Reflection service held at Bondi Junction Salvos Store
- simoneworthing
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
BY SIMONE WORTHING
A reflection service was held at the Bondi Junction Salvos Store yesterday as The Salvation Army joined communities across Australia to mark the National Day of Mourning in the wake of the Bondi shooting tragedy.
Major Carolyn Harmer, Salvos Stores Chaplain in Sydney East, led the service.
“It was a privilege to be there, and to be part of the light in the darkness that the theme of the day focused on,” she said.
Major David Collinson, Salvos Stores’ Executive Officer, estimated that around 20 customers were in the store during the short service.
“Some listened as they shopped, some stopped and listened, and everyone was respectful,” he said.
Carolyn said that four staff members also attended, including one who was on the beach the day of the tragedy (14 December) and had been personally impacted.
“She has found a lot of relief in coming to the store and being around the supportive people she describes as her ‘second family’. She was especially grateful for the service,” Carolyn said.
Honouring the lost
During the reflection, Carolyn read out the 15 names of those who lost their lives, their ages and occupations.
“These innocent people were not just individuals,” she said. “They were people in this community, connected to this community. Connected through family and friends, through neighbours and businesses, through synagogues and other faith communities, through schools and clubs, through volunteering and supporting this community.
“Sometimes, when you hear their names, know their ages and what they did, it seems to make it so much more real. Because we realise that they were real people just like us. Innocent, good, kind people who are no longer here in this community. They were people who impacted this community in a positive way.”
Carolyn then led a minute of silence to remember them.
Carolyn spoke about the ‘ripple effect’ that follows tragedies – the impact on those directly affected by the tragedy, as well as the broader community, as they try to make sense of what has happened and rebuild their lives.
She led another 30 seconds of silence to think of the people struggling just because they happened to be there on the day, to honour those for their heroic actions in supporting others during the shootings and its aftermath, and for the whole community.
The day after the Bondi tragedy, David took a simple prayer box to the Bondi Junction Salvos Store so people could share a written prayer, express their thoughts, or even their grief, in a safe, anonymous and non-threatening way.
The box filled quickly.
During the service, Carolyn mentioned these prayers how much the opportunity to respond had been appreciated by customers, staff and volunteers. “We will take these prayers to one of the Rabbis we have contact with at the local synagogue,” she said.
“The Salvation Army presence, and that of other faith communities, has been so well accepted.”
Devotional thought
Carolyn shared how God had put on her heart to speak about two different responses to times of tragedy – what is often our very human response, and what is always his response.
“Some of us may get angry about what happened,” Carolyn acknowledged. “It’s okay to get angry, but we need to find safe people to talk about our anger, pray for the ability to keep any anger under control, and let it go.
“The Bible tells us in the book of James that we should ‘always be more willing to listen than to speak and to keep control off your anger’ (James 1:19).
“God’s response to us when tragedy hits us is to surround us with his love, care and peace … and this is his response to us, not just when we experience tragedy, but every single day (Psalm 91:11, Psalm 34:7, Psalm 139:5).
“With this kind of response there is always hope. When we have hope we can see the light, the light that will win, the light that will triumph over darkness.”
Carolyn concluded the service encouraging people to think about how they wanted to respond – both after the service and beyond – and a prayer that each person would know there is a God who responds to their needs with love and care.
“It was really good to be a centre of hope in that community and to be there for the people,” David said.
