Sacred Ground Community Journey to Friendship with Indigenous People
St. Cross has a long history of outreach in the world and I’m excited to tell you about an emerging ministry at St. Cross, an opportunity for us to seek relationship with Indigenous people, specifically the Gabrielino-Tongva and their heritage here at St. Cross and in the South Bay.
A group of St. Cross members recently participated in Sacred Ground, a program by the Episcopal Church to explore our roots in racism. From this, a discussion about a “land acknowledgment” of St. Cross began and it didn’t take long to realize that guidance was needed from our Indigenous brothers and sisters, in relationship, in order to understand our place in their history.
As one path, several in the group have visited the Kuruvungna Springs Cultural Center and Museum, a Gabrielino-Tongva village, located in West Los Angeles. Located at the village site is the sacred village springs, a museum, a thatched home, and gardens. It is open on the first Saturday of the month from 10 AM to 3 PM. Anyone interested in learning more and speaking to a Gabrielino-Tongva tribal member can visit on August 5 or September 2. More information can be found at: http://gabrielinosprings.com/
Another path is a course for five Sundays in October, “Exploring the Doctrine of Discovery,” with readings for online conversation, facilitated by the Rev. Canon Mary Crist, an Indigenous priest in our diocese, who is also on the staff of the Presiding Bishop for Indigenous Theological Education. The course is through Bexley Seabury Seminary in Chicago. Anyone in the congregation can register to join the course. More information can be found at: https://bexleyseabury.
This journey to faith and friendship with the Indigenous people who are connected to the land on which St. Cross and many of our homes are built is open to anyone who is interested. We welcome anyone who would like to join us at our next Sacred Ground Community meeting on Sunday August 20 at 10:30 AM in Room 4. If interested or have any questions, please reach out to myself or Susan Tucker.
Peace,
Lizabeth Thompson
Junior Warden
