Today we wear orange
to remember and honour all the Indigenous children who went to residential schools.
Today we wear orange and we pray
for the residential school and intergenerational survivors who are still struggling.
Today we wear orange and we are thankful
for those who speak the truth, and who work to shine a light on injustice.
Today we wear orange in the name of compassion and the spirit of truth and reconciliation.
Help us, God, to remember and act on this this every day.
Amen.
We put up our Every Child Matters flag a week ago, a bit earlier than usual this year for a reason. In Canada September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day -- Every Child Matters. Established to honour Residential School Survivors, their families, and those who never returned home, it serves as a reminder of the lasting impacts of the Residential School system in which several Christian denominations were complicit, including the United Church of Canada.
The orange shirt aspect is inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad having her orange shirt taken away on the first day at a residential school. The movement began as a grassroots initiative in 2013 in BC and is now recognized by the Canadian government, many organizations and school boards, and by individuals across the country.
The United Church encourages acknowledgement with Orange Shirt Sunday, which this year is September 27 -- tomorrow. The sanctuary at Trenton United will be decorated appropriately and we're encouraged to wear orange to our worship service tomorrow.
One reason for putting up our flag earlier is that there is a growing denialist movement that publicly attacks Webstad personally, also claiming that Residential Schools weren't so bad and children didn't die there despite evidence in school records. They actually produce orange tee-shirts with denialist slogans. It's wicked and disheartening.
Still, rather than despairing we will affirm Truth and Reconciliation as a matter of justice and faith.
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