G U I D E T O C EL EB R A T I N G N A T I V E A M ER I C ... e t r u l y s a v e d , t h e y m u s t a b a n d o n t h e i r t r a d i t i o n a l w a y s f i r s t . N e e d l e s

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LUTHERAN INDIAN MINISTRIES '

GUIDE TO CELEBRATING NATIVE AMERICAN SUNDAY

Table of Contents

Guide to Celebrating Native American Sunday

Why is Native Ministry Important?

Prayers

Relevant Hymns

Sermon Starters

Chapel Lesson Starters

Chapel Activities

Chapel Visuals

Additional Learning Resources

Adult Bible Study

Additional Reading

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www.LutheranIndianMinistries.org

These items are available to download individually on our site:

www.LutheranIndianMinistries.org/nasunday

By Tim Young Eagle (Pawnee) Executive Director, LIM

Thank you for joining us by hosting a Native American Sunday!

Less than 5 percent of the 5.6 million Native American people in North American know that they are accepted by God and forgiven in Christ. This statistic is the motivation behind everything we do.

Without Christ, too many Native souls are being lost to darkness: alcohol, drugs, abuse, and ultimately suicide.

Lutheran Indian Ministriesproclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Native American peoples, disciples Native leaders to share the Gospel with their brothers and sisters, and provide resources to assist in the healing of social sufferings while valuing Native cultures.

This is a change from past Native ministry.

Many of the missionaries of oldlooked at the American Indians aspagan savages. They showed littleregard for the Indians as humanbeings made in the image of God.

The approach in those days was"kill the Indian; save the man." Itmeant ridding them of theirculture and their language andwesternizing them, making them"civilized."

They were told they were wrongand devil worshipers fortheir beliefs, and that in order tobe truly saved, they must abandontheir traditional ways first.

Needless to say, it was notsuccessful. We are changing theapproach to show God's love andgrace for each Native man, woman,and child. Be the light in theirdarkness.

Why is Native Ministry Important?

Guide to Celebrating Native American Sunday 2


GATHERING PRAYER:

Creator God, Lord of all nations and tribes, we come before You today to offer our thanks and praise for Your forgiveness through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, through Whom we have the promise of eternal life in Your heavenly Kingdom. Teach us, as we live out our lives on this side of eternity, to act justly and with love and mercy toward others in light of Your Holy Word. Help us to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all our brothers and sisters, that all peoples everywhere may believe. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

ALTERNATIVE GATHERING PRAYER:

God of all creation, we gather as your people on this day you have made. We give thanks for the evidence of your presence found all around us. Help us to love your world and all in it, as you have so loved us. On this day, when our community celebrates ministry outreach to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians open us to a deeper understanding of who we are in relationship with one another. Remind us that the Native peoples of the United States provided so many with the means of survival in times past. We celebrate Native American ministries today and always. Help us to recognize the value of the road each has walked to arrive at this place and the value of the shared journey before us all. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayers



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CALL & RESPONSE PRAYER (based on core wisdom and teachings of all nations, Traditional First Nations Code of Ethics):

Leader: Give thanks to the Creator each morning upon rising and each evening before sleeping. Seek the courage and strength to be a better person.

Congregation: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18a

Leader: Showing respect is a basic law of life.

Congregation: Show proper respect to everyone, love your fellow believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:17

Leader: Be truthful at all times.

Congregation: These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to one another. In the courts give real justice-the kind that brings peace. Zec 8:16

Leader: Always treat your guests with honor and consideration.

Congregation: In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; Matthew 7:12

Leader: The hurt of one is the hurt of all. The honor of one is the honor of all.

Congregation: Do nothing from selfishness or empty council, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself. Philippians 2:3

Prayers



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CALL & RESPONSE PRAYER (continued):

Leader : Receive strangers and outsiders kindly.

Congregation: for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, Matthew 25:35

Leader: All races are children of Creator and must be respected.

Congregation: “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Mark 10:14

Leader : To serve others and be of use to family, community or nation is one of the purposes for which people draw breath on this side.

Congregation: Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I, therefore, command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:11

Leader : Expect guidance to come in many forms – in prayer – in dreams – in solitude and in the words and actions of Elders and true friends.

