Aboriginal Sunday

  

Aboriginal Sunday was celebrated at St. John’s .. we use the following script (revised annually) in a PowerPoint presentation.

A Morning Litany

                         For this new day, blue sky and gold of sun
                         for growth up surging from each flowering tree
                         for ecstasy of morning just begun,
                         In glowing health and strength, with friends and fun

 Our thanks, O God, to Thee.

                         for clean cool winds and balsam scented air
                         for waters gently rippled by the breeze
                         for artistry and beauty everywhere
                         to stir our listless hearts awake, aware,

 Our thanks we give for these

                         for every winding trail we may explore
                         to find adventure in the shadowed woods
                         for curve of beach and lure of rocky shore,
                         for sense of wonder deepening more and more

 We offer gratitude.

                         For all the promises of the days to be
                         glad summer days in the open air
                         for rain, the boon of every thirsty tree
                         for stars that deck the night with mystery

 For these a fervent prayer

                         for every miracle the joyous days reveal
                         for growing faith in things we cannot see,
                         for every flash of truth we come to feel,
                         which makes the meaning of all life more real,

 Our thanks, O God to Thee

              And on this 3rd Sunday in June – Aboriginal Sunday, we at St. John’s pray for

those Cree children with their dark, dark eyes

 for the youngest of the Ojibwe

                     for Mohawk mothers who love their children

                     for all aboriginal children caught up in childish joys

                     for every child who looks to the future

           for all these children we pray

                     and for Inuit child with smiling face

 Our thanks, O God, to Thee

 We want this service of worship to open the door and  give us a better understanding of  Canada’s first people. They are concerned as we are concerned with the ordinary but basic things of life: food, shelter, clothing and love. They worry, too, about inflation, the effects of alcohol, health and their children.

As individuals, aboriginal people are interested in personal achievements and in providing opportunities for growth in their family members.

Aboriginal people are ordinary human beings with ordinary human wants. They feel that here is nothing strange about simple desires for basic survival and personal freedom.

For all of Canada’s aboriginal people, we pray

The following is a prayer from the Sioux children of Red Cloud Indian School at Pine Ridge South Dakota.

Let us pray together

            O Great Spirit
            Whose voice I hear in the winds
            and whose breath gives life to all the world
            hear me.

            I come to you as one of your many children
            I am small and weak.
            I need your strength and wisdom.

            Make me walk in beauty and make my eyes
            ever behold the red and purple sunset.
            Make my hands respect the things you have
            make and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

            Make me wise so that I may understand the
            things you have taught my people.
            Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
            in every leaf and rock.

            Make me strong –  not to be greater than my
            brother or my sister, but to fight my greatest
            enemy – myself.

            Make me always ready to come to you with
            clean hands and straight eyes. So, when life
            fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may
            come to you without shame.

             Amen