Remembering the Children Prayer

(www.rememberingthechildren.ca)

God of our Ancestors, who holds the spirits of our grandmothers and grandfathers and the spirits of our grandchildren, Remembering the Children, we now pledge ourselves to speak the Truth, and with our hearts and our souls to act upon the Truth we have heard of the injustices lived, of the sufferings inflicted, of the tears cried, of the misguided intentions imposed, and of the power of prejudice and racism which were allowed to smother the sounds and laughter of the forgotten children. Hear our cries of lament for what was allowed to happen, and for what will never be. In speaking and hearing and acting upon the Truth may we as individuals and as a nation meet the hope of a new beginning. Great Creator God who desires that all creation live in harmony and peace, Remembering the Children we dare to dream of a Path of Reconciliation where apology from the heart leads to healing of the heart and the chance of restoring the circle, where justice walks with all, where respect leads to true partnership, where the power to change comes from each heart. Hear our prayer of hope, and guide this country of Canada on a new and different path.

Amen  

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is a day set aside for the remembrance and mourning for the victims and survivors of residential schools, the systematic program of assimilation, and destruction of culture, language, and family that has permanently scarred these lands that make up Canada, leaving many Indigenous communities with generational trauma and its effects.

AT OUR PARISH:

In this diocese, several will be gathering here at our parish of St. Paul Anglican Church for our biennial diocesan conference We-Together, where we will be holding a service of mourning.  

On Oct 2nd we will be observing National Truth and Reconciliation at our 10:30 am Sunday Service, and ask that people wear orange in solidarity with the residential school survivors. 

We encourage you all to listen, to reflect and to repent for the ways that we as heirs of our institutional and colonial past have been complicit in and beneficiaries of this project of genocide.

There are many ways you can prepare and participate in the September 30 events, here are a few you may consider.

Read:

Review the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. For more information, CLICK HERE. 

Watch:

The Anglican Church of Canada’s documentary video  Doctrine of Discovery; Stolen lands, Strong Hearts

Listen:

The recent CBC podcast Kuper Island hosted by Duncan McCue which investigates the Kuper Island residential school on Penelakut Island where many children from the Southern Part of Vancouver Island here taken. For more information, CLICK HERE.

NANAIMO – The City of Nanaimo in partnership with Snuneymuxw First Nation, and Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools is hosting an event at the Stadium District, 745 Third Street, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

For more information, CLICK HERE.