"We are attuned to nature, are you attuned to nature? Are you taking notice of what is happening right in front of your eyes? Pay attention to nature and to all of creation.”

This week we hear from Ngarinyin Worrorra woman and practicing artist Kirsty Burgu. Kirsty is Pastor at Mowanjum - where she was born - in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Watch in this video a Bible reflection Kirsty led at the reconvened 16th Assembly meeting in May 2022, in which she speaks about her art, the creation stories passed down from her ancestors, her Christian faith and deep connection to Country.

“We are connected to creation. We listen to what the birds and animals are telling us. We are the caretakers of this land, we hear it crying out to tell us when something is wrong, and we’d like to let other people know to help us to look after our Country.”

As a Church of many nations and cultures, we celebrate the diversity of God’s creation across the many lands from which we come. From the misty mountains of China to Niue’s coral reef and the rice paddies of Indonesia, we give thanks for the distinctive landscapes which together make up this precious earth - our common home.

At the same time, we listen to the voice of creation groaning, as our natural environment faces unprecedented decline, intensifying climate disasters and costly habitat loss and degradation. We acknowledge that those least responsible for the climate crisis are often those most impacted, particularly communities across the Pacific, Asia and Africa. We recognise the courageous voices of our global neighbours calling for climate justice and seek to take practical action, as individuals, as communities and as the church, to reduce our impact.

This week, panel members of the Being a Multicultural Church Circle offer images of their home country – or a place close to their heart – and invite you to reflect on the distinctive character of four different parts of the world.

These images are available, alongside a description and prayer, as a presentation which you might use in worship or for personal reflection. Prayers for creation are available in English, Indonesian, Niuean and Armenian. Download these below.