attention.
Jesus regularly acknowledged others, turning his gaze towards them and giving them his full attention. He acknowledged the presence of those who his society deemed unworthy and those who lived in ways that made others feel awkward. He acknowledged when people acted with kindness and faith, even if these acts were outside the social norms. And in particular, he acknowledged those who had experienced pain and oppression, extending compassion and love.
As a Common Grace community that longs to live in ways that are 'more like Jesus', this year we are approaching January 26th determined to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were our First Nations Peoples. We commit to acknowledging them privately, in our prayers and as we seek to grow in understanding, and publicly, by standing alongside them, remembering our past, and finding a way forward together.
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Read about the history of January 26th
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Hear reflections about "changing the date"
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Meet Aunty Jean Phillips
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Church Resources
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Watch First Australians