06/21/2026
Today, June 21, is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and is marked as the Indigenous Day of Prayer in the United Church of Canada. Today we celebrate the gifts that our Indigenous neighbours bring to the world - the gifts of language and culture and values and traditions. But today we also lament - we grieve the harm that our ancestors did to the Indigenous people of Canada when we colonized this country; we grieve the harm that our ancestors in faith did through participation in the Residential Schools that our church operated; we grieve that the systems of our country today are still prejudiced against our Indigenous people.
Let us pray, using words provided by Rev. Nancy Best and Rev. Dr. Lisa Waites, two Indigenous ministers in the United Church of Canada.
Tender and loving Creator, we are all part of the delicate web of life. When one thread is plucked, the ripples are widely felt, stronger closer to the epicentre, still felt toward the outer reaches. May the uncertainties and concerns we hold close to our hearts be gentled by the love we have of you, and the support of each other.
You know the longing of our hearts for a just society for all of your beloved children. When we are cut, we bleed the same colour. When we donate blood, it provides the same life-giving sustaining gift with no knowledge of race; it does not exist in that little clear bag. We don’t understand the conflicts and hatred rampant, which aren’t new; have they always existed? We pray for people living in troubled places, for refugees needing homes and relocation, for people without safe drinking water.
Rabboni Jesus, may your teachings lead us all to speak the same language of loving you, ourselves, and our neighbours. Gentle people’s harsh feelings and opinions. Restore our gratitude and refresh our faith. Grant us dreams of unity and harmony. May your light and love encircle and envelope us all as we rest in the promise of your goodness. Living Spirit, we are all relations in your family. We give thanks for our blessings. Amen.
Image Credit: The United Church of Canada
