Hearts were touched at the Nord500North Conference this past week.
We were commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation movement, which, although it had positive effects, also fragmented the Christian Church. It was a time to weep for what has been, and to mourn for how we used each other and the Indigenous people of this land. It was a time to sing joyfully for what can be.
We began with a sacred fire early Thursday morning outside St. Patrick’s Church. Under a canopy, with the fire crackling, the fragrance of sage wafted over the circle of about 50 people as each one was smudged to prepare us for the day. The two elders, Julie Ozawagosh and Frank Ozawagosh, sang and drummed and shared their stories. Some stories were not easy to hear. Some made us laugh. We shared sweet strawberries and a cool glass of water.
A parable that Frank told has stayed with me. He said that people like to plant gardens. They like to see potatoes, carrots and onions grow. If you plant the seeds and go away and then come back next September, nothing will have grown.
Students from Mary Mount School and St. Benedict’s School, along with some of the conference delegates, took part in a blanket exercise in the church hall. It was an experiential learning, in which we did role playing. Some were shocked to learn about the history of colonialism in Canada and its effect on First Nations.
The room was full. Sunlight streamed through the solarium windows over the 200 delegates. Most were from Sudbury, but there were also delegates from Sault St. Marie, North Bay, Timmins and Manitoulin Island. Elder Julie and Elder Frank opened the Conference with prayers and again shared some stories.
In the main room, we sat in groups of six at circular tables, deliberately mixed. At my table were two Catholics (one who was a priest), three Lutherans and I’m a retired United Church minister. It didn’t take too long until we were comfortable discussing the questions they presented.
We explored times and ways that we already work together as congregations in our local settings. We discussed what might be other steps we could take. At one of the sessions, the ideas were collected from all the tables to be later printed out.
Some thought we could have more conferences like this one, but smaller and located regionally. It was suggested that, as congregations, we could pray for each other’s churches, share each others joys and sorrows, for example, when a church closes, do Bible study together, and work together on social justice issues such as the environment, poverty and reconciliation with Indigenous people.
One table was set aside for leaders of the churches and First Nations: Bishop Ann Germond (Anglican), Rev. Dr. Michael J. Pryse (Lutheran ), Bishop Marcel Damphousse) (Catholic), Rev. Will Kunder (United Church) , Karen Kuhnert,MDiv (Evangelical Lutheran Church ) and Elder Julia Ozawagosh and Elder Frank Ozawagosh. Their willingness to sit down and talk with a variety of leaders, with whom they may not agree, was impressive.
Monsignor Jim Hutton, acting chair of the hard-working committee for the Conference, was always at hand to help out.
Our four speakers came at the issue of unity from different directions. Rev. Dr. Allen G. Jorgenson looked historically at the many ways Reformation has happened. Dr. Christopher Duncanson-Hales examined how marriage between Catholics and Protestants, where each supports both churches, is an image of unity. Karen Kuhnert, MDiv and Sister Priscilla Solomon CSJ, spoke to the issue of working with, not for, Indigenous people and that education is one of the keys for us all.
Thursday evening the music soared at the Prayer Service, a service open to everyone. St. Patrick’s Church was filled. At the front stood the First Nation’s Eagle Staff along with the Reformation cross and banners from the different denominations. The ceiling was draped with the four colours of the First Nations.
We repented for the harm our denominations had done to each other and to Indigenous people in the past. We prayed for a future when Jesus’ prayer will be answered: “That they all may be one as You and I are one.”
The homily was given by Rev. Jason Tripp of Valley View Community Church. He spoke of Jesus as the vine and we are the branches. When we abide in Jesus and he abides in us, we bear much fruit. One of the fruits of the evening was a free will offering to seed a scholarship for an Indigenous student. We raised $2,000.
After the service, along with coffee, dessert and conversation, there was a surprise. The Men’s Hand Drumming Circle (Darren McGregor as ‘Head Stick’) were there to sing and play for circle dancing. When the drums and singing started, I hurried up and grabbed the nearest available hand. We danced in a circle to the drumbeat, heartbeat of mother earth: old and young, male and female, all colours of skin and dress. Perhaps this will be another lasting image of unity.
Bea Arnill is a retired United Church minister and a member of the promotion committee for the Nord500North Conference.