Congregation: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Written by Shannon Perez, Dine

Prayers



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BENEDICTION (Adapted from Colossians 2:6):

As God has loved you, go forth and love the circle of life created by God’s hand. As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in Christ. May you be a blessing to all whose paths cross your own. Amen.

Prayers



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Relevant Hymns



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May God Bestow On Us His Grace.........

Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying..............

Spread the Reign of God the Lord..........

O God of Light..............................................

O Christ, Our True and Only Light........

LSB #823

LSB #826

LSB #830

LSB #836

LSB #839

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Preaching points:

Do you ever hide your light under a bushel? God calls us to be light-bearers. We are to shine our light so that others may see Jesus and become a light themselves.

Less than 5% of Native Americans know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We are missing out in our churches without them, and Heaven is missing out.

This day recognizes the gifts and contributions of Native Americans to both church and society, and the importance of reaching those who do not yet know God's light.

Sermon Starters



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2 Corinthians 5:16, 18-19

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

Preaching points:

What does it mean to stop regarding all people from a worldly point of view?

Consider the perception that followers had of Jesus during his ministry, during his death, and after his resurrection.

Because of the resurrection, Jesus’ followers saw him in a new way.

We are to recognize that, though individuals and even entire cultures have been brought down by various forms of dealing and receiving death, in Christ every one of these people is a new creation full of unimaginable expectations.

Sermon Starters



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Hebrews 12:14

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Preaching points:

Peace goes beyond the status quo. Quiet among the discontent is not a sign of peace. Failing schools, broken treaties, and racial slurs are not signs of peace.

We cannot claim to be living up to the call of peace until every effort is made to see every barrier to human flourishing removed. To put all of our energy and investments towards peace is the ultimate sign of Christ in us and Christ’s reign over heaven and earth.

Sermon Starters



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Acts 17:26-27

"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us"

Preaching Points:

God is the Creator of all peoples: red, yellow, black and white (see the LIM logo)

We have the same Father, the same red blood, and we have all sinned and need Jesus.

This is a simple way to instill equality and diversity and the message that Jesus’ death on the cross was for all people.

Native American children are not always taught about Jesus, so LIM works to make sure they know Jesus loves them.

Chapel Lesson Starters



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Activity: Create a zipper pull.

Measure and cut black cord into a one-yard length.

Gather: 5 - black beads 4 - white beads 3 - red beads 3 - yellow beads

1. Fold the entire lacing length exactly in half. String on one black bead and center it.

2. Now bring both sides of the cord together and hold them as though they were one cord. Thread on 4 black beads (see Figure A).

3. Separate the cord into two again. On the right side, string on 3 red beads. Pull the cord through the end bead and thread it back through the second and first.

4. Repeat this step on the left cord with the yellow beads. Be sure that cord is pulled tighly so that beads touch (see Figure B).

5. Bring both sides of lacing together. Holding the cords as one, thread on 3 white beads. Tie an overhand knot close to last bead (see Figure C).

6. Adjust pendant to fit your neck. Tie ends together securely and trim any rough edges.

Find supplies here: amzn.to/2hJrnR7

Chapel Activities



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http://amzn.to/2hJrnR7

Visual aid:

The separated cross with the four chevron colors in our Lutheran Indian Ministries cross logo for you to print out on letter-size paper.

In advance, simply cut out each chevron piece and affix double-sided tape or an adhesive of your choice to the back of each piece. As you introduce each color during your message, stick the corresponding chevron piece onto poster board to re-create our Lutheran Indian Ministries cross logo.

Pass out the blank Lutheran Indian Ministries cross logo for coloring along.

Full size version here: jesus4nativ.es/limcrossvisualaid

Chapel Activities



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http://jesus4nativ.es/limcrossvisualaid



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As you begin to create a curriculum for Native American history, please keep in mind that much of the history available is written from the colonial viewpoint. In order to truly understand history, we must learn from all sides.

To supplement a Mission of the Month program for Lutheran Indian Ministries, it is important to highlight the atrocities that the Native Americans have suffered through (disease, removal from lands, residential schools, loss of culture) as these illustrate why many Native people suffer from an unbearable hopelessness. However, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can assist Native peoples out of the darkness and into the Light of Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, the Native cultures are unique and beautiful. Heaven would be incomplete with them.

