Hello Trinity Friends,
This Sunday we celebrate the anniversary of the United Church of Canada with a special Communion Service. We invite you to gather your own communion elements and join us on YouTube for a Livestream worship at 10:30 am or on Cogeco’s YourTV a week later. (Channel 12 at 8 am and 3 pm). The link to our worship service can be found here Trinity’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TrinityNorthBay
A reminder to Trinity friends of Rev. David Cook’s Celebration of Life Service this Saturday at 11 am at Martyn Funeral Home. Under current Covid pandemic restrictions attendance at the service is limited and by invitation only. The service will be broadcast on the funeral home’s Facebook page. The link to his full obituary and celebration of life details is posted here Rev. David Cook’s Obituaryhttps://martynfh.com/tribute/details/12516/Rev-David-Cook/obituary.html#tribute-start
Rev. Ted’s Secret Book Club The books have arrived! Those of you have signed up to participate in the book club will receive the book and Rev. Ted’s handy study guide this upcoming week. If you chose to have them delivered, you will see them in your mailbox sometime this weekend – keep an eye! If you offered to pick the books up, they will be available to pick up at the McIntyre Street door Monday between 11 and 12 or by arrangement with Wanda or Lisa.
Father’s Day Movie Night Fundraiser Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the movie night fundraiser so you can recieve your concession stand items. Celebrate Father’s Day weekend with a family movie night. Donate $20 to the Trinity Roof Fund, we will deliver the concession stand items of popcorn and pop to your day, and watch your own movie at home on Saturday June 19. Please register by June 17 with Lisa Blais blais.trinity@gmail.com or Darlene Laferriere Darlene_laferriere@hotmail.com because we need your address to deliver your treats! Get ready for a Happy Father’s Day, maybe choose a movie your dad would like?
This past week has been heartbreaking and difficult for us a country. In a month where we are celebrating Indigenous History and Culture, we are confronted with one of the harsh realities of our dark history.
We offer our prayers and our deep condolences to all those affected by the devastating discovery of 215 children on the Kamloops Residential School grounds. Some of you may have been surprised to hear this news; in fact, many of you may have only just started to learn about the legacy of Residential Schools. Some of you may not even be aware that The United Church of Canada had a role in Residential Schooling. (In 1925, at the time of church union, the United Church assumed the responsibility for 12 schools of which the last one closed in 1969.)
When the United Church issued its apology in 1986, it began the process of trying to reconcile the wrongs and move into Right Relations with Indigenous peoples. We have come a long way but we have a long way to go. In June 2008, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created with the purpose of documenting the history and lasting impacts of the Canadian Indian residential school system on Indigenous children and their families. The TRC report concluded in 2015 and provided 94 calls to action – a road map for churches, institutions, and our Government to reconciliation.
I invite you to consider learning more about the legacy of Residential Schools in our country so that you will better understand the challenges that Indigenous peoples continue to face today. Below you will see a list of a few resources to check out – for adults and children.
1) Read the TRC reports – they can be found here https://nctr.ca/records/reports/
2) Visit http://www.rememberingthechildren.ca/index.htm for some excellent information based- I have a hard copy book that could be borrowed by request
3) Donate to the United Church of Canada’s Healing Fund – The Healing Fund provides funding and support for healing initiatives in Indigenous communities to address the ongoing impacts of the residential school system
4) Some other excellent websites to check out are:
https://legacyofhope.ca/
https://oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeaction
https://united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/reconciliation-and-indigenous-justice
https://canadianshieldrc.ca/right-relations/
For Families and Children
1) Visit the Project of Heart website for many educational resources and ideas to use with children https://projectofheart.ca/
2) Every Child Matters website on the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has some videos and resources that are appropriate for children https://nctr.ca/education/every-child-matters/
3) Also check out https://www.orangeshirtday.org/ for more resources to use with children
4) Here are a few excellent Children’s books to read with your child
I Am Not Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer
When We Were Alone by David Robertson
Stolen Words by Melanie Florence
When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
The Train by Jodie Callaghan