National Reconciliation Week 2025, 27 May - 3 June.
Join the Common Grace movement during National Reconciliation Week 2025 (27 May - 3 June) as we seek to engage meaningfully as we are led by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders.
This year, we are inviting you to explore the theme ‘Reconciliation as Responsibility: Come to the Feast’. We will be resourcing you and your church community or small group to listen deeply to the voices of First Nation Christian Leaders, hear stories of non-Indigenous Christians who have taken seriously their responsibility on this journey of reconciliation, and take practical steps towards justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“For too long the burden of reconciliation has fallen on our mob. Our hands have been outstretched and our voices have cried out for justice. There is still such a long way to go, but when our non-Indigenous brothers and sisters respond, when they say yes, when they sit with us in the joys of our culture and faith, and the lament of our grief and pain, when they sit at our table - then we can see God’s beautiful vision of reconciliation come to pass. Will you come to the feast?” - Bianca Manning, Common Grace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator
With the National Reconciliation Week theme nationally being ‘Bridging Now to Next’, and with 2025 marking 25 years since the Walks for Reconciliation in the year 2000, we will be reflecting on the part that all of us have to play on this journey of justice, healing and reconciliation; including highlighting stories of non-Indigenous Christians who have taken up the responsibility of reconciliation.
In the last five years we have provided full church toolkits to help churches gain confidence in initiating a service during National Reconciliation Week. This year we are providing key resources and entrusting you and your congregation to craft these into your own expression of a Reconciliation Service.
Sign up to receive key resources that you can use in your church, small group or classroom during National Reconciliation Week, and follow along the journey on Common Grace’s social media during National Reconciliation Week 2025.
__________________
Reflecting on Reconciliation as Responsibility
All relationships include giving and receiving, inviting and responding, and the fruits of our connections together grow and deepen through our response-ability to each other.
Safina Stewart, proud Wuthathi and Mabuiag Island woman and artist, has created our artwork ‘Come to the Feast’ for National Reconciliation Week 2025, reflecting on Isaiah 25:6-8 and the beautiful and generous invitation we all have in coming together to the shared table of reconciliation. A table that is safe and welcoming, a space to share in conversation, curiosity, laughter and build relationships together.
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
Isaiah 25: 6-8
In this passage we see God’s redemptive, beautiful and hopeful vision for the future and the feast God is preparing for us, where He will remove the veil of mourning and wipe every tear from our eyes.
Throughout the Bible feasts are a pointer of celebration, of coming together in thankfulness and joy to share in the abundance of God’s provision. We also see the importance of feasting, and sharing meals, throughout Jesus’ ministry - his first miracle was in response to a crisis at a feast (John 2:1-11), he feasted with tax collectors (Matthew 9:10-17), provided in abundance in feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21), and shared a last supper with his disciples (Matthew 26:17-30).
As we sit in the hope of this Messianic feast, with the urgency and reality of the injustices facing First Nations peoples at the forefront of our minds, may we come together in prayer and solidarity this National Reconciliation Week. May we gather at this table of feasting, and share in the foretaste, or entree, of what God’s feast will be like. In Safina’s artwork the table is set for the feast with space for us to bring our own platters to share - a space where the stories of First Nations people are received and all contributions are respected, valued and bring richness and nourishment to the gathering.
This National Reconciliation Week, we invite you to join us in reflecting on coming to this feast together, living this out now, each one of us bringing our offerings, and working together towards the vision of safety, freedom and flourishing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Sign up to receive our 2025 National Reconciliation Week Resources
Common Grace will be sharing key resources for your church community, small group or classroom, including a prayer, a video reflection from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders, as well as creative ideas for your community to celebrate and reflect together. 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 as Responsibility’ so make sure you're signed up and following along the journey. Check our Common Grace's Facebook and Instagram pages.
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 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 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.
__________________
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.
You can find out more about the history of National Reconciliation Week here.
Explore our previous National Reconciliation Week campaigns below:
2024, ‘Reconciliation through the Cross’
2023, 'Be A Voice for Generations'
2022 'Reconciliation as Love in Action'
2021 'Treaty and Truth Telling for Healing Country'
2020 'Reconciliation as Walking Together'
2019 'Reconciliation as Truth and Action'
2018 'Reconciliation as Friendship'
2017 'Learning More Together'