CRC and RCA partnerships in Alberta

            As part of my NADC role, I sit on a committee to help continue the circulation of Kisemanito Pakitinasuwin – The Creator’s Sacrifice prints, that were purchased by Classis Alberta North. It was one of the reconciliation commitments by our denomination to fulfill the TRC’s calls to action, to ensure that our respective congregations learn about the church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities are necessary. The artistic expression of our savior, Jesus Christ, dying on the cross and rising again, done by late artist Ovide Bighetty in the Woodlands Cree style, is vividly moving. Many churches in our Classis (along with 4 educational institutions) have been blessed, educated and challenged by the experience of having the prints displayed and viewed in their communities. Recently, for the first time, we have been able to share them with a church from our sister denomination, the RCA. Please read and praise God for the response below,

          At our last General Synod (2018), our two denominations made further commitments to work more closely together and to share resources wherever possible. We at Emmanuel Community Church (of the Reformed Church in America) were recently blessed by this decision when we had the opportunity to be loaned prints of the “Creators Sacrifice” from Classis Alberta North, of the CRCNA, for our Multicultural Arts Festival held in June. We were privileged to have Chief Bruneau of the Pappachase First Nation open our festival and it was honoring to him and the rest of the Indigenous People present to feature this display as part of our festival. It was also wonderful to see many of our immigrant communities hear their stories. Thank you for partnering with us, your contribution made our festival richer and helped us to positively include our indigenous people!
In Christ,
Pastor Doug Smith - Emmanuel Community Church, RCA