TRC Worship Resources

Suggested Scripture passages A question to keep in mind as you meditate on these passages might be: “What does this passage tell me about the brokenness and healing in the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples?”

Genesis 9:8-17: God makes a covenant with Moses, the earth, and all creatures.

Genesis 25-33: Jacob steals his older brother’s birthright and inheritance.

Leviticus 25: God commands a Sabbath for the people and for the land, and outlines the Year of Jubilee (every 50 years), when land will be returned to its original owners.

Joshua 9, 2 Samuel 21: God punishes the Israelites for breaking a treaty with the Gibeonites.

1 Kings 21: Ahab covets Naboth’s land, and Jezebel seizes it for him. Elijah is sent by God to announce that God is deeply offended by Ahab’s dispossession of Naboth’s inheritance.

Amos 5:21-24: God desires justice and righteousness, not ritual worship.

Micah 6:8: God requires what is good: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him. Matthew 5:3-12: Jesus preaches the Beatitudes, which turn the world of power and privilege on its ear, as God lifts up the poor, meek, hungry, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers.

Luke 4:18-19: Jesus preaches his first sermon, where he reveals his calling to bring good news to the poor and liberate the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31: God chooses those who appear weak and foolish to shame the powerful and bring about the Kingdom.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15: God encourages extreme generosity, using Christ’s example of forsaking unimaginable riches for poverty and the richness of helping others.

Sermon resources http://www.willoughbychurch.com/series/reconciliation/sermons : A three-part series of sermons from Willoughby CRC in Langley, BC. These sermons are to be used as resources only, unless the author gives permission for their reproduction.

Call to Worship Begin with an acknowledgement of territory:

“I acknowledge the ______________________ (Haudenosaunee? Mohawk? Mi’kmaq? Etc) upon whose land we are standing.”

Affirmation of Faith We believe that creation is a gift of God, an expression of our Creator’s goodness.

We believe that we are part of this creation, called to be good stewards of God’s earth.

We believe that the resources of our land, waters and air are precious gifts to be cherished and shared.

We believe that there is a rhythm to God’s creation; when we ignore the beat, we damage the earth.

We believe that we are called to care for each other; when we are out of tune with our neighbour, we lose the song in our heart.

We believe that God’s grace abounds and that we can work together to make all things new.

Amen. (from http://www.kairoscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/TA-LL-res-10-11LandOurLifeGuide.pdf )

Songs About justice in general: http://www.crcna.org/site_uploads/uploads/osjha/LetJusticeRollDown.pdf

Other suggestions:       

Whose Body, Whose Blood The Servant Song (Brother/Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant) Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (Song of St. Francis) Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness For the Healing of the Nations In Christ, There is No East or West Many and Great

Prayers Opening Prayer Creator God, Holy One, God of all people, hear our prayer.

Give your blessing today to the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples of this land. Guide us and give us strength as we seek to walk together. Comfort and renew our men and women in times of sorrow and despair. Grant your grace and healing on all of us, your sons and daughters.

Hear our prayer for those who gather here today to seek reconciliation between our peoples. Give us a sense of justice, give us an awareness of new beginnings. Thank you, God, that you promise us your fresh new start each day of our lives. Guide us, God, so that ancient wrongs may be redressed, broken promises forgiven, and a new covenant forged. Open our minds, our mouths, our hearts, our whole beings to your healing presence, as we seek ways to walk together. We pray for wisdom for our leaders, our elders, and ourselves.

Our God and Creator, Great Spirit, listen to our prayer. Walk with us, and guide us as we walk with one another. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen (Source: Wîceiwetowin: Walking Together on the Path of Justice, Citizens for Public Justice, 1998)

Prayer of Dedication http://www.rememberingthechildren.ca/tour/documents/prayer.pdf (also in a KAIROS resource)

Prayer of Confession We were not there at first contact, when Europeans first appeared on Turtle Island. but we drink downstream from all that happened.

We did not sign any treaties nor did we change the treaties. but we drink downstream from all that has happened.

We did not start, work at or support Indian Residential Schools, but we drink downstream from all that has happened.

We inhabit a wonderful land that was once occupied solely by other people. We have moved into their traditional home.

We drink downstream from all that has happened.

We have benefited from the relationship between immigrants and Aboriginal people. We are a part of a system that has not helped all parties to thrive.

Because we drink downstream, we have share in injustice.

God have mercy. Help us find better ways to share the stream.

Prayer of Confession for Residential Schools God of new beginnings, Be with us as we take this step on a reconciliation journey.

We bring before you O God, the hurt and suffering of so many at Indian Residential Schools. Though we want to say—we were not there, we didn't do it—still we cannot absolve ourselves of blame. For the Church is the body of Christ and we are his arms and legs, his mouth and feet. We speak, walk, and act on Jesus' behalf. So when the churches in Canada have sinned we all bear the mark. We all share the guilt.

We ask your forgiveness, God, as we come to understand the results of our church's and nation's failures toward Aboriginal People: we see the damaged lives, devastated by the disease of alcoholism, unable to escape the grip of poverty, sometimes caught in a cycle of violence and abuse—and we are sorry beyond the words to tell it. We wish we could go back and do things differently, but the river of life flows in one direction only. No matter what we wish for, we must make the best of the situation we have now.

