ministries

CONAM suggested resources for Native American Ministries Sunday

Greetings,

Thank you for continuing to be part of our CONAM connection with our Native American Churches and communities as a Local Church Representative or Pastor in you church. As a vital link to our churches, we want to provide you with resources to celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday (NAMS). This year, NAMS is on the church calendar as a Special Sunday on, May 1,2022, but can be celebrated on any Sunday. 

We suggest you begin worship with a land acknowledge such as the one used by UNY at Annual Conference: “As we gather, we acknowledge we are on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy."

Here are some of the many resources you may find helpful:

Great place to start: https://www.umc.org/en/content/native-american-ministries-sunday-ministry-article

For worship:   https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/21st-century-worship-resources-for-native-american-ministries-sunday

Suggested hymns: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/hymns-and-music-for-native-american-awareness-sunday, also: In Faith We Sing: As the Deer, Gather Us In (verses 1, 2, 4).

A Call to Worship and Benediction are at the end of this letter. I offer then with thanks to the author, Rev. Anita Phillips. 

As your church reaches out to support Native churches and communities remember that applications for Native American Ministry grants are available. I encourage you to read through the grant purpose and requirements. On request I will email a copy to you.  

Continue to pray for our three Native American churches in the UNY Conference: Four Corners UMC, located on the Cattaraugus Territory; Hogansburg UMC, located on St. Regis Mohawk Reservation at Akwesasnee; and Onondaga UMC located on the Onondaga Nation Indian Territory. Turn your prayer into action by reaching out to our Native churches to be in relationship. Search your hearts for individuals who may feel a passion for Native ministry as we seek out culturally competent spiritual leaders for the future. 

The commitments the United Methodist Church made at General Conference in 2012 as part of the Act of Repentance service calls all of us to recognize historical injustices and embrace new relationships as we continue to seek justice and healing through education and action. You are a vital part of this journey and we are grateful for your faithfulness in this ministry. Please feel free to contact me via email with questions and ideas and share what your church is doing.  

If you are new to our group, a summary of LCR responsibilities appears below. 

Faithfully yours,

Sharon A. Schmit, Chair UNYCONAM
email: conam@unyumc.org

Call to Worship

One: Our God and Creator asks, “How will you live the life I have given to you? 

All: Like a still, deep pool in the desert, we will live in a way that reflects your love back onto your world. 

One: Our God and Creator asks, “How will you walk this path I have given to you?” 

All: Like the creatures of the forest, we will walk in a way that respects all life created by your hand. 

One: Our God and Creator asks, “How will you reach out to the world beyond yourselves?” 

All: Like the branches of a sapling, we will strive to reach beyond the safe and the familiar, touching the world in your name. Help us to remember we all are connected through the endless circle of life and creation. Teach us to trust and follow the example of Jesus Christ who lived a life of sacrifice, walked a path of goodness and mercy, and reached beyond human differences. Amen. (Rev. Anita Phillips)

Benediction 

Creator of all tribes, peoples and colors, journey with us now into the wide world. Scatter us to the four directions that we might live and love as your children. Let us be a blessing to every path we may cross, and bring us back together when the time is right. Go forth in peace. Amen. (Rev. Anita Phillips)