Creator God, Spirit of the land and Lord of all peoples,
We gather today with hearts full of gratitude as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of NAIDOC Week.
For fifty years, this national movement has called Australia to honour and celebrate the history, culture, achievements and enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We give thanks for all who have walked this journey of truth, justice and reconciliation, and for the witness of First Peoples who continue to share their wisdom, faith and hope.
Today we also give thanks for the witness of the Uniting Church in Australia, and especially for the sacred Covenant between the Church and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress—a Covenant born not simply from words, but from truth-telling, repentance, relationship and hope.
Lord, we remember that before there was a Church in this land, there was Your Spirit moving across Country—through the songlines, the rivers, the mountains and the ancient stories of First Peoples.
You were here.
Your presence was never absent.
We acknowledge the pain of the past: the wounds of mission, the loss of language, land and culture, the silencing of voices, and the breaking of families.
Yet we also honour the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their faith, their survival, and their leadership within Your Church.
We thank You for the Covenant—for its call to walk together, to listen deeply, to respect one another, and to seek justice, healing and self-determination.
May this Covenant never be reduced to words on paper, but remain a living commitment, calling the Church into truth, humility and right relationship.
As we celebrate this milestone in the life of NAIDOC Week, renew us by Your Holy Spirit.
Give courage to the leaders of the Uniting Church in Australia, strength to the leaders of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, and wisdom to all who seek to walk this shared journey.
May we continue to grow in justice, deepen our partnerships, seek healing for Country and people, and become a Church—and a nation—that more faithfully reflects the reconciling love of Jesus Christ.
Ground us in Your truth.
Lead us in Your grace.
Unite us in Your love.
And as First Peoples and Second Peoples together, may we continue to walk gently on this land, honouring the Creator, following Christ, and listening to the Spirit.
In the name of Jesus Christ, who makes all things one.
Amen.
Written by Rev Will Pickett
Proud Noongar man
National Co-Chair, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC