Dear Beloved Community:
Acknowledging the peoples and the nations who were the historic stewards of the land that churches stand on has become an important part of the Episcopal Church’s reckoning with the role it has played in their genocide and intergenerational trauma. Many parishes have begun to include a “Land Acknowledgement” statement alongside their Mission Statement; we felt it was important to add an acknowledgement to our weekly Prayers of People. So, starting this Sunday, and every Sunday thereafter, at both the 8:00 am and 10:00 am services, you will hear the following addition to the Prayers of the People: “We acknowledge the Chinook, Kalapuya, and Atfalati peoples, the traditional custodians of the land on which we now worship and we ask your blessing on their continuing contributions to the life of this region.” We are a people for whom prayer is of the utmost importance and making this acknowledgement a part of our weekly prayers as a people reflects, I believe, the seriousness of our intention.
In the peace and love of Christ,
Everett+
