National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots commemoration marked by the wearing of Orange Shirts for children forced to leave their families and attend residential schools.
As Canadians take time to acknowledge, learn about the history of residential schools and the impacts on today’s First Nations, may we also be transformed. May hardness of heart be transformed to empathy and may truth believed change how we Christians are unto our neighbours. May we all be gifted with curiosity about what we do not know about our collective past and courage to make repairs in all our spheres of influence.
Since August 29, 7 First Nations people have been killed during an interaction with police in Canada. On Sept 16, when only 6 deaths had been reported (the 7th being a Blood Tribe man in Calgary), MP’s had an emergency debate on the issue in Canada’s Parliament. More information can be found here.
We pray into this space of grief, anger and fear.
Lord, may accountability and clarity be what comes from high level discussions on why so many Indigenous people have died this month. We think of each of them, some walking, some calling for help, some behaving in ways that needed to be stopped - but not killed without a trial or jury. We remember their names; Jack Piché, Hoss Lightning-Saddleback, Tammy Bateman, Jason West, Daniel Knife, Steven (Iggy) Dedam and Jon Wells.
Bring comfort to the families and communities of each precious person and may justice for the innocent be known.
Sudan has been in conflict with competing military factions fighting brutally for power and control. In this situation which erupted in April, has wrecked the capital, Khartoum, and been marked by atrocities including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in the western region of Darfur, according to the United Nations and international rights groups.
It has killed at least 20,000 people and wounded tens of thousands others, and created the world’s largest displacement crisis. More than 13 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the fighting began. In this scenario cholera is spreading, having killed at least 388 people and sickening about 13,000 others over the past two months. We pray for peace and health for the citizens of Sudan.
We pray for the health and peace of Sudan. May this region lay down its weapons, brutality and fear and heal in the name of Jesus. May your kingdom come to this place, Lord. Change hearts and minds towards peace and stability. May those most affected by the brutality of war and the devastation of rampant cholera be healed.
Climate meetings are happening in NYC while the UN meets this month. Many high level conversations around how the transition away from fossil fuels needs to be financed and capital allocated will happen.
God, as high level meetings take place, it is easy to be cynical of any change. But we pray into even these places, that the Spirit of Christ be at work even in the ways we choose to use our money. May investment be the kind of investment you design - investment in real people, real communities. We pray that the good will outweigh the perfect and that those who have much will have willing hearts to trust your ways of providing for the least among us - even in the energy transition.
Conflict continues in the middle east as Hezbollah and Israel attack each other.
The conflict is rising Lord, more loss of life, more entrenched narratives of enemies and violence. We pray for your spirit of life to speak into this region. We pray for what is necessary for disarming hands and hearts. We pray for peace. Protect the children in Jesus’ name.
When people start talking about justice, it can get complicated right away. How can we best address long-term systems of injustice while also being responsive to immediate needs in our communities? Many Christians have questions about how to deal with this complexity. Read more about this workshop.
Thrive is excited to continue in this missional work and further the CRC’s longstanding commitment and tradition of welcoming refugees—fellow image bearers of Christ. We’ve partnered with Exodus World Service, an accredited Private Sponsor Organization that mobilizes the Christian community to welcome and befriend refugees.
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