Australia Day 2021 Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service 26 January
A combined Service by the Churches in the local area
Click here to watch the Service
More than a day...
Together we can celebrate;
Celebrate this day
Together we can share our lives
Together we can pray
For today is truly one day
One day in many more
A day that we can join our hands
On land, or sea, or shore!
The ocean that surrounds us
Within this sun-burnt land
Has built-up on its shoreline
Many grains of coloured sand
Reminding us of God’s truth
His promise firm and strong...
That many sons and daughters
Would be His; they would belong!
Near and far across this nation
People work for what is good
Many live where lives are threatened
By drought and fire and flood
But faith and hope and purpose
It can strengthen weary hands
As all people come together
To make the bravest-stand...
They help where help is needed
They strive to do their best
They never turn from danger
They face the hardest test...
It’s here they share their courage
It’s here they give their time
Their comfort and their sacrifice
Each ‘mountain high’ to climb!
True faith can bind together
And when that faith is love
It gives us time to ponder
The coming of the dove
Descending upon Jesus;
Baptised for those who share
His life of grief and suffering
His life of ceaseless care!
We celebrate together
As we live by faith each day
We celebrate because we know
By grace and faith we pray...
To take the love of Jesus
Into this sun-burnt land
To grow in understanding;
To follow God’s commands!
Together we can celebrate;
Celebrate this day
Together we can share our lives
Together we can pray
For today is truly one day
One day in many more
A day that we can join our hands
On land, or sea, or shore!
© Jane Rummey, 2021
On Australia Day
“And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” Hebrews 11:12 (NIV)
“Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” John 1:32-34 (NIV)
