Reflection for Sunday, June 14, 2020
Scripture: “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it……This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 119:19….24 (NRSV)
Reflection: “Justice and Equity for ALL Canadians”
Thank you all for the very thoughtful feedback you gave me to last weeks Reflection. This is very new to me, and I really do appreciate the opportunity to have a conversation about some issues that seem really important to me.
June is National Indigenous History month, and here in Canada our relationship to our First Nations, Inuit and Metis brothers and sisters is a very pressing concern as we have passed more than one year since the release of the Report into the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. Our federal government feels it is moving on many of the 231 Calls for Justice in the report, but leaders of our indigenous communities think the pace of change is so glacial
as to be almost imperceptible. Clearly the response to the COVID -19 pandemic has taken precedence over all other issues related to this important report.
My late husband Clarence Wood was a historian and a museum curator. He used to often tell me that “those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.” Implied, I think, was that those who know their history have the ability and maybe the motivation to change the behaviour that created it – to create something new and hopefully better.
I believe that we are at such a crossroads in our history. We, people of all colours and backgrounds, are learning about and confronting the injustices being perpetrated by many of our institutions. We are rising up in a spirit of righteousness that has been a long time coming.
Righteousness: the gate of the Lord, the higher ground, the better place…justice for all.
Join me, friends, and let us read thru this beautiful song together, while we dedicate ourselves to the building of a better home for ALL of humanity.
“LET US BUILD A HOUSE” -a hymn by Marty Haugen in “More Voices” 2006
Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live, a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true, where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s dream anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace; here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat; a banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space; as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone to heal and strengthen, serve and teach, and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God’s face; let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace; let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
This is the day that God has made – may we all rejoice and feel welcome in it.
Have a great week – stay well – stay safe. And don’t forget to stay calm, and be kind to each other.
Scripture: “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it……This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 119:19….24 (NRSV)
Reflection: “Justice and Equity for ALL Canadians”
Thank you all for the very thoughtful feedback you gave me to last weeks Reflection. This is very new to me, and I really do appreciate the opportunity to have a conversation about some issues that seem really important to me.
June is National Indigenous History month, and here in Canada our relationship to our First Nations, Inuit and Metis brothers and sisters is a very pressing concern as we have passed more than one year since the release of the Report into the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. Our federal government feels it is moving on many of the 231 Calls for Justice in the report, but leaders of our indigenous communities think the pace of change is so glacial
as to be almost imperceptible. Clearly the response to the COVID -19 pandemic has taken precedence over all other issues related to this important report.
My late husband Clarence Wood was a historian and a museum curator. He used to often tell me that “those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.” Implied, I think, was that those who know their history have the ability and maybe the motivation to change the behaviour that created it – to create something new and hopefully better.
I believe that we are at such a crossroads in our history. We, people of all colours and backgrounds, are learning about and confronting the injustices being perpetrated by many of our institutions. We are rising up in a spirit of righteousness that has been a long time coming.
Righteousness: the gate of the Lord, the higher ground, the better place…justice for all.
Join me, friends, and let us read thru this beautiful song together, while we dedicate ourselves to the building of a better home for ALL of humanity.
“LET US BUILD A HOUSE” -a hymn by Marty Haugen in “More Voices” 2006
Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live, a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true, where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s dream anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace; here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat; a banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space; as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone to heal and strengthen, serve and teach, and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God’s face; let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace; let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
This is the day that God has made – may we all rejoice and feel welcome in it.
Have a great week – stay well – stay safe. And don’t forget to stay calm, and be kind to each other.