We thank you, God, for your generous gift of forgiveness that makes every day the possibility of a new beginning. May this gift help us to begin to heal and make new connections, as Jesus would have, with our Aboriginal sisters and brothers. May we be fearless and unafraid as your children. Give us the courage to face those from whom we so often turn away. Let us live with a deep abiding respect for all your children, and for your wondrous, beautiful, matchless creation, O Great Creator.

God of new beginnings, be with us as we take this step on our journey together—toward reconciliation.

Amen.

—based on "Toward Truth and Reconciliation" from the United Church of Canada.

Prayer of Confession: Ojibway Prayer

Grandfather, look at our brokenness. We know that in all creation only the human family has strayed from the Sacred Way. We know that we are the ones who are divided, and we are the ones who must come back together to walk in the Sacred Way. Grandfather, Sacred One, teach us love, compassion and honour that we may heal the earth and heal each other.

Closing Prayer #1 How difficult it has been, O Creator, for us to be humble and caring.

We so easily forget your teachings of the just and right relationships that we are to have with each other, as brothers and sisters, in this land.

We so easily forget that our responsibility carries from generation to generation for all those who are hurt and oppressed and denied their place in the circle of life – those who still need our support, who need justice and peace.

How difficult it is for us to remain humble as we walk the road of life.

May we find peace so that we might share peace that is genuine and real, and help others to know peace within.

Spirit of life, help us to walk the road of integrity back to the circle of life, where we will be truly joined by all our brothers and sisters.

Meegwetch Che Manido (Thank you Great Spirit).

Closing Prayer #2 Creator God, we give thanks that whatever we do, wherever we go, you are with us always. Your hand guides us and will lead us as we walk together to a place of healing. May we stand firm in the knowledge that your intention is that we be healed and whole—that we experience your resurrection.

May we rest in the truth of your love and care for all your daughters and sons, especially those gathered in the circle today. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

(Source: As Long as the Sun Rises and the River Flows, Aboriginal Rights Coalition)

Litany Stones Litany

Leader: This stone comes from (name of river, First Nation, residential school, or place from which the stone was gathered).

All: It is part of the Earth, formed by the Creator, just as we are.

Leader: Jesus said stones would cry out if humans remained silent.

All: We will listen to our hearts and speak from them.

Leader: Stones like this have marked graves.

All: Jesus rose out of death into a new life and the stone was rolled away from his grave.

Leader: Stones like these mark paths for those who journey.

All: This stone in our hands will mark the way we journey toward right relationships.

Leader: Like words and broken trust, stones can be used to break apart, hurt, and injure.

All: In our hands this stone will be a sign of the strength of what we can build together.

A Litany for the Dispossessed One: We found the land unoccupied…except for them. The one extended a hand, the other saw the land, and so…while we grew wealthy…

All: …they despaired, and grew poor.

One: While we grew powerful…

All: …they became powerless.

One: While we thanked God for land…

All: …they were pushed aside.

One: While we thanked God for freedom…

All: …they filled our jails.

One: Then the Lord replied, “Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion.” (Habakkuk 2:6) All: How long must this go on?

One: “Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high.” (Habakkuk 2:9a) All: How long must this go on?

One: “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime.” (Habakkuk 2:12) All: How long must this go on?

One: “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbours, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk so that he can gaze on their nakedness.” (Habakkuk 2:15) All: How long must this go on?

One: The Lord is in the holy temple.

All: Let all the earth be silent before God. (Source: Wîceiwetowin: Walking Together on the Path of Justice, Citizens for Public Justice, 1998)

Litany of Reconciliation In this prayer, we borrow from an Aboriginal tradition: praying to the Creator in the four directions.

East: We come to you, O God, as a few of your many children on this earth. We thank you for the gift of life that comes to us like the dawn of each new day. We pray for light on our path. Open our hearts to your Spirit. We also remember your people who live to the east of us on this earth. Bring peace where there is constant fighting, and freedom where there is coercion, so that people may welcome the daylight with joy rather than fear.

South: We humbly thank you, God, giver of life, for the abundance and variety of your creation. We thank you for the warm winds of the south that allow plants and food to grow, year after year. Give that we may learn the lessons hidden under every leaf and rock. We pray today for the many peoples of the south who do not have enough to eat. Help us always to be generous with what we have and share with those who have less. We pray, too, that you will bring healing where there is strife and brokenness. Give to the powerful a change of heart, and to those who suffer courage and the ability to forgive. Where there is death and hatred, sow the seeds of new life.

West: Lord, we thank you for the beauty of the red and purple sunset. By it, teach us respect for all the things you have made. Renew our understanding day by day as we travel along our own road through life. And give us insight today that will serve us long after we leave this gathering. We thank you for the heritage you have bestowed on this country through the generations who lived here long before the Europeans came to settle. Open our ears to the wisdom of Native people. Help us to share with gratitude the unique gifts you have bestowed on every nation. Bring healing also, we pray, to the many Native people

and communities who suffer because of what a greedy and insensitive culture has done, often in your name. By your Spirit, bring reconciliation between our cultures so we may walk together before you.

North: We thank you, O God, for our Saviour Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice makes us pure as the snow. We all depend on your forgiveness and grace. We ask it for ourselves and for our nation. Give us courage to ask forgiveness when we have been wronged. Send wisdom along with the white hairs of our elders. Teach us to listen when you speak through them. And help us as sisters and brothers to mature in our faith and our understanding of the Gospel. Make us ever ready to come to you with clean hands and straight hearts.

All: Amen (Source: We Worship That Way, Council of Christian Reformed Churches in Canada)