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Day of Mourning

#UCADayofMourning

Since 2019 the Uniting Church has marked a Day of Mourning on the Sunday before 26 January to reflect on the dispossession of Australia’s First Peoples and the ongoing injustices faced by First Nations people in this land. 

We invite you on or around Sunday 21 January 2024 to hold worship services that reflect on the effects of invasion, colonisation and racism on First Peoples. 

The 2024 resource is now available. In the introduction, Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis and National UAICC Chair Rev Mark Kickett write, 

"In marking the Day of Mourning, we affirm the sovereignty of First Nations people. We confess and seek forgiveness for the dispossession and violence against First Nations people. We lament our part and we recommit to justice and truth-telling."

Download the 2024 Day of Mourning resource

UAICC National Chairperson Rev Mark Kickett and UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis have also shared a Survival Day video message for 26 January. Watch the message below or download here.

We encourage you to use this opportunity to make a connection with UAICC or First Nations people in your local community. You might take this opportunity to think about how you will live out the covenant as a faith community and explore the Assembly’s Living The Covenant Locally resource as a way to begin or continue this journey.

We would love to hear about your Day of Mourning services. Use #UCADayofMourning on social media and email to share your stories and photos.

Other resources

  • Read this reflection by Alison Overeem, Palawa woman and Manager of Leprena (UAICC Tasmania). Download it here.

  • Affirmation of Faith written by Rev Jenny Tymms in consultation with First Nations people from the Walking Together Assembly resource (2012). Download it as a PowerPoint

  • Song: Make a New Way – written by David MacGregor and Craig Mitchell, this song was prompted by the Voice Referendum and the narrative of John the Baptist in Mark 1. Link to video, lyrics and music score here: https://craigmitchell.com.au/make-a-new-way/

UCA Day of Mourning services

Download this list as a PDF

New South Wales

  • Hope Uniting Church joined by Reconciliation Church (Aboriginal Catholic Ministry), 21 Jan 10am, 829 Anzac Pde, Maroubra
  • Toronto Uniting Church, 21 Jan 9am, 118 The Boulevarde, Toronto 
  • Engadine Uniting Church, 21 Jan 9am, 2 Chipilly Ave, Engadine
  • Pitt St Uniting Church, 21 Jan 10am, 264 Pitt St, Sydney
  • Leichhardt Uniting Church, 21 Jan 10am, 3 Wetherill St. 
  • St Matthew's Uniting Church, 21 Jan 6:45pm, Cnr Charles St & Edgar St, Baulkham Hills
  • There will be a UCA contingent to the Sydney rally and Yabun festival, meeting 9.30am January 26 on the Pitt St Uniting Church steps. RSVP here.

ACT

  • Canberra City Uniting Church, 21 Jan 10am and 5:30pm, 69 Northbourne Ave, Canberra

Victoria

  • High Street Uniting Church with members of the local indigenous community, Nairm Marr Djambana, 21 Jan 10am, 16-18 High Street, Frankston
  • St Kilda South Port Uniting Church, 28 Jan 10am, 325 Dorcas St, South Melbourne
  • St Michael’s Uniting Church, 21 Jan 10am, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne

South Australia

  • Pilgrim Uniting Church, 21 Jan 9.30am, 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide 
  • Royal Park Uniting Church, 21 Jan 9.30am, 52 Tapleys Hill Rd, Royal Park

Western Australia

  • Social.Justice.Church at Wesley, 21 Jan 5pm, Cnr William & Hay St, Perth
  • All Saints Floreat Uniting Church, 21 Jan 9.30am, 48-50 Berkeley Cres, Floreat (also livestreamed https://floreat.ucwa.au/services/)

Queensland

  • Albert St Uniting Church hosted by Aunty Jean Phillips, 25 Jan 6.30-8.30pm, followed by a light supper in Wesley house,  319 Albert St, Brisbane City

Tasmania

  • Devonport Uniting Church with a member of the Six Rivers Aboriginal Corporation, 21 Jan 10am, 12 Forbes St, Devonport

26 January events

There are many First Nations-led events on 26 January, ranging from dawn services and truth telling gatherings to rallies and festivals. 

Although Australia Day is a time to reflect on what we’re grateful for about this country, we are committed to marking this day with respect and in honour of the survival of the world's oldest living culture. We are committed to being honest about history and standing in solidarity with First Peoples in the pain and mourning related to this day. You might like to consider attending one of these events.

If you attend a rally, you may like to bring a sign that expresses Uniting Church commitments and advocacy related to treaty, truth telling, deaths in custody, Raise the Age and Indigenous connection to Country.