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The Cross of Christ
Dying to Old Ways: Taking Direct Action

Since the 1990's,

the Anglican Church of Canada-- and our parish of St. John the Baptist, Duncan-- have been engaged in responding.

Members of our parish

  • participated as listening partners at public hearings.

  • have walked in solidarity with our First Peoples.

  • have shared Healing Circles, Blanket Ceremony, and several book studies. 

Our First study was They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School  by  Bev Sellar.

In her memoir, Ms. Sellars describes her years at St. Joseph’s and O’Connor—revealing the hunger, forced labour, and leather strap-beatings common in the school.

Ms. Sellars shares how her lifelong path towards healing culminated in the first book written by a Residential School Survivor of St. Joseph's.

Her words captured our attention in profound empathy for her story, and of so many other children. 

Our second book studied was a story of British 'home children',  Marjorie Too Afraid to Cry: A Home Child Experience, by Patricia Skidmore.

Though not focused on Indigenous peoples being unjustly treated,  it is a historical record of children, unjustly removed by British government authorities, for the purpose of receiving a “more comfortable future” in a foreign country. 

During Lent 2025, we read  Empowered to Repair: Becoming People Who Mend Broken Systems and Heal our Communities, by Brenda Salter McNeil. 

“This book is timely, powerful, and so very necessary. It makes its way into the hands of every pastor, congregant, and Christian who believes that there is work of reconciliation yet to be done.” (William James Jennings)

Taking direct action is hard work. There are no days off. 

Certainly, in the table discussions, there was a sense of "no days off." At the same time, questions arose:  What can we do? What is next? How should we be directing our course?

In the early years of acknowledging the need for reconciliation in Canada, if asked “How long will we be discussing this?” Bishop Logan would respond “Until we get it right.”
    
As we reflect on Jesus’ resurrection, we see that, first, Jesus gathered with the apostles for a meal.

In this we can see that in our continued work of reparation, we need to be sustained in mind, body and spirit. 

It is hard work. 

As Resurrection people, we need to respect all of humanity in our pursuit of God’s mission.

Jesus died on the cross for our redemption. We, too, must die to our old ways before we can take action. 

Blessings for this week,
Archdeacon Brian+