As we celebrate the passing of the First Treaty in the State of Victoria between the State and the First people’s here are two prayers giving thanks for this historic event.
Please feel free to use with acknowledgement.
Prayer of Thankfulness for the Treaty
Creator Spirit,
we gather with thankful hearts,
grateful for this moment of truth and renewal.
The land breathes with us —
the rivers murmur with hope,
and the wind carries the songs of those
who dreamed this day into being.
We give thanks for the Ancestors,
who walked this land with courage and faith,
who spoke the truth when it was costly,
and who never let the flame of justice fade.
Today we rejoice in the passing of the Treaty —
a promise born of listening,
a step toward healing,
a new beginning grounded in respect.
May this Treaty bind us not in words alone,
but in relationships of honesty and care.
May it call us to walk gently on this Country,
to live rightly with one another,
and to honour the stories that hold us all.
We give thanks for all who have laboured
for truth-telling, recognition, and peace.
May their strength guide us,
their wisdom lead us,
and their spirit inspire us to continue the work.
Creator Spirit,
bless this land and its peoples.
Let gratitude be our prayer,
and justice our way of life.
Amen.
Responsive Prayer of Thankfulness for the Treaty
Leader: Creator Spirit, we gather in gratitude and awe for this moment of truth and renewal.
People: We give thanks for the breath of Country that sustains and embraces us.
Leader: We remember the Ancestors who walked before us, whose courage and wisdom still speak.
People: We honour their strength and their dreaming that carried hope through generations.
Leader: Today we celebrate the passing of the Treaty — a promise born of listening and courage.
People: We rejoice in this step toward justice, healing, and shared belonging.
Leader: May this Treaty be written not only on paper, but on our hearts and in our deeds.
People: May it call us to live with honesty, care, and respect for all creation.
Leader: We give thanks for those who worked tirelessly for truth-telling, recognition, and peace.
People: Their spirit guides us, their hope sustains us, their work continues in us.
Leader: Creator Spirit, bless this land and all peoples who call it home.
People: Let gratitude be our song and justice our way of life.
All: Amen.