A Solemn Day of Prayer

 

O God, we are grieving. O God, we are shocked. O God, we are horrified...

We grieve for the Indigenous children,
taken from their homes and parents by the government,
handed over to the responsibility of the Christian church,
the children who died under its care,
never to be held by their families,
never to be returned to their communities―
not only the 215 children of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc
and other Indigenous communities along the west coast and interior
whose bodies have now been found
on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School grounds,
but all of those children
whose bodies have not yet been found
who died in any of Indian Residential Schools.

We grieve for the survivors of the Indian Residential Schools,
the children who did come home,
but were changed by their experience,
the children who grew up,
and have the trauma of remembering, again,
what happened to them.

from a prayer offered by Richard Bott, Moderator of the United Church of Canada

Okay, this seems weird. I am writing my blog entry this morning as I lead worship for Trenton United Church. On Friday I drove to the church building where I recorded the service with Don and Diane -- I described us as the 3D, multi-dimensional worship team. Rev. Isaac is participating in the Annual Regional Meeting of the United Church, so I'm pinch-hitting this Sunday.

I spoke, or am speaking, about prayer and in the Prayers of the People I include the Indigenous children whose remains have been discovered in an unmarked burial area adjacent to a former Residential School run by the Roman Catholic Church. The RC's along with with other denominations participated in what was genocide, culturally and physically. About 7% of the quarter million Indigenous children snatched from their families attended United Church run schools. Needless to say, this isn't about math. None of these schools should have existed.

I saw that leaders from Indigenous nations are asking that today, June 6th, be a day of prayer:and remembrance: 

Elders across nine nations are asking the country to come together in prayer on Sunday to honour those who were both lost to and survived residential schools in Canada.

Turtle Lodge, an international centre for Indigenous education and wellness, is asking to be joined on Sunday in prayer for the 215 children that were found buried at Kamloops Residential School last week. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is joining Turtle Lodge in this call. They are also asking for prayers for residential school survivors and their families.

We can all take a moment to pray, whether as part of congregational worship or in the penitent reflection of our own hearts. You might take a look at some of the United Church resources provided in response to the Kamloops discovery. I've included a link to the United Church apologies regarding our denominational relationship with Indigenous peoples, including a specific apology for Residential Schools offered in 1998.. 

https://united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/reconciliation-and-indigenous-justice/apologies

https://united-church.ca/news/response-kamloops-residential-school-graves-discovery