The Colemans arrived, late Monday afternoon, to take up residency in our church parsonage
Phyllis Jack Webstad was six years old when she left her community of Stswedcem’c Xgat’tem First Nation to attend St. Joseph Residential School. Like most six year olds, she was excited to attend school for the first time. Her grandmother bought her a new, bright orange shirt for her to wear on her first day. When she arrived at school, far from home, her new orange shirt was taken away from her and never returned. This marked the start of Phyllis’s separation from her community, culture, family and friends; a separation mandated by the federal government and supported by the church.
On September 30th, we wear orange to remember that Every Child Matters and as people of faith, we need to listen to stories like Phyllis’s and learn from the wisdom, reflection, trauma, as well as the strength and resiliency of those who were taken from their families and communities and forced to attend residential schools, some of whom never returned home again. As Christians, it is also our responsibility to make reparations for the ways in which we continue to uphold colonialism and benefit from the systemic racism in our institutions and societal structures. For the first time in 2021, September 30th is now a federal statutory holiday – the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, where people are encouraged to engage in learning, as well as listening and reflecting on the ongoing impact of the residential school system.
As September 30th approaches, here are some opportunities to consider:
mark Orange Shirt Day in worship in your congregation on Sunday, September 26th by wearing orange and encouraging others to wear orange as well. Consider using the following litany written by Ron Flaming of the Truth and Reconciliation Action Group, Waterloo North Mennonite Church. We are grateful to Ron for allowing us to share this litany with our Synod. (see attached).
Source: https://easternsynod.org/circle-for-reconciliation-and-justice/
…you can access the The Eastern Synod Weekly on the front page of our website? The “Welcome” link on the menu bar above will get you to the front page. Scroll down till you find the link, as pictured below.
Hello everyone!
Last Sunday evening, 16 people gathered in our green space for worship on the lawn. It proved to be such a lovely event that many requested another opportunity for outdoor worship.
You are invited to join us for Worship on the Lawn – Part 2 on Sunday, September 5 at 6:30 p.m. for readings, prayers and singing (with pre-recorded music to help us sing).
Bring a lawn chair and a hymnal, if you have one. Wear a mask until you are seated and stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household.
We feel so blessed to have a beautiful outdoor space available for worship, but even more blessed that an outdoor gathering allows us the opportunity to sing. We hope to see you there!
Jennifer Allcorn
St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
57 Griffith Street
Welland, ON L3B 4G6
(905) 734-4746
stmatthewswelland.com
St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Welland, Ontario, Canada 
Love it Rona. Thanks On Sat, Mar 7, 2026, 11:20 a.m. St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church,