Read this first: Understand Native Prejudice www.understandingprejudice.org/teach/native.htm

National Museum of the American Indian Classroom Resources nmai.si.edu/explore/foreducatorsstudents/classroomlessons/

Native American Heritage Month Resources nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/for-teachers/

Smithsonian Online Educational Resources www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators

PBS Videos - Classroom Media wimedialab.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/NativeAmericanHeritage

LIM Flipboard - Current Events in Native News flipboard.com/@indianministry/native-american-news-dh5rtbury

Additional Resources for Classrooms & Further Learning



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http://www.understandingprejudice.org/teach/native.htm

http://nmai.si.edu/explore/foreducatorsstudents/classroomlessons/

http://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/for-teachers/

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators

http://wimedialab.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/NativeAmericanHeritage

http://flipboard.com/@indianministry/native-american-news-dh5rtbury

REVELATION 7:9-10 (NIV)

These verses in Revelation 7 resemble a snapshot of the future reflecting not only what is to come but also the universal outreach of the Gospel to people of every ethnicity.

QUESTION 1: What do these verses tell us about God’s grace?

QUESTION 2: What do the “white garments” signify? See Revelation 3:5. Note the reference to the Book of Life. What is the Book of Life? Companion verses: Philippians 4:3, Malachi 3:16, and Luke 10:20.

QUESTION 3: What assurance do we have that we will be in their midst? Read Romans 10:9 and 1 Peter 2:9-10.

Sadly, some people, including many Native Americans, have struggled to understand how God’s love for the world applies to them. Some may even refer to Jesus as the White Man’s God.

Part of their resistance comes as a result of the times when the Christian church linked with the U.S. Government to force Native Americans to change their way of life, move off their traditional lands and become "civilized."

Children were often removed from their families and communities by force and placed in government-financed residential schools. This linkage of secular government with Christianity led to an offense to the Gospel. (continued)

Adult Bible Study Ideas



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(Continued)

Lutheran Indian Ministries attempts to bridge the Gospel to the Native community by devising outreach strategies that take into account not only past offenses but the historical values Native people have had that are consistent with biblical truths.

This is called contextualizing the Gospel. If we can help people see how God has spoken to them in the past through their ancient history and how He has revealed Himself in some of their traditional beliefs about creation, flood stories or even stories of deliverance, we can often bridge the truths of God’s Word to them.

QUESTION 4: Can you think of ways that your congregation can help to share the Gospel with people of different ethnicities, cultural traditions, and circumstances such as poverty, broken family systems, etc.?

What message can we share with people to help them understand that the salvation Jesus offers is intended to extend to all, regardless of race or background? Read 1 Timothy 2:3-6, Ezekiel 18:32, and John 3:16.

We are reminded in these verses that we cannot merit salvation by our own efforts; salvation is entirely the extension of God’s grace to us. Look up Ephesians 2:8-9.

QUESTION 5: What should our response be?

Bible Study Ideas



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To make progress in Native ministry, we must understand everything there is to know about the Native people we are trying to reach. The history of the people, as well as the history of outreach to them, unlocks the doors to their hearts. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can assist Native peoples out of the darkness and into the Light of Jesus Christ.

The following books and links are full of information:

One Church, Many Tribes: Following Jesus the Way God Made You Richard Twiss. Available here: amzn.to/2uGIpk0

Living in Color: Embracing God's Passion for Ethnic Diversity Randy Woolery Available here: amzn.to/2hJTTC5

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee Dee Brown Available here: amzn.to/2uGcTmn

We Shall Remain - PBS series Buy the discs -or- Amazon streaming

LIM Flipboard - Current Events in Native News flipboard.com/@indianministry/native-american-news-dh5rtbury

Additional Reading



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http://amzn.to/2uGIpk0

http://amzn.to/2hJTTC5

http://amzn.to/2uGcTmn

http://amzn.to/2fsz9OC

http://amzn.to/2ft2BDX

http://flipboard.com/@indianministry/native-american-news-dh5rtbury

Our Church Wants to Help!


Please accept our gift of $___________ to help proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our Native brothers and sisters!

*Gifts can also be made online at: www.lutheranindianministries.org/donate

Church Name:

Email:

Contact Person:

Address:

City, State, Zip

Phone Number:

Documents

G U I D E T O C EL EB R A T I N G N A T I V E A M ER I C ... e t r u l y s a v e d , t h e y m u s t a b a n d o n t h e i r t r a d i t i o n a l w a y s f i r s t . N e e d l e s