Please join us after our regular Sunday morning Worship on the front stairs of Grace for a Ceremony and Prayer: Red Paint Painted Over.

The ceremony is another step on the journey of truth, healing and reconcili-action that began at Grace on July 1, 2021, in the early morning hours, red paint was splattered on the doors of 10 churches in Calgary, including Grace Presbyterian Church. The red paint was viewed as an expression of pain and grief over the discoveries of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at former residential schools across Canada and was left up, while conversations began with Indigenous people, Elders and the community. On August 29, again in the early morning hours, two unknown individuals painted over the red paint with tan paint. Grace’s Session has decided to paint over this with the original tan paint, to commit to the ongoing journey of truth, healing and reconciliation, and to invite Indigenous Elders and the community to this ceremony. For a full timeline of Grace’s truth, healing and reconciliation journey, as well as links to further information on the steps along the way, please see below.

The Order for the Gathering is: 

I. Welcome
II. Land Acknowledgement
III. Opening Prayer
IV. Teaching: The significance of Smudging with the Rev. Tony Snow
V. Smudge
VI. Dialogue: Covered Truth: Sharing truth when truth is hard
VII. Reflection Time – (Invitation to write, draw, think about, and be present with the
paint)
VIII. Next Steps: Sometimes things don’t go as you thought they would
IX. A call to journey together on the path of Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation
X. Prayer
XI. Conversation
XII. Closing Blessing

Why Grace is holding this event: A timeline of the red paint, a catalyst for an ongoing journey of many steps of truth, healing and reconciliation – steps that have been taken, are being taken and will be taken

• On July 1, 2021, in the early morning hours, red paint was splattered on the doors of 10 churches in Calgary, including Grace Presbyterian Church
• Grace’s response to the red paint was to view it as an expression of pain and grief over the discoveries of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at former residential schools across Canada
• Grace left the red paint and chose to have conversations on the steps with Indigenous Elders and the community, to have a Lament ceremony on Sunday, September 26, 2021, and to embark on an ongoing truth, healing and reconciliation journey to build relationships with Indigenous people 
• Grace engaged an Indigenous artist and considered having murals placed on the doors with the red paint
• On August 29, in the early morning hours, two unknown individuals painted over the red paint on the doors with tan paint
• Grace has decided to paint the front doors the original tan paint, to hold a ceremony on Sunday, September 25
• Work continues with the artist to create a marker of the red paint – further information will be shared when ready
• Grace is committed to an ongoing journey of truth, healing and reconciliation
• Other initiatives include supporting the Repatriation of the Sacred Stone (Manitou Asinîy, Iniskim, Tsa Xani)
• On Friday, September 30, Stardale Women’s Group is co-hosting an event with Grace called Reconnection, Reconciliation and Resilience – an event for hope and a better future in honour of Orange Shirt Day