Taking the Theme to the Extreme

The theme for the 2019 Queensland District Synod was ‘Lord Teach us to Pray’. The St John’s congregation in Hope Vale decided to take this a step further and make it our church theme for the recent NAIDOC (National Aboriginal Islanders Day Observance Committee) celebrations.

This is a week long celebration of our lives together in Christ as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Christians.

The week of 30 June to 4 July saw a great array of activities in Hope Vale culminating on a DAY of celebration on 4th July. We began with a float parade, something the church always uses as an opportunity to promote ourselves. This year the theme ‘Lord Teach Us to Pray’ colourfully displayed on a locally decorated ‘float’. The impact was amazing as the procession made its way to the local park.

A range of Gospel and Country singing really set the tone for the day. Entertainment included Aboriginal dance for all ages including an invitation to bystanders. This embraced the many non Aboriginal people, even the Pastor, who soaked up the atmosphere of the day.

We aim to share the Good News and open up opportunities for all to feel the love of our church come to life in a special way.

NAIDOC is always an annual highlight because it presents the local people with an opportunity to tell ‘their’ story ‘their’ way. We rejoice in the opportunities God gives us to reach out to many more people.

Respectfully prepared in the Lord’s Service,

David Spanagel