National Reconciliation Week 2024, 27 May - 3 June.
This National Reconciliation Week Common Grace is inviting our movement to reflect on our theme focus of 'Reconciliation Through the Cross' and the important responsibility we have in deeply listening and taking action together to see the healing and flourishing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Read more about our 2024 National Reconciliation Week focus below, written by Bianca Manning, Gomeroi woman and Common Grace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator.
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Nature is a wonderful teacher that reminds us of deep truths to inspire our engagement with life, reconciliation and justice.
After a bushfire rages through a eucalypt forest, when the trunks are blackened and leaves have been burnt to a crisp, a fascinating process of new life takes effect. Green shoots, leaves full of life, begin to grow all over the trunk and branches. These are called epicormic shoots.
If you have ever witnessed this, I’m sure you were amazed at how new life could emerge out of such a tragic, desolate and harmful situation.
These surviving trees are sometimes called upside-down trees, with new leaves sprouting on the trunks and the high branches left empty to resemble roots floating in the sky. Upside-down trees remind us of the upside-down Kingdom that our King Jesus leads us into. Where death leads to life, beauty emerges from the ashes, suffering and mourning are turned into joy in His presence and hope always persists.
It has now been six months since the Voice referendum. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are still experiencing waves of grief, rejection, exhaustion and disappointment at the referendum result and the public dialogue that played out last year.
In many ways, last year felt like a bushfire year, a difficult year of heat, of pain, of loss.
Yet First Nations peoples are regrouping and showing incredible resilience, and many non-Indigenous Australians (of whom 6.2 million voted YES) continue their commitment to walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this long journey of truth, justice and collective healing.
This National Reconciliation Week, we will share resources to lead you in continuing to walk this journey and be led by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders.
We will reflect on what it means to carry the ministry of Reconciliation, the importance of taking time to truly and deeply listen, and practical ways to take up your cross and act to see the flourishing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Sign up to receive our 2024 Church Resources
These resources include prayers, Bible readings, video resources and a creative activity. Resources will be shared with those who have signed up in early May.
We will also be sharing online content via email and social media exploring our theme ‘Reconciliation Through the Cross’. This theme has been inspired by Senior Aboriginal Christian Leader Dr Aunty Jean Phillips, who consistently proclaims that it is only through the cross that we can come together to heal and see justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
So join us, 27 May - 3 June, as together we pursue ‘Reconciliation Through the Cross’ by humbling ourselves, laying down our defences, and daring to take up our cross as we imitate Christ’s sacrificial love.
Please join us in prayer during National Reconciliation Week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice.
For Close the Gap Day 2024, proud Olkola and Djabuguy man Cameron Balcombe wrote a prayer for to share with the Common Grace movement. It is a prayer for justice and flourishing that we encourage you to pray through again in this important week reflecting on how we can walk together in friendship and healing towards reconciliation and flourishing across these lands.
Join us in prayer this National Reconciliation Week, led by Olkola and Djabuguy man Cameron Balcombe
Explore further prayer resources for Voice & Justice here.
Donate to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice
Your donation helps empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders to lead our movement and equip followers of Jesus to listen deeply, advocate for truth-telling and justice for flourishing for all.
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What is National Reconciliation Week?
National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) is an annual celebration that builds upon the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples of all cultures in these lands now called Australia. During National Reconciliation Week all Australians are invited to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, to share that knowledge and help us grow as a nation. National Reconciliation Week sits alongside other significant dates such as Aboriginal Sunday the Sunday before January 26, January 26 a day of mourning, invasion, and survival, and NAIDOC Week a week of celebrating the world’s oldest living continuing cultures from the first to the second Sunday of July.
You can find out more about the history of National Reconciliation Week here.
Explore our previous National Reconciliation Week campaigns below.