It is with honour, dignity, and respect that Relate Church acknowledges the traditional lands of the Kwantlen, Katzie, and Semiahmoo Peoples. We appreciate the opportunity to gather, worship and learn on these lands.
On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we pause to remember the children who never came home from residential schools, the survivors who carry deep wounds, and the generations living with the lasting impacts of these injustices.
We acknowledge the truth of Canada’s history of colonization and the role that churches and institutions played in causing harm. Scripture calls us to face truth with courage and to seek reconciliation with humility.
We commit to continue listening, learning, and walking alongside Indigenous peoples, with hearts open to healing and to the work of reconciliation.
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah 6:8
Below are a few links that may be helpful as we listen, learn, and pray today.
Read
Learn from the Kwantlen Nation
Learn from the Katzie Nation
Learn from the Semiahmoo Nation
Learn about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and local events
Read the TRC Calls to Action
Watch
Pray
““Through the Chosen One, Creator has removed the hostility between human beings and himself, bringing all creation into harmony once again. The Great Spirit has chosen us to represent him in the sacred task of helping others find and walk this path of peacemaking and healing—turning enemies into friends. The Great Spirit was not holding people’s broken ways against them. Instead, he was working in the Chosen One to bring all people back into harmony with himself. He has now given us the honor of bringing this message to others. So we now represent the Chosen One. It is as if Creator is speaking through us, calling out for all people to walk the path of being restored back to the Great Spirit. Creator Sets Free (Jesus), the one who knew no broken ways, was chosen by the Great Spirit to bear our broken ways, so that we would become the ones who represent his right ways.””
