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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2015-06-04, Page 9PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015. By Rev. Gary Clark Blyth and Brussels United Churches This week was witness to a momentous event in Canadian history. It marked the ending of the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The Commission has been working for six years to hear the stories of the survivors of our Indian Residential Schools. There were some stories of education and support but they were few compared to heart wrenching thousands of stories of systemic abuse (sexual, physical and emotional), the breaking up of families and the death of thousands of children at the hands of their keeper or as they ran away and died on the road home. As you, the reader, will know, these schools were paid for by the Canadian government and administered by four denominations namely Roman Catholic, Anglican, United Church and Presbyterian. The people of Canada and the churches thought that we were doing a good thing, a noble thing, a faithful thing. We wanted to offer our understanding of civilization and our pathway to success and fulfilment. We didn’t understand that the First Nations people had their culture and how it offered rootedness in their lives. What we nearly accomplished was the genocide of a people. However damaged the survivors were by ‘our’ vision to “Kill the Indian to Save the Man” many did not die or disappear into the Canadian melting pot. When finally we changed the laws that allowed First Nations people to speak without fear of arrest (yes we had made it illegal for these people to challenge the abduction of their children) they organized and spoke to us about the damage we had been doing. Slowly the non-aboriginal population began to hear and understand the wrong we had perpetuated on these peoples. From the ‘Legacy of Hope’ web page we hear about how we have tried to move to reconciliation. “By the year 2008, most of the church denominations that were responsible for the operation of the residential schools in Canada had publicly apologized for their role in the neglect, abuse, and suffering of the children placed in their care. Most of these organizations apologized through their national offices, except for the Catholic Church who left it up to individual dioceses to make apologies. • United Church of Canada (1986) • Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (Roman Catholic) (1991) • Anglican Church (1993) • Presbyterian Church (1994) • Government of Canada (2008) • Roman Catholic Church (2009) In June of 2008, the Government of Canada also apologized for their historical role in the residential school system. By saying ‘we are sorry,’ Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged the Canadian government’s role in a century of isolating native children from their homes, families, and cultures. Abuse Survivor Charlie Thompson watched the apology from the House gallery and said he felt relieved to hear the Prime Minister acknowledge the horrible legacy. "Today I feel relief. I feel good. For me, this is a historical day.” The apologies were just a part of that road to reconciliation. There was a massive class action lawsuit put forward by all the students of the residential schools. Our government decided to settle out of court, which meant a quicker road to financial redress, but that the students would not have their day in court. The reason this is important is that we have rooms full of records from our government and the churches who ran the schools but no records from the perspective of the children who lived in those schools. So one agreement in the ‘out of court settlement’ was that the TRC be set up to hear and record as many stories as possible from the survivors and their families. This isn’t important just for the victims of the schools. It is essential for us in this time and generation as well. Without hearing these stories we will not have a deep enough understanding of the damage done to our First Nations brothers and sisters. We will not challenge the bigotry that exists towards them in our culture today. And lastly we will not be forced to reflect on what are we doing today that might be damaging to others. In other words we need to listen so that we might learn and grow as a nation. Ultimately I believe that is the hope of the TRC that as a nation we will learn from the past, act differently in the present and seek to live in harmony in the future. Time and time again the Christian scriptures remind us that we can be free of our sinful past. It doesn’t matter if the sin was intentional, accidental, or through ignorance, wrong is wrong and hurtful actions are hurtful actions. In 2nd Corinthians 5:19 we are reminded that we have a ministry of reconciliation. That as Christians we are not meant to simply feel bad and walk on by, rather we are called to seek forgiveness and to offer it. This is essential if we as a nation want to be free of the stain of the Residential School system, as well as, that we might live a new level of respect for our First Nations brothers and sisters who have survived and seek healing through the reclaiming of their culture, traditions and religion. This week marks the end of the commission and a new beginning for all Canadians. May God bless this journey we share with the humility, forgiveness and faith we will all need. THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph’s Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, JUNE 7 Nursery care available 519-887-9017 Worship & Sunday School - 10 am Coffee & Snacks - 11 am We invite you to join our church family in: Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS MINISTER Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. All Welcome MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224 Sunday, June 7 Sunday School Celebration ~ All Welcome Sunday, June 14 90 Years Old and Recalculating Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed. Children Welcome THINK. What Do I Believe? ACT. What Should I Do? BE. Who Am I Becoming? FIND OUT AT. Huron Chapel. Sundays @ 10:30am huronchapel.com getlivingwater.org Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Sunday, June 7 Evangelical Missionary Church Craig & Leilani Bauman, New Tribes Missionaries to Mongolia Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, June 7 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH 250 Princess St., Brussels 519-887-6388 www.bmfchurch.com Pastor Ken Gazley Guests Welcome Jesus Is Lord! Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Sunday, June 7 Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Guest Speaker: Pastor Jim Whitehead BRUSSELS WORSHIP SERVICE AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am All Welcome United Church Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div. Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224 blythunited@tcc.on.ca Church bookings: 519-887-6377 Other concerns: 226-963-1175 From the Minister’s Study End of TRC marks new beginning for Canada: Clark