Reflection - Sing New Songs

by Kym Korbe, Koa Kuku Yalanji woman and Executive Officer UAICC and Covenanting

Today (25th November) is the date of my deceased mother's birth. So, I commence this reflection with an acknowledgement of the stories and songs you shared mum, that I now share with those with whom I spend time.  Thank you.

During worship last Sunday we sang what for me was a new Christian song, Ancient of Days, with the beginning lyrics reading:

Though the nations rage, kingdoms rise and fall
There is still one King reigning over all
So I will not fear, for this truth remains
That my God is the Ancient of Days

None above Him, none before Him
All of time in His hands
For His throne, it shall remain and ever stand
All the power, all the glory
I will trust in His name
For my God is the Ancient of Days

I found a liberating comfort when singing these lyrics, because for some reason they reignited my knowing that we need not fear, as our Ancient God is the same, today, tomorrow and always.  Earlier that day, we as the Muth arrak, greeted new young Aboriginal people who faithfully accompanied their Granny to our first Next Generation worship gathering at Oxley Uniting Church.  We enjoyed a small service together and gave praise to a mighty King who walks with us in our hearts.  Last Sunday, was affirmation of the hopeful prayer we offer, in raising up something new in worship of an ancient wisdom and word that we continue trying to understand and honour as we deepen relationship.

In Aboriginal ways, a Songline is an ancient practice of creating a song or rhythm that maps or navigates a path, which also tells the story of the land, the skies, the waterways and the peoples in relationship with the ancient Creator God, Baiame.

The Uniting Church in Australia, through the Preamble recognise that “The First Peoples had already encountered the Creator God before the arrival of the colonisers; the Spirit was already in the land revealing God to the people through law, custom and ceremony. The same love and grace that was finally and fully revealed in Jesus Christ sustained the First Peoples and gave them particular insights into God’s ways.”  Source: Preamble_A4_New2024_Final.pdf

So how do we, as the people of God, continue to write and sing new songs into our hearts and the hearts our children?  Perhaps some of the answer lies in 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

“16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

What we send outwardly from our churches is a manifestation of the heart, story and song that resides within them.  For some it is a time of closure, for some it is renewing, for some it is a time for discernment and for others it is time of getting to work on the vision that has been cast.  Whatever season your church may be in, there is one thing we can be sure of, that we have an ancient God that is trusting us to continually renew our hearts and our minds and our relationships with new stories and songs; so that we can be the church that brings ancient wisdom and love into current times.