Aboriginal Weepings And Jesus' Forebears

A royal commission into institutional child abuse in Australia reported last December and some repentance for the historical (and current ) sins of the church seemed in order.  In this spirit Aidan and Hilda member Heather Johnston has organised an artwork (a mural with 4 panels) to be installed in Wunya Park (in the grounds of St Marks Church Buderim of which Aboriginals have been custodians).  Three of the local Indigenous creation stories have weeping women in them.  This seemed a suitable theme, and three Indigenous women artists made the installation called River of Tears for the Dispossessed.  It is an expression of grief for the local sins of the church against women, children, Indigenous people, South Sea Islanders and the environment.  The five figures are the spirits of the five streams created by weeping women in the local creation legends and also  Jesus' foremothers Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, Ruth and Mary (as per the Matthew 1 geneology) - iconic weeping women. A talk will be given on   Jesus' Disreputable Foremothers, Women and the Church.    They will remember women victims of the patriarchy in the church on All Souls day.  

They will sing:

 River of tears by the Buderim falls

We remember the warriors,

The hanging tree, the removals,

The stolen land, the loss of culture.

River of tears by the Buderim falls

We remember the Kanakas,

Brought here from the Islands

River of tears by the Buderim falls.

Chorus

We cry out for this nation

We weep for the lost ones,

Healing the land for the children

River of Tears by the Buderim falls

River of tears by the Buderim falls

We remember the women,

The elders who cared for us,

and made a home in a hard place.

River of tears by the Buderim falls

We remember the children,

Who lived and who thrived here

River of tears by the Buderim falls

Chorus

We cry out for this nation

We weep for the lost ones

Healing the land for the children

River of Tears by the Buderim falls