This past Sunday – April 19, 2015 – Native American Sunday was recognized in United Methodist Churches. Our church in Albion took part in an incredibly meaningful service to honor this special day.
The service included several beautiful and moving recordings of Native American music, including:
- Creator’s Song, Joann Shenandoah
- Beloved, Jesse Kalu
- Spirit, Jesse Kalu
In other music selections that honor the Native American spirit and beliefs, the Chancel Choir sang Heleluyan as the Introit and In The Sweet Bye and Bye as their anthem and the congregation sang hymns such as All Things Bright and Beautiful, Morning Has Broken, and Here I Am, Lord.
In a special ministry, our congregation participated in Waters of Repentance. This is an initiative of all United Methodist Churches in the Upper New York Conference. As a symbol of flowing together with a genuine desire to journey toward justice with our Native American sisters and brothers, each local church was as to gather water from their geographic area in a small container, pray over the water to bless it as a congregation, and take it with them to this year’s Annual Conference. The waters from all the participating churches will be blended together in an Act of Repentance Service on May 27th.
Albion FUMC member, Kae Woodruff Wilbert coordinated this special service and delivered the message, “And History Says….”. Kae represents Albion FUMC on the conference Committee on Native American Ministries. She also will be leading a special five week Native American Bible Study beginning this week based on General Conference’s Act of Repentance. The study will be held at the Christ Church at 5:00 pm every Thursday for five weeks beginning on Thursday, April 23rd.
Kae Wilbert, Leah Gibbs, Kay Ecker, and Pastor Jack Laskowski
Seen here with the Waters of Repentance just after the blessing
Kae Wilbert delivering the Native American Sunday message
Albion First United Methodist Church Blog 