Referendum Eve Vigil for the Voice

Joining across the country in prayer the day before we vote

October 9, 2023

Over the past two weeks, the Uniting Church Assembly has been sharing 14 Days of Prayer for the Voice.

On Friday 13 October these prayers will culminate in a national Vigil on the eve of the Referendum, a time of reflection, faith and unity in solidarity with First Nations people and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.

From Larrakia Country (Darwin) to Lutruwita (Tasmania), and many places in between, congregations will open their sanctuaries for the local community to gather and pray. Each location will also be connected to a single Zoom webinar, taking turns to lead prayer and worship.

Join online at any point across six hours of prayer between 2:00pm and 8:00pm AEDT, or where possible, join an in-person gathering.

Vigil running sheet - Zoom

2-3pm AEDT (local time 12:30pm ACST)
Nungalinya College (President Rev Sharon Hollis)
Larrakia land, Darwin

3-4pm AEDT
Ballarat Central Uniting Church
Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung land

4-5pm AEDT
St Michael's Uniting Church
Wurundjeri land, Melbourne

5-5:30pm AEDT (local time 2pm AWST)
Star Street Uniting Church
Wadjuk Nyungar land, Perth

5:30-6pm AEDT
Devonport Uniting Church
Punnilerpanner land, Tasmania

6-6:30pm AEDT (local time 5pm AEST)
Rev Roberta Stanley (UAICC QLD)

6:30-7:15pm AEDT (local time 6pm ACDT)
Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kaurna land, Adelaide

7:15-8pm AEDT
Leichhardt Uniting Church
and Wangal land, Sydney

In person visiting hours will be communicated by the host locations. Most will be open for at least the above times (local time).

The Vigil will be live-streamed to the Uniting Church in Australia Facebook page from 2-3pm and from 7:15-8pm.

Subscribe to our newsletter

If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Raise the Age week of action

Raise the Age Support the campaign to Raise the Age of criminal responsibility to keep children in schools and communitiesAustralia imprisons children as young as 10, one of the youngest ages of criminal responsibility in the world. Yet overwhelming evidence from health experts, social workers, Indigenous leaders, legal experts and human rights organisations show that…

Walk for Yes

This weekend thousands of supporters for a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum will “Walk for Yes” in events across the country to show there is wide and deep support for a First Nations Voice. The Uniting Church supports the Voice as an opportunity to celebrate the First Peoples of Australia in our…

National weekend of prayer, reflection and meditation

Communities of faith all over the country are invited to participate in a National Weekend of Prayer, Reflection and Meditation from 8-10 September to reflect on and pray for unity and hope in the lead-up to the Voice referendum.“This is an opportunity for us to open your hearts again to what is…

Referendum date announced

Referendum date announced Now is the time to join others in actions to support a Yes to healing and hope. The Uniting Church in Australia welcomes the announcement of 14 October as the date for the referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress National Interim Chair…

Taking action for the Voice

Taking action for the Voice Four ways you can support a Yes vote in the Referendum In the Meanjin oration delivered on Monday night, Indigenous leader Noel Pearson spoke about the long and arduous pathway toward recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that has led to the referendum. But at this critical…

NATSI Children's Day 2023

This Friday 4 August is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day – a celebration of the strengths and culture of First Nations children. This year’s theme “Little Voices, Loud Futures”, acknowledges that a First Nations Voice would amplify the work being done to ensure First Nations children…

5 UCA voices on the Voice

5 voices on the Voice Five pieces of writing from Uniting Church people on the Voice to Parliament The Voice to Parliament continues to be a defining conversation for our nation this year. There is a lot of talk in the public space and a lot of information to process. Across the Uniting Church,…

From Melbourne to Bunuba Country

From Melbourne to Bunuba CountryWesley College Chaplain Bradon French reflects on a trip for students to Yiramalay Studio SchoolBy Bradon French, Chaplain for Wesley College at Glen Waverley CampusThe students from Wesley College, Glen Waverley campus, recently went to visit Yiramalay Studio School. They have built a unique partnership between themselves and the Bunuba people.…