Spiritual Covenant Worship and Faith Formation Series Oct. 24 - Nov. 14, 2021
Replica of Two Row Wampum treaty belt
For a little more than a decade, we as a congregation have been on a journey of trying to live into reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples of this land - learning what we can, building relationships and advocating for justice. Over the years, we have heard Indigenous peoples tell us how important it is to deal with historical and current injustices in relation to the land. We want to look at that more closely.
Part of our motivation is a particular invitation into a Spiritual Covenant with the people of Six Nations. We hope this series - of delving into the stories, history and biblical teachings which frame our relationship to land - can be a precursor to considering that invitation. We hope this series will begin to lay the groundwork for considering how we at Stirling are being called to act on land and reconciliation, or (as many Indigenous people have suggested it should be called) reconciliACTION.
We invite you to join us in worship - so we can be together in prayer and reflection around these themes. Please consider also joining us in faith formation for further reflection, learning, and conversation. We value a diversity of voices and thought, and want to provide space to raise difficult questions.
October 24
Worship @ 10:30 Outdoor (or Zoom in bad weather) Speaker - Kim Penner Jesus’ Ministry and Relationship with Land As Christians, we look to Jesus for direction on how to live our lives. What can we learn from him about the significance of land, reconciliation and justice?
Adult Faith Formation @ 11:30 - 12:15 Indoor in the Fellowship Hall Brenda Davis Treaty as Sacred Covenant Come join us as we explore our covenants with Indigenous people - in particular the Two Row Wampum (If you missed this opportunity, you can watch this clip of Rick Hill describing the Two Row Wampum treaty — particularly from timestamp 6:27 to 16:52)
October 31
Worship @ 9:45 Zoom Speaker - Rebecca Seiling (MCCO Indigenous Neighbours’ Church Engagement Associate) Relationship to Land Join us as we look at Old Testament and Indigenous perspectives on Land and where we might find connection.
Adult Faith Formation @ 11:00 Zoom Laureen Harder Gissing, Kandace Boos Making Sense of our Mennonite history on this land Join us as we reflect on and grapple with understanding our history on this land.
November 7 @ 9:45 Zoom Speaker - Kim Penner Courageously Imagining our Congregation’s Relationship to Land As we enter a year of courageously imagining who we are called to be and where God might lead us as a congregation, how do we imagine God calling us to live into reconciliation and land justice?
Adult Faith Formation @ 11:00 Zoom Reina Neufeldt Why are we talking about a Spiritual Covenant? Join us for further conversation as we think about the Haldimand Tract and why we are talking about a Spiritual Covenant.
November 14 @ 9:45 Zoom Speaker - Steve Heinrichs (Mennonite Church Canada Indigenous Settler Relations) Peace Sunday: Land and Reconciliation We are delighted to have Steve Heinrichs come reflect with us on land and reconciliation, and learn from his extensive engagement with Mennonites and Indigenous peoples across the northern part of Turtle Island (Canada)
Adult Faith Formation @ 11:00 Zoom Josie Winterfeld and Steve Heinrichs Join us for further conversation with Steve, as we hear examples of how other congregations are working on land reconciliation and as we at Stirling begin to consider what we are called to.