Service for June 20, 2021 (Fourth Sunday After Pentecost)

The Anglican Church in Canada has called for the commemoration of the National Indigenous Day of Prayer this Sunday June 20 (it is officially celebrated on June 21 each year). 

We have been asked by our Archbishop, David Edwards, to mark this day in our acts of worship with reverence and respect, mindful of our past, as well as of the mercy of God. In addition, we are called to pray for our indigenous sisters and brothers, and for God's work of healing and reconciliation to be at work in us all. 

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Doctrine of Discovery Film

"Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen lands, Strong Hearts is a film about a devastating decision, made over 500 years ago, which continues to profoundly impact Indigenous and Settler people worldwide. Pope Alexander VI ruled that the lands being discovered by European explorers at the time was “empty” land and its millions of Indigenous inhabitants were “non-human”.
Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission released 94 Calls to Action in 2015, with many of them referring to the Doctrine of Discovery and calling for its repudiation.
This film is one of the responses of the Anglican Church’s Primate’s Commission on Discovery, Reconciliation and Justice.  The purpose of this film is to respond to the calls to action by helping to provide education and insight into the racist foundations of many of our property and other laws still in existence to this day."

(From: https://www.anglican.ca/primate/tfc/drj/doctrineofdiscovery/)

"Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong Hearts" Video

Collect for National Indigenous Day of Prayer
 
Creator God,
from you every family in heaven and earth takes its name.
You have rooted and grounded us
in your covenant love,
and empowered us by your Spirit
to speak the truth in love,
and to walk in your way towards justice and wholeness.
Mercifully grant that your people,
journeying together in partnership,
may be strengthened and guided
to help one another to grow into the full stature  of Christ,
who is our light and our life. Amen

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Today is also Father's Day in Canada, and so many will mark this day by remembering and honouring their fathers who have loved, cared for, guided, and raised them up. For many of us, this is a day of deep gratitude, and it is right that we give thanks along with them for those who truly embodied the gift of fatherhood.

For some of us today is less straightforward, and perhaps more of a struggle... perhaps due to difficulties or losses in one's parental relationships, or for those whom the experience of pursuing fatherhood has been one of sorrow and disappointment. Along with them, we do well to acknowledge that family life is often a challenging road, and to listen to and honour their sufferings, which are also known and shared by our loving God. 

Whether today is a day of celebration for you, or a day of difficulty, or some mixture of both: may you receive God's blessing today exactly as it is needed. May God surround you and those you love, as well as all those who have loved and supported you, with peace, hope, fellowship, kindness, and understanding. ​

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​Our service of Morning Prayer, Bulletin, & Sermon this week can be found here:

Morning Prayer

Bulletin

Sermon

​Our All-Ages Song for this season can be found here:

God Has Got A Garden

​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

All Creatures Of Our God & King

There Is A Redeemer

O Worship The King