THEMES FOR NATIONAL DAY OF THANKSGIVING 2009
THOSE BEING HONOURED AND THANKED IN 2009
Those to be honoured and thanked as part of the National Day of Thanksgiving celebrations to be held on 30th May 2009 are as follows:-
Elected leaders within Federal, State and Local Government, leaders within all spheres of community life, including but not limited to business, commerce, health, education and community organisations, and all public servants.
HOW TO BE INVOLVED IN THE NATIONAL DAY OF THANKSGIVING
HOW CHURCHES CAN BE INVOLVED AND GIVE LEADERSHIP TO COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS
* By outreaching to your community with acts of kindness to those in greatest need. Involve your local Council and ask businesses to support and/or sponsor larger scale projects that will impact the wider community. For greater impact join with other Churches in your area and make a combined witness to your community.
* Organise morning teas or lunches in the week leading up to the National Day of Thanksgiving for those working in the community groups who are being thanked this year across the nation.
* Order and distribute thanksgiving day cards and ribbons to all Church members (5/6 of each item to each member of your congregation) to distribute to those they wish to thank throughout your community.
* Take a group of disadvantaged children on a days outing.
* Get your youth group washing cars, mowing lawns or undertaking other chores for free for shut ins, disabled or disadvantaged people.
* Organise combine services of worship and celebration to God on the Saturday evening as "Australia Worships" as we give thanks to God for our great nation. Turn Sunday services into Thanksgiving Services and honour and thank special people in your own congregation who work and serve amongst babies, children and youth either in their paid employment or voluntary service.
* Order a free "Church Kit" for more information and ideas as to how your Church can be more involved in the NDOT. Simply write to info@thanksgiving.org.au giving a postal address to which the kit can be mailed postage free.
HOW SCHOOLS CAN BE INVOLVED IN IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY
* Mobilise each class to do an act of kindness out in the community that will highlight to the community at large, and the students themselves, the values for which your school stands.
* Invite people from the 2008 targeted group/s to your school to thank them and to learn more about what they do in the community.
* Get each child to send 1 or 2 cards and ribbons to someone they want to say thank you to, thus teaching them the importance of recognising what others do for us.
* Order a free electronic "Schools Kit" from info@thanksgiving.org.au for more ideas.
HOW FAMILIES CAN BE INVOLVED IN CELEBRATING OUR NDOT
* Get behind and encourage your Church and/or School to take up the opportunity to be involved in one or more of the activities mentioned above.
* Have a neighbourhood morning tea or bar-b-que and take the opportunity to talk about the values that NDOT seeks to celebrate whilst cementing ongoing friendship and relationships with those who live around you.
* Have an NDOT party of thanksgiving to God and invite to it those you want to reach out to with the love of God.
HOW AN INDIVIDUAL CAN CELEBRATE OUR NDOT
* Send cards to people you especially want to recognise for their friendship to you, and their service to your local community. Also send cards to leaders within your community, the State and also the Nation, who rarely get thanked for all they do in their respective positions of public service.
* Pin ribbons on those you wish to say thank you to in everyday life like the check-out operator, postman, or others whose service we often take for granted.
* Be an ambassador for NDOT by joining in with your Church's activities and/or encouraging others to join with you in making a small group of your own who can undertake random acts of kindness for others. If you would like to assist us promote the NDOT in your community or region please write to us at info@thanksgiving.org.au and we will let you know how you can assist.