Dear Glen Morris United Church, 

Did you know that in Canada June is both Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month? This month, with the longest days and most beautiful weather comes with many invitations to learn and celebrate! This week in worship we will be recognizing National Indigenous Month and the Indigenous Day of Prayer through prayer and music. 

While the government of Canada recognized June 21 as National Indigenous People’s Day in 2017, the history of honoring this day go much further back and is rooted in the organizing of Indigenous people within the church and secular society. You can learn more about this history by clicking here. 

Please join me in this prayer offered by Bill Snow, Stoney Nakoda First Nation, Alberta, member of the Indigenous Justice and Residential School Committee and Rev. Maggie Dieter, the former Executive Minister, Aboriginal Ministries and Indigenous Justice:

God, Creator and Great Mystery, we praise you for the Sacred Fires that burn today and for the prayer-filled smoke that you receive and bless. We offer our deep gratitude that the Fire’s light informs and guides our journey. We pray, just as the Elders prayed, for renewal and for the restoration of beauty to the land and its people.

We acknowledge the diverse and abundant gifts of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. We recognize that their knowledge and wisdom have benefited generations past and present, and that this blessing will continue for generations to come. We remember the many who are committed to the healing of family, community, and nations.

We pray for Mother Earth, the waters, the winds, for our siblings the animals, birds, and fish, and all of life that surrounds us. We pray that we will walk the good Red Road of life, and that we will walk with courage, honesty, humility, love, respect, truth and wisdom.

We offer this prayer in humility and hope, and in the name, of our brother Jesus, the one who lights our path to wholeness, justice and peace. Amen.

 

May the peace of Christ find you, like a warm breeze at the end of a long day,

May the peace of Christ inspire you when it feels like peace is only a far-away dream,

May the peace of Christ be found in both the storm that brings cleansing rain and the sunshine encouraging growth, 

 

Yours in Christ,

Rev Michiko

 

Image credit: Ocean Hyland (Artist)