Worship by Theme

Creator of all that is,
By your love, the whole human family is born.
By your goodness, there is enough for all life to thrive.
By your grace, all creation comes to know the joys of forgiveness and the blessings of transformation.

As a nation, as churches, we have sinned against the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of this land. Their identity as your children with their own cultures, own ways of being, own spirituality was negated. Through the residential school system, state and churches sought to eradicate the particular gifts with which you blessed them.

We are learning something of the suffering and pain inflicted by law, power, and neglect. As a nation, we have now been brought to recognize our sin of racism—our unwillingness to recognize in sisters and brothers your image, your gifts of wisdom and faith, your gifts of goodness and grace. We thank you for this learning long resisted.

And so as a nation, as a church, as persons of faith, we confess our sin. We seek forgiveness. We long for reconciliation, and yearn for new and right relationships rooted in justice with all victims of our arrogance and pride.

We ask for your Spirit to comfort and strengthen all survivors, their children, and their families to continue to claim their rightful place in your human family.

We ask for your Spirit to transform governments, churches, institutions, communities, and persons so that ways of mutual respect, shared hope, and joint resolve will flower.

We ask for your Spirit to awaken in all your children justice, peace, truth—in this land and in all your creation.

Then, one day, we may all gather around your table of generosity to feast in your love for us and in the joy of living as your beloved family.

We pray immersed in the life and way of the self-giving One, Jesus Christ. AMEN

A.H. Harry Oussoren