Centre Happenings & Invitation to Donate
As the world grapples with the reality of a global pandemic, the following line from the Vision of our Centre reminds us that we have a role to play, needed now as much as ever:
“From the strength of Elders’ wisdom, the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre will foster teachings of respect, healing, and connectedness to be shared: for the benefit of individuals: for restoring balance and wholeness among peoples and with all of creation; and for nurturing a prophetic voice.”
We are discerning day by day how to continue living into this Vision in quickly changing circumstances.
What’s happening at the Centre?
Retreat hosting has come to a screeching halt. We are adapting our Indigenous ministry training program and supporting our students through the transition to remote and online learning. We long to see our students, especially to celebrate our 2020 Graduates, and our Honoured Elders. We are reaching out to our ‘Return of the Buffalo’ family reunification program participants and connecting them to virtual visits with elders and friends. We are in the midst of a paradigm shift here as we adjust and figure out how we make do in the meantime, and transition to innovative ways that may become a long time feature of our work here.
How can you support our work?
Everyone’s circumstances are affected in unique ways and we understand that here at SSSC. As the Apostle Paul said about the church at large:
“…you do what you can, not what you can’t. The heart regulates the hands. This isn’t so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you’re shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written, ‘Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least.’” (2 Corinthians 8:12-15 The Message)
We are grateful for all forms of support: your prayers, your words of encouragement and your donations. If you are able to make a financial contribution at this time, we can accept cheques sent by mail or online donations.
Your faithful giving helps us live out the United Church’s apology to Indigenous people, continue to Indigenize our curriculum and learning process and realize our Vision.
Our Hope
The “Earth is Our Faculty” is our motto. The “Earth is our Healer” and our community circle is our hope in this strange time of COVID-19 stress. All across the world our Mother the Earth is doing her work of healing the land. We look forward to meeting once again on our beautiful and refreshed land here with all of our partner communities once things change and we come out of isolation. We will need the healing from our refreshed earth more than ever!