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| Image by James Wheeler |
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A GREETING
Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
(Psalm 148:3)
A READING
‘I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon, and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon. I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedi, and like rose-bushes in Jericho; like a fair olive tree in the field, and like a plane tree beside water I grew tall. Like cassia and camel’s thorn I gave forth perfume, and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance, like galbanum, onycha, and stacte, and like the odour of incense in the tent. Like a terebinth I spread out my branches, and my branches are glorious and graceful. Like the vine I bud forth delights, and my blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit. (Sirach 24:13-17)
MUSIC
This collaboration among Moses Beaver, David Bouchard and Susan Aglukark is eleven
minutes in length. The English lyrics are spoken first, then there is the sung version by Susan
Aglukark. It is strongly recommended to spend time with all of it, but the song begins at minute 6:20.
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
You number all the stars and give each one a name,
You are infinite, your reach beyond measure.
(Psalm 147:4)
A PRAYER
Creator, Great Spirit.
Thank you for our leaders in each community, who guide us and support us, during these challenging days. Creator, Great Spirit. We are thankful for our families, children, grandchildren and for our friends who walk with us. For our ancestors, who were once here, and who left teachings for us to follow, teachings of reverence, for sacred places, sacred times. The teachings of respect for one another: to be kind, to be compassionate, to be caring toward one another; to acknowledge and respect one another; to go the extra mile when needed. Creator, Great Spirit. Thank you for mother earth always providing for us beauty and bounty: the beauty of a sun rising, bringing a new day; the gentle wind and gentle rain; the sound of birds singing; the sound of waves on a beach; the soothing and healing sounds of drums and song, resonating and touching our spirit, to help us be strong and walk the good road, for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
- transcribed from a video message of Elder Shirley Alphonse, T’sou-ke First Nation
for pre-recorded National Indigenous Peoples Day 2020 celebrations
VERSE OF THE DAY
Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Creator; and I will heal them.
(Isaiah 57:19)
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| Image by Paul Snelling |
Yesterday’s text offered a part of Sirach 24 in which the writer imagines an abundantly watered garden that shines with plant life — a metaphor for the ways in which Wisdom leads to abundance for all. Today’s text comes from a different part of the same chapter in Sirach and speaks from the voice of Wisdom herself. A wide variety of tree and plant life are invoked for their beautiful and unique properties, including flowers that are used to make perfumes like myrrh. We are used to hearing the traditional story of the Wise Ones as offering myrrh and frankincense. Here, the earth itself offers an abundance of riches for all who are longing to know and love the Creator.
In this way, we continue to draw on the wisdom of Indigenous elders. In her prayer for National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2020, Elder Chirley Alphonse expresses gratitude for wise leaders, but also for the earth itself in its wonders. We are encouraged to see right relationship with the earth as a way to be walking “the good road, for the sake of our children and our grandchildren.”
Today’s music selection reflects on what is known as the Huron Carol. This version, adapted by David Bouchard, Moses Beaver and Susan Aglukark, offers the story in a time when the creatures of the earth are hibernating and there is a winter moon. Here, the story takes place before the European settlers came, when in the tradition of the Haudenausaunee people, Jesus was reincarnated. He is named Deganawideh and brings peace. He is born among “true-hearted people” In the hands of Indigenous artists, it becomes both a sacred expression of Indigenous story, and a song for Indigenous people who are also Christian.
How does the wisdom and knowledge of those most closely tied to the land offer us seeds of hope? What can we do to lift up their voices?
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A STORY OF WISDOM
Barb Whyte and June Johnson, two elders from K'ómoks First Nation on Vancouver Island, offer us their wisdom on the local plants, which they have been interacting with for decades for medicinal and other practices.
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LC† Seeds of Hope is a project of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook, and on Twitter. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!