Sorry prayer ritual
Overview
This prayer is suitable to be adapted for a school community during the week of Sorry Day / Reconciliation Week.
We Gather
Gathering Song: Hands of Healing (Marty Haugen taken from “The Song and the Silence”)
Introduction
Saying Sorry: Joining people all over Australia, we remember the hurt inflicted onto our Indigenous brothers and sisters and commit ourselves to reconciliation.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners/Custodians who have cared for this land for thousands of years. We also acknowledge their descendants who maintain spiritual connections and traditions.
Let us reflect together, before we pray, on the millions of footprints that have travelled the Dreaming pathways and our own loved ones who have gone before us.
Brisbane Justice and peace Commission and Toowoomba Social Justice Commission and Aboriginal Partners
Opening Prayer
Let us pray,
God of Justice,
We come to seek your guidance, wisdom and compassion
As we pray for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been wronged in the past.
May our hearts be open to receive your healing grace,
So that we in turn bring healing to each other.
We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord,
All: AMEN
We Listen
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:3-11
Reader:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This is a reading of the Good News
ALL: Thanks be to God.
We Respond
Reflection
Reader:
Wednesday 13th February 2008 marked a significant event for all Australians. Our Federal parliament said sorry to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were so wronged in the past. We here today focus on the healing dimension of reconciliation and remember the suffering of the indigenous people. We come to say sorry and truly work together to make amends. We recognise that true healing starts by making amends, not in isolation, but by all Australians coming together in compassion and love.
Today we come united as we pray to God, who will heal our wounds, and free us to love and show compassion, justice and peace to all.
Healing Hands - Individual prayers
Participants are asked to write their own thoughts and prayers onto cutout paper hand shapes. These are then placed around the sacred space.
Song: The Cry of the Poor: (Taken from J. Foley. Gather Australia: Singing the Liturgy: As One Voice (1))
Lords Prayer
Together we pray the Lord’s Prayer (taken from the Koenpal Stradbroke Island People)
Brisbane Justice and Peace Commission and Toowoomba Social Justice commission and Aboriginal Partners
Provided by Evelyn Parkin and Kerry Charlton
(Unite hands)
All:
Our Father
Who stop up there
Your name is good
Come down to us
We do here what
They do up there
Today give us bread
Forgive us this time
Don’t lead us to do wrong
Take us away from bad
You are great, all is yours.
Forever
Prayers of Intercession
Let us turn to God in prayer for what we need to be true followers of Jesus
Reader 1:
God of justice,
We pray that all Australians recognise the hurts of our past that have been inflicted on our Indigenous brothers and sisters. May we learn from our mistakes and act with justice and compassion as we work towards equality and justice for all people.
For this we pray.....
ALL: In unity, God hear our prayer.
Reader 2:
God of comfort,
We pray for reconciliation and compassion and the grace to move forward together in peace.
For this we pray....
ALL: In unity, God hear our prayer.
Reader 3:
God of fairness
We pray that Australians act with fairness and justice towards Indigenous Australians.
May we bring comfort to those who are suffering and healing love to those whose lives have been shattered broken.
For this we pray.....
ALL: In unity, God hear our prayer.
Reader 4:
God of community,
We pray for the human community: that we will continue to nurture our relationships with you, our Creator God, with one another and with all creation.
For this we pray....
ALL: In unity, God hear our prayer.
Reader 5:
God of reconciliation and mercy,
We pray for ourselves as followers of Jesus: that we will build reconciling and inclusive communities to which people are drawn and have a strong sense of belonging.
For this we pray....
ALL: In unity, God hear our prayer.
Reader 6:
God of the marginalised,
We pray for all Christians: that we will cultivate a deep awareness of, and commitment to, social justice and social welfare by hearing and answering the cry of the poor and outcast in our local communities.
For this we pray...
ALL: In unity, God hear our prayer.
We Go Forth
Concluding Prayer
Leader:
Loving God,
You who created all people in your image and likeness,
May we listen with care to all all people of this land and treat all with respect
Source of all creation and unity, bless us in our endeavours to live as one in Christ.
ALL: Amen.
May you our God of justice, give us the strength and courage to transform the world according to the vision of Jesus.
ALL: Amen.
May you our God, model of community and equality, inspire us to bring harmony and a new vision of reconciliation to all.
ALL: Amen.
And may almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.
ALL: Amen.
Song
A new heart for a new world, Trisha watts/ M. O’Brien Gather Australia As One Voice (1)