Standing Rock Day of Prayer
diebelalice
Dear Friends,
You may have seen the “Call To Standing Rock: Dec. 4th Interfaith Day of Prayer” from Rev Karen Van Fossan, Minister, Bismarck-Mandan Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Bismarck, ND. It was sent from Standing on the Side of Love via email and Facebook and includes an invitation from Chief Arvol Looking Horse. You can read the call at https://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/ourstories/2016/11/23/call-to-standing-rock-dec-4th-interfaith-day-of-prayer
In addition to the invitation for UU’s and other people of faith to be physically present at Standing Rock for a Day of Prayer on Dec. 4, the call asks us to engage in prayer and solidarity in our home communities and also invites financial donations to support the Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock. Some ideas for how congregations might participate are: donating Sunday offering, encouraging individual financial donations, offering snacks for a donation during coffee hour, and/or incorporating a reading or moment of silence into Sunday Service. Related information and links are below:
To make financial donations,
Scroll all the way down to the end to the “donate” button at http://www.ocetisakowincamp.org/donate or go directly to https://www.paypal.me/OcetiSakowinCamp
This is the donation site linked to in Rev Van Fossan’s call to prayer.
OR
Choose one of the several donations links at “How to Give, and to Give Thanks to Standing Rock,” shared by Standing on the Side of Love on Thanksgiving Day:http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/11/23/how-give-and-give-thanks-standing-rock-166566
OR
Donate to the Standing Rock medics via the 5013c organization at https://www.holisticlivingschool.org/standing-rock-medic-healer-council/ This was suggested in both the Nov 22 and Thanksgiving Standing on the Side of Love posts.
You can read more about the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires) camp at http://www.ocetisakowincamp.org/about
Most UU's are not indigenous to this country. Most of our ancestors have been neutral parties or aggressors against the indigenous people of this country. Now is a time for positive action in solidarity and justice.
From what I have heard, the Bismarck-Mandan UU Congregation is the only non-indigenous faith community in the Bismarck area that has offered support at the congregational level to the efforts to stop the Dakota Access pipeline. I am sure they would appreciate knowing their courage and love are supported by other UU communities. Perhaps you could share with them how your congregation has responded to Rev. Van Fossan's call with a comment on one of their Standing Rock/Water is Life posts at their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BismanUU and/or by signing their petition at www.change.org/p/president-barack-obama-president-obama-full-environmental-impact-statement-for-dakota-access-pipeline
Thank you,
Lynn Buffington, Miami Valley UU Fellowship