Bulletin – Sunday, September 27, 2026 – 3rd Sunday Season of Creation / National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

3rd Sunday Season of Creation /
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Sunday, September 27, 2026

Pre-Liturgy – Seven Grandfather Teachings

Niizhwaaso Omishoomisan Gikinaa’ammaagoowin
Niizhwaaso Omishoomisan Gikinaa’ammaagoowin
Seven Grandfather Teachings
Seven Grandfather Teachings

May we be respectful of all the life that we can see,
respectful of our elders and of ev’ryone we meet.

May we act in love for the creator and the earth,
for all our human family, may we see each person’s worth.

May we be courageous stand for what we believe in.
Listen to our hearts and to do what’s right with conviction.

May we all be honest with ourselves and ev’ryone.
Do not to lie or gossip, but be true to our word.

Niizhwaaso Omishoomisan Gikinaa’ammaagoowin
Niizhwaaso Omishoomisan Gikinaa’ammaagoowin
Seven Grandfather Teachings
Seven Grandfather Teachings

May we all be wise and open to learn ev’ry day.
Share our gifts with others may we show a peaceful way.

May we all be humble and to think of others first.
We are all part of creation, everything has worth.

May we all be truthful, always seeking what is true.
Living what is true is living all the sacred laws.

Niizhwaaso Omishoomisan Gikinaa’ammaagoowin
Niizhwaaso Omishoomisan Gikinaa’ammaagoowin
Seven Grandfather Teachings
Seven Grandfather Teachings

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Welcome to all who are gathered here in person and those joining us on zoom. For those that are having to be somewhere else today for whatever reason, we hold you in prayer.

I want to begin with a short introduction to why we are here today acknowledging and honoring the Annual National Day of recognition of Every Child Matters.

After seven years of interviewing survivors, across the country, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, tabled a final report in 2015. This consisted of six volumes of findings and testimonies, a Summary Report, and the TRC 94 Calls to Action. We are here to honor the stories of the survivors.

We are also taking time today to lament the atrocities committed in the Indian Residential School System, with the Church’s full participation in their construction and ongoing program of assimilation.

For some their commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and knowing the truth about what happened over an almost 150-year period from (1831-1996) has come to an end. Others are now actively attempting to erase this history by denying this truth.

But for most of us, our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation continues. Especially for those of us who have a long history of belonging to the Churches that established, supported, and funded these schools, the journey must continue. In this new era of truth denialism we also as people of faith are called to be instruments of God’s word of truth and love in an environment of racism, and hatred. This is all of our work.

As Neegaunbinessikwe is an Anishinaabe Kwe (woman) from Long Plan Fist Nation in Manitoba says: “I take great honor in participating in this work. It’s careful work. It’s sacred work. And there is no template for it. …We’re guided by one another – by our peers, our colleagues, and by the responsibilities we carry to our communities…The are painful responsibilities, but they’re necessary ones. They’re part of what it means to take care of community.”

So for all these reasons and more we take this hour of our lives today to remember, to lament, to atone, and recommit as a community of faith to building right relations among all God’s peoples.

Lighting the Christ Candle

So, today, In the spirit of truth and reconciliation let us light the Christ Candles. We stand with Christ, in the light of truth, exposing injustice as Jesus did. Calling and strengthening us to walk the road that Jesus showed us. Through words and actions,

Bringing life, love, and wholeness to all we meet.

Please join in the singing of the Hymn – “For Everyone Born” (Then Let Us Sing #23)

For everyone born, a place at the table,
For everyone born, clean water and bread,
A shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
For everyone born, a star overhead,

And God will delight when we are creators
Of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
Yes, God will delight when we are creators
Of justice, justice and joy!

For all who share life, a place at the table,
Revising the roles, deciding the share,
With wisdom and grace, dividing the power,
For all who share life, a system that’s fair,

And God will delight when we are creators
Of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
Yes, God will delight when we are creators
Of justice, justice and joy!

For those we neglect, a place at the table,
A voice to be heard, a part in the song,
The hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
For those we neglect, the right to belong,

And God will delight when we are creators
Of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
Yes, God will delight when we are creators
Of justice, justice and joy!

For all who have breath, a place at the table,
A covenant shared, a welcoming space,
A rainbow of race and gender and colour,
For all who have breath, the chalice of grace,

And God will delight when we are creators
Of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
Yes, God will delight when we are creators
Of justice, justice and joy!

Call to Worship: Join me in praying the Call to Worship

(adapted from Prayer Jeff Lamsden, Mohawk), cited on September 2026

https://www.resourceumc.org/-/media/umc-media/2024/02/12/12/12/2024_NAMS_Call_to_Worship

One:   Creator, help us to discover in all your sacred creation. Your good wisdom that shows us the interconnectedness of all living things teaches us about balance, and wellness, and about living in harmony
All:      We are not above nature, we are all a part of Creation. Teach us to seek knowledge from our neighbors and all of nature. Your sacred mystery poured out in all nations and throughout Creation. Empower us to share your love through curiosity and respect with all we meet on our journey of life.

