With Courage
Let Us All Combine
A prayer for Refugee Week
Congregation: Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
we’ll toil with hearts and hands;
God, we recognise that it is you
who created this land.
God, we recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Peoples were the First Nation Peoples of what
we now call Australia.
We recognise that we are citizens of the Kingdom of
God, before we are citizens of our country.
We ask that you would use our hearts and hands to
make Australia a place of sanctuary, shelter, comfort
and provision for people seeking asylum and refuge.
Congregation: To make this Commonwealth of ours
renowned of all the lands;
Lord, we ask that Australia would be known as a kind
and compassionate country.
We ask that Australia would be known as a place of
welcome and inclusion for people who seek refuge and
asylum within our borders.
We pray that Australia would be known as a place
where the Kingdom of God thrives.
Congregation: For those who’ve come across the seas,
we’ve boundless plains to share;
Forgive us for the times we have closed our borders
to those most vulnerable.
Forgive us for the times we have closed our
communities to people seeking asylum and refuge.
Forgive us for the times we have closed our
churches to children, women and men seeking
asylum and refuge.
Forgive us for the times we have closed our hearts
and hands to you.
Congregation: With courage let us all combine to advance
Australia fair.
Give us courage to defend the cause of people seeking
asylum and refuge.
Give us courage to confront the powerful – the Australian
policy makers and politicians.
Give us courage to confront our own hearts and minds.
Give us courage to help usher in God’s Kingdom in Australia.
All: With courage let us all combine
to advance Australia fair.