The New Jamestown Covenant Anniversary Service
You may need to download
and install THIS to play
the slideshow below.
The Coastline November 2007
By Sarah Eagle Heart
Eagles flew overhead on a beautiful fall day during the New Jamestown Covenant Anniversary Service on All Saint’s Day, November 1, 2007 in Historic Jamestown, Virginia. The three day event sponsored by the Office of Native American Ministries celebrated Native American people, their communities, and gifts given to strengthen spirit in the life of Christ.
The gathering of 200 past and present clergy and laity from across the continent commemorated the Decade of Remembrance, Recognition, and Reconciliation 1997-2007, declared by the Episcopal Church to “welcome Native Peoples into congregational life and develop outreach partnership among Native Peoples”. This service also recognized the renewal of this commitment for another decade until 2017.
The service began with the pure sound of a Hawaiian Conch Shell blown by young Hawaiian male, Joey Padaken, traditionally used to mark the beginning of a Hawaiian ceremony. Clergy and laity then processed in traditional Native American dress and dance regalia. The service consisted of an Inuit Cantical for All Saints, A Native American Litany of Thanksgiving, Native American Drum Music, Hymn 385 “Many and Great” sung in the Dakota language, and sermon by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. All offerings were given to the Indigenous Theological Training Institute and a new covenant was signed by all present.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori reminded the gatherers in her sermon of the known saints who worked diligently for Christ’s ministry who came before us, saints of today, and many saints whose names we will never know. She acknowledged the many sacrifices made and their work which has furthered the kingdom of our Creator. Native American Saints recognized by the Episcopal Church: Enmegahbowh, Priest and Missioner, 1902, Observed June 12th; David Pendleton Oakerhater, Deacon and Missionary, 1931, Observed September 1st; and Kamehameha and Emma, King and Queen of Hawaii, 1864 – 1885, Observed November 28th.
Velma Amos (Poarch Creek), Sarah Eagle Heart (Oglala Lakota), Robert “Robbie” McGhee (Poarch Creek), and Paula Smith (Poarch Creek), from St. Anna’s Episcopal Church in Atmore, attended this event at the request of Native American National Missioner Janine Tinsley-Roe (Shinnecock/Unkechaug). Participants in the service included: Robbie carried the cross and read; Sarah sang with the Dakota translation of Hymn 385; and Velma was asked to chalice during the service.
Janine Tinsley-Roe stated: “Let us remember those we have lost… Let us recognize those that lead and those that need to be lifted up… Let us reconcile together for the glory of the Creator and the health of our Mother Earth.”
The event also honored Native Americans for their work in the Episcopal Church: former National Missioner for Native American Ministries-Dr. Owanah Anderson (Choctaw); second Native American woman ordained-The Rev. Anna Frank (Athabascan), former staff for Native American Ministries - The Rev. Dr. Carol Hampton (Caddo), and Frank Oberly (Osage) elected to Executive Council by General Convention 2006.
Bishops honored included: The Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald, first National Indigenous Bishop the Anglican Church of Canada; Bishop Steven Charleston (Choctaw), Bishop of Alaska; Bishop Carol Gallagher (Cherokee), Assistant Bishop of Newark; and Bishop Michael Smith (Patowatomi), Bishop of North Dakota.
Other attendees included the national staff included: The Rev. Jan Nunley
Communications Deputy Director, Ruth Ann Collins- Children's Ministries and Christian Education, The Rev. Anthony Guillen - Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries, The Rev. Angela S. Ifill - Missioner for Black Ministries, and The Rev. Dr. Winfred B Vergara - Director for Ethnic Congregational Development and Missioner for Asian American Ministries.
For more information on the Office of Native American Ministries visit www.ecusa.anglican.org/native_american.
________________________
Back to more stories
Download this issue of The Coastline
coastline@diocgc.org
