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Reconciliation

16Feb

Reconciliation

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Guest preacher the Rev. Janice Young from Peninsula United Church takes on the timely task of addressing the issue of Reconciliation among Indigenous people and settlers in this very topical sermon.

Janice shares two stories in this sermon: 1) a family story about her grandfather’s work, a combination of purchasing and taking indigenous artifacts from the BC Coast for a museum in Berlin, and her own personal response upon discovering this reality in her family history; and 2) the story of her relationship-building work in Sechelt as the minister of St. John’s United Church, working to take first steps with other settlers in the community with the Sechelt Nation.

Janice touches on the Gospel text Matthew 15:21-28, a story of Jesus changing his approach to a Gentile woman who challenges his assumptions about her.

Janice was surprised by the presence of Corinne Hunt, a high school friend who has since become an accomplished carver and artist in silver, in the congregation for this service. Corinne’s generosity in staying after worship for the talk-back Janice hosted was deeply appreciated by those Crossroads members who participated.

Rev. Janice Young
Speaker: Rev. Janice Young

Rev. Janice Young has a passion for building better relationships with First Nations people. While serving as a United Church minister in Sechelt from 1998-2015 she had the opportunity to meet members of the Sechelt First Nation and help with beginning steps toward reconciliation in that community. In October 2019, Janice accompanied 10 members of Peninsula United Church on a day trip to Sechelt to learn about their ongoing reconciliation work. (See the Siyaya Reconciliation Movement on Facebook.) Janice also participated in planning for the churches’ involvement in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission event held in Vancouver in 2013. She is delighted to share some of what she learned in those contexts and ponder how the church can be an active participant in Reconciliation in our community.