The Prime Minster John Howard will attend a special service at St Andrew's Cathedral this Sunday to observe the National Day of Mourning.
Mr Howard will be present at the 10.30am service where he will read from the New Testament passage 1 Peter 5: 5b-11. Archbishop Peter Jensen will be preaching.
Offertories will be directed towards the Archbishop's Overseas Relief and Aid Fund.
The Prime Minister has asked Australians to wear a piece of wattle or other native fauna as a tribute to those who have died or are missing and to observe a minute's silence at 11.59am, marking the time when the earthquake preceding the tsunamis struck. He has encouraged religious leaders to observe the event on Sunday, noting that many Australians will attend religious services on the day.
"We are saddened beyond words by the loss of so many lives, particularly young ones," Mr Howard said. "Let us all in our chosen ways" offer our prayers and hope for those still missing or recovering."
Churches across Sydney Diocese will mark the day with special services and prayers for the victims of the devastated regions of South Asia. It follows several weeks of prayers, sermons and fundraising efforts in parishes.
All Saints Petersham held a benefit concert for the victims on Tuesday at Trinity Grammar School, which raised $4000 for World Vision.
The concert was an initiative of two local Anglicans, Clare Heuston, an opera singer, and Matthew Williams, a pianist.
"Christians should be doing good works and this is just one example," said Curate-in-Charge the Rev Antony Barraclough. "As a minister it's very satisfying to see members of your church taking the initiative in this way."
The Archbishop's Overseas Relief and Aid Fund (ORAF) will release a statement tomorrow (Friday) with an update about their fundraising efforts. ORAF is working with the India Gospel League in Southern India, one of the hardest hit regions.
Federal Secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS), Canon John Thew, said the organisation has had contact with leaders of local churches in affected areas.
"We have assured them of our prayers and solidarity with them in this distressing time," he said.
More than $30,000 in offertories was given at CMS Summer School in Katoomba last week for ORAF's tsunami relief work.
A number of CMS workers are helping out in affected areas. One staff member, who cannot be named for security reasons, is working with a relief team in Indonesia in a support role. The staff of All Saints' Jakarta, including CMS personnel Dale and Joy Appleby and David and Cheryl O'Mara, have been directing support to one of the established assistance groups.
In Thailand, a team at Christ Church, Bangkok is providing relief and pastoral support and is helping to rebuild villages. CMS Associate Andrew Dircks is serving as the Vicar of Christ Church with his wife Suzanne. The Dircks have been in Phuket helping in the relief efforts.
CMS Ireland have air freighted supplies to Christ Church for distribution but Mr Dircks said further supplies of donated goods are now not required for the parish's work in Thailand.
"The situation in Aceh and Sri Lanka may be very different," he said. "What we most value now is prayer for our strength, energy and wisdom each day, for all those here at Christ Church Bangkok who are seeking, as a team, to respond to this great disaster."
On January 1 the parish hosted its own day of mourning through a combined English-language churches memorial and prayer service.
To support the Archbishop's Overseas Relief and Aid Fund's tsunami appeal phone 1800 653 903 or visit www.archbishopsappeals.asn.au
Further updates and information on how to give may be found at www.christchurchbangkok.org and enquiries may be directed by email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
