Conducting an Australia Day Ceremony
Table of Contents
Overview
On Australia Day we celebrate all the things we love about Australia: land, sense of fair go, lifestyle, democracy, the freedoms we enjoy but particularly our people.
Australia Day is about acknowledging and celebrating the contribution that every Australian makes to our contemporary and dynamic nation.
From our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – who have been here for more than 65,000 years – to those who have lived here for generations, to those who have come from all corners of the globe to call our country home.
The marking of 26 January is an important date in Australia’s history and has changed over time: starting as a celebration for emancipated convicts and evolving into what is now a celebration of Australia that reflects the nation’s diverse people.
Australia Day continues to be hugely popular, with 3 in 4 Australians believing it has a bigger meaning beyond being just a day off.
More than half of all Australians participate in Australia Day attending events organised by State Governments, local councils, community groups or getting together with family and friends. In addition, over 16,000 new Australians become citizens on Australia Day.
Adopted from: https://www.australiaday.org.au/about/
Australia Day at Church
As Australians, we want to celebrate the things we love about Australia: land, sense of fair go, lifestyle, democracy, the freedom.
A growing number of people mark Australia Day at church. They include a barbecue lunch, family games such as ‘how far you can throw a thong’ and a simple church service or time of prayer, for our nation, our leaders, our local communities and for the dispossessed.
Should you be planning to celebrate Australia Day we make the following suggestions.
Bible Readings for Australia Day
- Deuteronomy 8:5-14 (Do not forget God in Prosperity)
- Psalm 125 (Our security is in the Lord our God)
- Hebrews 11:8-16 (Living by Faith and looking beyond what we currently enjoy)
- Matthew 5:1-12 (The ethics of the Kingdom of God)
Prayers
Bounteous God, We give thanks for this ancient and beautiful land,
A land of despair and hope,
A land of wealth and abundant harvests,
A land of fire, drought and flood.
We pray that your Spirit may continue to move in this land
and bring forgiveness, reconciliation, and an end to all injustice;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We bless you, God of the Universe,
for this land,
for its contrasts of landscape and climate,
for its abundance of wealth and opportunity.
We bless you for our history,
with all its struggles in adversity,
its courage and hope.
Give us in our diversity
tolerance and respect for each other
and a passionate commitment to justice for all.
Bless us so that we might be a blessing to others.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
God, bless Australia
Guard our people
Guide our leaders
And give us peace;
For Jesus Christ’s sake.
Amen.
