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Thoughts for Native American Day
In The PC(USA)
(Nick L. Clark)
Matthew 22: 36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
For nearly 20 years, I worked closely with twenty Great Lakes Native American tribes in preserving their culture. I freely admit I knew little about American Indian people when I began my journey and most of what I thought I knew I later learned was stereotypical myth.
Particularly in the last decade, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has made great strides in working with Native American People. In 1995, the general assembly created a task force to study how it might improve relationships Native People and help fulfill our Lord’s Great Commandment. As a result, The Office of Native American Congregation Enhancement (NACE) was formed and in 2006, the American Indian Youth Council was organized during ceremonies held in Indianapolis.
Most American Indian communities are “invisible” because they represent very small numbers when compared with other ethnic groups. We live in Indiana, which means “Land of the Indians.” For at least 10,000 years, Native people have lived along the Wabash River and many would be surprised that within the Presbytery of Wabash Valley, there are over 6,000 American Indians. The largest groups are to be found among the Miami and Potawatomi People, with headquarters in Peru and South Bend.
American Indians were never “heathen” people, they have always believed in The Creator, also called The Grandfather or The Great Spirit, the very same God you and I worship. That is why it was so easy for early missionaries to gain their confidence. In their rich oral traditions, the Miami people have a legend that The Creator’s son, a beaded man, walked on the shores of Lake Michigan. They told these stories to the first missionaries.
Europeans and their missionaries were not kind to Native people. They sought to take their lands and to assimilate them into European beliefs and lifestyles. As a result, Native numbers were decimated by disease and warfare, and after being told for generations that their traditions and beliefs were worthless in comparison to those of Europeans, their self-worth was also virtually destroyed. The result was chronic alcoholism, substance abuse, unemployment or underemployment and being relegated to reservations which were little more than prisons without walls.
There is still hope that we as Presbyterians might be able to fulfill The Great Commandment and work with our Native American brothers and sisters. This coming Sunday is Native American Day in our denomination. I urge you to go to our PC(USA) website, enter http://www.pcusa.org/nativeamerican/ and learn more about what Presbyterians are doing to love, support and encourage American Indian people. When your congregation is looking for a mission project—you have another choice besides China or Africa—there are American Indian people who need your help right here in the Presbytery of Wabash Valley as well as in sixteen of our synods. Our Creator is so good—to all peoples!
Nick Clark, CLP, Burrows Presbyterian Church
GENEVA CENTER SITE HOUSE ROOF BLITZ
Geneva Center is putting a new roof on the Geneva Center Site House, Wednesday, October 10 and Saturday, October 13. Come and lend a hand (you don’t have to climb) or you may donate to the cost of materials. For information please call Jeff Winegardner, Director of Maintenance or Shelly Ewing, Office Manager, at Geneva Center, 574-223-6915.
Mark your calendars NOW!! Presbytery of Wabash Valley Confirmation Retreat at Geneva Center, Friday, April 11, 2008 through Sunday, April 13, 2008.
Watch for registration information after January 1, 2007.
The September 17, 2007 issue of Alban Weekly discusses, “Beyond ‘The Good War.’” To read this article please click on the date.
The Presbytery of Wabash Valley is seeking a part-time Treasurer. We hope to nominate a person with a high level of integrity and commitment, written and verbal communication skills, computer skills, financial skills, and an ability to be adaptable, patient and work as part of a team. For a position description and application form, please contact Jamie Miller, Chair of the Treasurer Search Committee, at jamie@sunnysidechurch.org or 574-287-1524. Deadline for applications is October 29, 2007.
Friends,
The Children’s Defense Fund presents the 16th year for National Observance of Children’s Sabbath. “My Boat Is So Small: Creating a Harbor of Hope and Health Care for All Children” is the focus of this years Children’s Sabbath.
A manual is available that focuses on our moral obligation to do what we can with our available resources to ensure ALL children the opportunity to live out to their God-given potential, especially the poor and minority children facing risks and disadvantages that often pull them into a “Cradle to Prison Pipeline.”
You can order your manual which has worship helps, activity suggestions and written material to help interpret Children’s Sabbath to your congregation. Orders can be made to www.childrensdefense.org/Childrens_Sabbaths or calling Ken Libby at 865-457-6466.
The Calvary Presbyterian Church of Logansport sponsors a Race for Grace to benefit Lazarus Festival that is a local Christian music festival for youth. This year, on June 23, there were 200 participants, 50 of which were Presbyterian. Calvary member Matt Blume was the winner this year and one of the participants was member Elizabeth Ferguson who is 80 years young.
This was the 10th anniversary of the Race for Grace.
As I looked at the description of this conference at the NEWEST Center For Congregational Growth in Fort Wayne, I thought that we, as a Presbytery, should be present in huge numbers. I talked to Ray Fancher and he asked that I organize a group from the Presbytery to attend. Friday, November 16 in Fort Wayne with Anthony Papas is: Small Church Spirituality. It is one day. Here is how to register...call 260-435-1880 or visit www.centerforcongregations.org. Let’s put this on our calendars. I am going and so is my lectionary study group. Let me know if you need a ride or have any questions, revanns@aol.com.
Ann Smith Williams
Missionary, Bill Yoder, will be speaking at some Wabash Valley Presbytery Churches. Please feel free to come to any of the following churches to hear Bill Yoder speak.
Sunday, October 7, Flora Presbyterian Church at 10:15 a.m. during worship service with lunch following.
Monday, October 9, First Presbyterian Church of Goshen at 7:00 p.m. in chapel with desserts.
Tuesday, October 10, First Presbyterian Church of Rochester has 5:00 p.m. dinner followed by program.
Wednesday, October 11, First Presbyterian Church of Crown Point has 6:00 p.m. dinner with program at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 12, Calvary Presbyterian Church of Logansport, will have lunch at 11:30 a.m. followed by program.