As the National Day of Thanksgiving (NDOT) occurring on the 3rd June 2006 is fast approaching, the Thanksgiving card and ribbon are now available for sale.
Starting in 2003 the Australian Prayer Network sponsored NDOT is always held on the Saturday of the Pentecost weekend of each year.
The NDOT is hail as a unique opportunity for Australians to celebrate and give thanks for what God has given to us as a nation and to demonstrate God given values of honour, respect, thankfulness and gratitude toward our fellow man. More succinctly it is a national day of prayer to ‘acknowledge our Christian heritage and the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our nation.’
Christian leaders have also praise NDOT and believe the nation should take this day to reflect on the abundant grace poured out by the Lord.
Cardinal George Pell said: “The National Day of Thanksgiving provides all Australians with an opportunity to remember how abundantly God has blessed our country, and to give thanks both for God's blessings, and to the people who are blessings in our own lives.”
Archbishop of Sydney, Reverend Peter Jensen said: “As Christian people, the bible constantly reminds us that we should be thankful to God, who is ultimately the source of every good and perfect gift. It is therefore important as a nation that we give thanks to God, and I am glad that the Governor General has called us to do so.”
Having received support from major Christian organisations such as United Christians Broadcast and the Australian Christian Lobby, the NDOT is warmly welcomed by both the federal government and opposition.
The Prime Minister John Howard believed Christianity played a significant role in shaping not only the individual life but also Australia. He said: “In Australia, Christianity has been an enormous force for good, shaping not only the individual lives of people but also the character of our nation. The spiritual depth of the Australian community has had a profound influence on the stability and strength of the values we share.”
The Opposition Leader Kim Beazley believed we should be thankful for the Church, which continue in its unselfish role in serving the less fortunate. He said: “Thank you to the Churches whose continuous and unselfish pastoral and temporal work gives comfort and help to those in need.”
For more information please visit:
http://www.thanksgiving.org.au/index.asp