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Aboriginal Sunday and
Change the Heart 2022

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Aboriginal Sunday and Change the Heart

by The Revd Ros Fairless, Convenor, Aboriginal Ministry Working Group

January 26 is a difficult time for many people. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel hurt and grief as they mourn losses and commemorate survival, and as Australian Christians come to understand the true history of Australia — over 65,000 years of stewardship by over 300 nations of Aboriginal peoples - and the true history and impact of colonisation — hearts and minds are unsettled.

As people of faith, we trust that from such troubled waters God brings new life and healing. We seek ways forward, wanting to answer Christ’s call to “transform unjust structures of society… challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation” (the Fourth Anglican Mark of Mission). Discussions often revolve around changing dates or names, but as Christians our first and best move is to invite God to change our hearts. This we can do by gathering, listening, learning, and praying for a nation built on truth, justice, love, and hope. The following resources are offered to aid in this.

Aboriginal Sunday: 23rd January 2022

Australian Churches are asked to keep the Sunday before January 26 as a day for Christians to act in solidarity with Aboriginal peoples and the injustices they experience. Common Grace offers a free Aboriginal Sunday Church Resource Toolkit, which you can use to lead an entire service prepared by Aboriginal Christian Leaders, or take elements from to augment your regular Anglican service. It includes readings, AV worship resources – including songs beloved of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Christians - and an engaging activity to help your community go deeper on January 23rd.

Find out more
Aboriginal Sunday 2022 feature

Change The Heart

Tuesday 25th January 2022, 4:30pm AWST

Over ten years, a small gathering has grown into a time of national unity and prayer.

Senior Aboriginal Christian Leader, Aunty Jean Phillips, assures us that, “the cross has all the answers”, and invites us to gather together to pray in unison on the evening before January 26.

Participate in the biggest ever #ChangeTheHeart service online at commongrace.org.au/change_the_heart or ACC TV or on a number of radio networks.

Find West Australian Anglican churches broadcasting #ChangeTheHeart, or sign up to be a host.

Hear the Call Together
Change The Heart 2022

Join us

Christ the King, Willetton

Our church in Willetton, Christ the King, is a contemporary Anglican church with lots of different age groups and ethnicities.

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Church of Ascension, Midland

A welcoming church who wants the newcomer and stranger to be always in our midst, for they bring the presence of Christ’s love with them.

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