Frog Lake Parish Hosts Joint Service for Indigenous Peoples Day

Anglican parishes walked together in faith with the community of Frog Lake toward healing restoration and hope in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day and the Summer Solstice.

Church of the Nativity, Frog Lake held its second joint service with Dayspring Ministry (St. Mary's, Edgerton; St. Thomas', Wainwright; St. Saviour's, Vermilion) to mark Indigenous Peoples Day, the Summer Solstice and Father’s Day. Members of St. George’s, U of A also participated in the service held on Sunday, June 18.

Fred Matthews, lay reader-in-charge, of the Church of the Nativity, presided over the service using the Standing Stones liturgy which incorporates Cree imagery and ceremony. Gordon Hills led prayers and Archdeacon Rachael Parker, the rector of Dayspring Ministry, celebrated the Eucharist with Bannock and berries instead of communion wafers.

Worship included smudging, a flute song, prayers in the four directions, a Eucharistic prayer explicitly written for Standing Stores, and a Cree honour song. The readings were an Indigenous teaching story called “Hiawatha and the Great Peacemaker,” and Matthew 5:21-26 (First Nations Version).  These formed the basis of the sermon which focused on the importance of forgiveness, love, and mercy in the journey.

Local Elder and Church of the Nativity member Herb Stanley led a pipe ceremony following the service. Congregation members sat in circle with the Elder and shared the pipe together.

The celebration concluded with a traditional feast of soup, bannock, blueberry-flavoured lard, deep-fried beef fat (“Indian popcorn”), rice pudding and berries. Submitted by Fred Matthews, photos by Joann Mones.