One:   Creator help us to discover the power that lies in the wisdom and understanding of our interconnected roles in your Great mystery of life. Help us to honor every living thing as teacher.
All:      Creator God, may our spirits be in harmony as we gather together in Your time of worship!

Prayer of Confession

One:   Creator God of love and justice, voice of the oppressed; mercy for the broken. We turn to hear your voice. We acknowledge the harm caused by our Church, through the forcible taking of Indigenous children from their families, homes, and communities.
All:      For where there was joy, and we took it; laughter and we stifled it. play and we turned it to tears. family and we broke it.

One:   We denounce all the Christian doctrines of discovery and of salvation, redemption, and sin that reinforced the Western European ancestors sense of superiority over others’ spiritual sacredness. We ask for forgiveness for our active participation in the running of the residential schools and taking children from their families. We commit to the ongoing process of undoing our own internal sense of superiority. We continue to work for healing and reconciliation of our own brokenness.
All:      We ask that you care for the families who lost children and You help bring home all those children who remain nameless in unmarked graves. Loving and Healing God, you know the names and stories of all the missing and harmed children and those who never made it home. Hold them all in your love.

One:   For the intergenerational harm that is caused through the denialism of truths, We ask for strength to walk together as Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people We repent and renew our commitment to walk a new path of seeking understanding.
All:      Comforting God, we pray for healing in the communities and families of all who experienced residential schools, we ask for strength and wisdom, compassion and understanding to fully pursue reconciliation opening our hearts and minds to you. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Our Creator is the mystery and fullness of love and truth. Giving us humility to seek forgiveness when we have caused harm. Instilling in us open hearts to share love of self and neighbor. To seek wholeness out of brokenness. To live raising each other up in love and strength. Rather than wielding authority and control over others. Thanks be to the God of glory, justice, and compassion.

Sung Response – “Grant To Us Your Peace” (Voices United #955)

Grant to us your peace on earth,
Grant to us your peace, O God.

Time for All Ages: The United Church of Canda’s 1986 Apology to First Nations

https://youtu.be/t5ewlqtTVXo?si=w4RPsKZek5pfD2mT

We Hear God’s Word

Scripture Readings

The first scripture reading is from the book of Psalms 78:1-8; 12-16

¹ Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. ² I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, ³ things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.

⁴ We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

⁵ He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children; ⁶ that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children, ⁷ so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; ⁸ and that they should not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

¹² In the sight of their ancestors he worked marvels in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. ¹³ He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. ¹⁴ In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all night long with a fiery light. ¹⁵ He split rocks open in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. ¹⁶ He made streams come out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

The second reading is from the Gospel of Matthew 21:23-32

²³ When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ ²⁴ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” ²⁶ But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

²⁸ ‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” ²⁹ He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!

Reflection

We Respond to God’s Word

Please Join in the Singing of the Hymn – “God Weeps” (More Voices #78)

God weeps at love withheld,
At strength misused, at children’s innocence abused,
And till we change the way we love,
God weeps.

God bleeds at anger’s fist,
At trust betrayed, at women battered and afraid,
And till we change the way we win,
God bleeds.

God cries at hungry mouths,
At running sores, at creatures dying without cause,
And till we change the way we care,
God cries.

God waits for stones to melt,
For peace to seed, for hearts to hold each other’s need,
And till we understand the Christ,
God waits.

Invitation to Share

Offering Sung Response – “All That We Have” (Onelicense.net by G. Ault)

All that we have and all that we offer
Comes from a heart both frightened and free.
Take what we bring now and give what we need.
All done in God’s name.

Offering Prayer

Today, we have been blessed with the gift of humility. The courage to face difficult truths with strength and gentleness. We ask you to bless these humble gifts we offer to you today that they may be used to strengthen others in their journey to wholeness.

Prayers of the People

One:   God of …, hear our prayer
All:      Hear our prayer, O God

Invitation to the Passing of the Peace

Please offer one another the peace of Christ in a way that you feel comfortable and respects others’ space.

The Prayer that Jesus Taught

One: Please join me in praying the prayer Jesus taught us to pray: Our Creator who is like Our Mother and…
All:    Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

We Go Into God’s World

Minute Person(s)

Announcements

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” (Voices United #684)

Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love;
Where there is injury, your healing power,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you:

O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console,
So be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, only light;
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

Commissioning

Let us go out into the world, listening for the voice of our loving God. Strengthened to speak truth to power, courageous to seek justice wherever we go, and for all we meet.

Extinguish Candle

Benediction

May our path that we walk show the footprints of God’s love. Our turning be toward the way of the risen Christ alive among us with the power of the Holy Spirit, building right relations. Of respect, equity and compassion among all God’s people, and within all of creation, \we rejoice in the vastness of God poured out in all creation. Amen.

Sung Response – “Amen” (Voices United #969)

Amen, Amen, Amen
Amen, Amen, Amen