Advent Kindness Calendar – Day 20 & Day 21

December 21, 2018

Advent Act of Kindness

Truth and Reconciliation. 

“Canada’s residential school system for Aboriginal children was an
education system in name only for much of its existence. These
residential schools were created for the purpose of separating
Aboriginal children from their families,
in order to minimize and weaken family ties and cultural linkages,
and to indoctrinate children into a new culture—the culture of the
legally dominant Euro-Christian Canadian society. The schools were
in existence for well over 100 years, and many successive
generations of children from the same communities and families endured
the experience of them. That experience was
hidden for most of Canada’s history.”
[Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future, 2015].
Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, released in 2015. Today’s
Advent Act of Kindness is about awareness as much as it is about action.
Take the time to read the Calls to Action of the TRC report and as time
allows you the summary of the TRC’s work.
You can find these documents at trc.ca
It is clear to me that I grew up without being taught about the First Peoples
of this land and what the arrival of European Settlers meant for them. I
needed ‘to be woke.’ The more I learn the more I want to work toward
Reconciliation, towards Justice. Once you’ve read the recommendations,
ask you might begin or continue the work of reconciliation.

A Prayer
God of our Ancestors,
who holds the spirits of our grandmothers and grandfathers
and the spirits of our grandchildren,
Remembering the Children,
we now pledge ourselves to speak the Truth, and with our hearts and our souls
to act upon the Truth we have heard
of the injustices lived,
of the sufferings inflicted,
of the tears cried,
of the misguided intentions imposed, and of the power of prejudice and racism
which were allowed to smother the sounds and laughter of the forgotten children.
Hear our cries of lament
for what was allowed to happen,
and for what will never be.
In speaking and hearing and acting upon the Truth may we as individuals and as a nation meet
the hope of a new beginning.
Great Creator God
who desires that all creation live in harmony and peace,
Remembering the Children
we dare to dream of a Path of Reconciliation
where apology from the heart leads to healing of the heart
and the chance of restoring the circle,
where justice walks with all,
where respect leads to true partnership, and where the power to change comes from each heart.
Hear our prayer of hope,
and guide this country of Canada on a new and different path.

(by Rev. Lillian Roberts, for the launch of the Church Leaders Tour
which marked the original launch of the TRC)
you welcomed me.

December 22, 2018

Advent Act of Kindness

Truth and Reconciliation. 

As you walk about outside today, take notice of the trash that
litters our streets, sidewalks, parking lots and parks. Be
intentional about noticing. Being among a bag today to collect
what others have left behind. Recycle what can be recycled
and place the rest in the garbage. It’s a small gesture, but an
important Advent Act of Kindness.

Psalm 148
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from heaven!
Praise God on the heights!
Praise God, all of you who are his messengers!
Praise God, all of you who comprise his heavenly forces!
Sun and moon, praise God!
All of you bright stars, praise God!
You highest heaven, praise God!
Do the same, you waters that are above the sky!
Let all of these praise the Lord’s name
because God gave the command and they were created!
God set them in place always and forever.
God made a law that will not be broken.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all you ocean depths!
Do the same, fire and hail, snow and smoke,
stormy wind that does what God says!
Do the same, you mountains, every single hill,
fruit trees, and every single cedar!
Do the same, you animals—wild or tame—
you creatures that creep along and you birds that fly!
Do the same, you kings of the earth and every single person,
you princes and every single ruler on earth!
Do the same, you young men—young women too!—
you who are old together with you who are young!
Let all of these praise the Lord’s name
because only God’s name is high over all.
Only God’s majesty is over earth and heaven.
God raised the strength of his people,
the praise of all his faithful ones—
that’s the Israelites,
the people who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!