In Communion With Stolen Sisters

Tomorrow is World Communion Sunday and even though some United Church congregations have resumed in-person worship it isn't possible to safely celebrate the sacrament of communion or the eucharist. This sacrament is a powerful statement of God's -in-the-flesh, sacrificial love in Christ yet it is the loving and faithful choice not to risk sharing in the bread and wine/juice in the midst of a pandemic. It's a sad reality.

Some congregations will be concluding Creation Time with an acknowledgment of the Feast of St. Francis, sans the actual physical blessing of animals -- did I mention there's a pandemic? 

Many will find ways to act in solidarity or communion with Indigenous families and communities to honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls whose lives have been cut short by violence. Here is a prayer from the United Church which we can all repeat, wherever we may be:

Prayer for Missing & Murdered Aboriginal Women

 Creator,

Remember your beloved children.

Remember the hundreds of missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

Remember your beloved children as we remember you.

 Remember us, Creator,

when we come to you with the hope of spring,

seeking love, support, and protection for Aboriginal children.

We know that all children have the right to

a home that will love them,

a community that will support their needs,

and a society that will protect and nurture them.

 Yet we also know that many Aboriginal children grieve the loss of their moms and aunties, live in communities that are underserviced and in a society that is systematically discriminative and oppressive.

And so we pray for these children, God… [allow for a time of silent prayer]

 Remember us, Creator,

when we come to you with the passion of summer,

seeking guidance in how to address this national tragedy.

Help us to better understand the root causes of violence against Aboriginal women;

Provide energy and stamina to the faithful people and organizations

that are working with Aboriginal Women to seek justice and healing;

and ensure that our actions do not add to the further marginalization of Aboriginal women.

 Remember us, Creator,

when we come to you with the mysterious bustle of autumn,

seeking comfort and healing for those most affected.

Nurture and care for the women who are still missing;

may they be sustained by love despite the hatred around them.

Gather the women who have been murdered;

may they find peace despite the violence that has bound them.  

Comfort the families and communities of the missing women;

may they find joy in the memories of their loved ones

despite the sadness in their hearts.

 Remember us, Creator,

when we come to you with the stillness of winter,

seeking wisdom and peace.

Share with us stories from both past and present,

so that we can better affect the future with our thoughts, words, and actions.

Restore for us the stories of those women who are missing and who have been murdered,

so that their memory and legacy will continue.

Keep us restless until we are all able to find peace.

 Remember your beloved children, Creator;

remember the grandmas, mothers, sisters, aunties, partners, and friends

who have been viciously taken from their communities.

Remember the loved ones who miss them;

remember the faithful who have continually prayed to you

throughout the seasons and throughout the years,

and join our prayers with them.

Amen.

                                               Alydia Smith