Here are some prayers and blessings written by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians

Aboriginal Sunday is observed in your church or faith community the Sunday before January 26 (therefore the date changes each year).

Pray for justice, healing and true reconciliation in these lands

Blessing by Uncle Vince Ross

May the God of creation warm your heart like the campfires of old

Bring wisdom and peace as shown to the first peoples of this land

Shake off the dust from the desert plains by the refreshing rains

Followed by the glow and warmth of the sun

Let the light of God show us the right path and stand tall like the big

River gums drawing life from the ever flowing waters.

An Aboriginal Prayer For Truth and Hope by Brooke Prentis

May the God of all wonder who set the stars in the sky,

bless you with relentless unsettledness –

that drives you to seek truth.

May the God of all justice who gave motion to the rivers,

bless you with righteous anger –

that drives you to seek freedom for all.

May the God of all love who placed laughter in the kookaburra,

bless you with the friendship –

that looks like the love where one lays down their life for another.

May the God of all comfort who determined the height of the mountains,

bless you with tears from shared pain and mourning –

that shows you hope.

Now with wonder, righteous anger, sacrifice, and lament –

Go in truth, justice, love, and hope –

to Change The Heart of Australia.

Our Prayer for Israel and Palestine

Loving God, we come to you in this time of tragedy, after the sudden loss of loved ones

due to the conflict in Israel and Palestine. For those who have been injured, captured,

and for those whose homes have been destroyed. Father, we ask for your loving arms

to embrace our brothers and sisters who are in so much pain.

Loving God, we pray for a miraculous de-escalation of this dangerous conflict. Terrible

things are being done, many hundreds have died, hospitals are overflowing, many are

suddenly grieving. Violence is provoking violence but we pray for reason to prevail over

rage and revenge.

Loving God, as the people grapple with the severe loss, the injury and destruction that

is all around them. God, we remember that you are higher than any other, we ask you

to hold them in their time of anguish and uncertainty. May your presence and your

compassion bring them peace.

Loving God, we lift up the people of Israel and Palestine. We pray for all those

impacted, and we pray for active and effective peacemaking. Lord we also pray for the

first responders, the medical professionals, the rescue workers, and for all those who

volunteered to offer a helping hand. We pray that you grant them strength and courage

in the hours and days to come.

Loving God, we pray for all Christians in the Holy Land, that they would be your hands

and feet in this time. Give them strength to love both Jews and Muslims in their time of

despair. May they be your peacemakers and a witness to your faithfulness and never

ending love for all people.

Loving God, upon you we rely, and to you we turn. You do not waver, and you do not

abandon. Be with the people of Israel and Palestine in these days, and the weeks

ahead as they face the tragedy of loss.

We bring you all of these prayers, and ask them in the precious name of Jesus Christ.

Amen