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National Indigenous Archbishop Mark MacDonald presides over the Sacred Fire at the 10th Indigenous Anglican Sacred Circle. Photo: Anglican Video

Sacred Circle examines key documents for emerging Indigenous church while remembering the lost
The 10th Indigenous Anglican Sacred Circle began with acknowledgement of pain and loss.

Extract: "At the lighting of the Sacred Fire—livestreamed from Six Nations of the Grand River, Ont., as Sacred Circle was held online for the first time—National Indigenous Archbishop Mark MacDonald drew attention to the destruction of Lytton, B.C. by wildfires. He noted recent revelations about unmarked graves at residential school sites. He highlighted the ongoing struggle of many communities with COVID-19 and an epidemic of suicide, particularly among young people.

"In the midst of such catastrophe, the archbishop said, God appears as a reassuring presence. He pointed out that this Sacred Circle began on the feast day of the Algonquin-Mohawk saint Kateri Tekakwitha.

“'We have a great task before us, and we have a lot of difficulties in front of us,' MacDonald said. 'But today, we can say we have a strong and wonderful and gracious God with us.'

...

"Despite challenges, the prevailing mood at Sacred Circle often seemed upbeat as delegates studied the gospel and discussed the Covenant and Our Way of Life. In concluding remarks, Nicholls praised the gathering’s “wonderful sense of community—the laughter, the greetings that are tossed across the screens back and forth, the teasing that happens at different points all the way through the meeting, and of course, the stopping to pray when someone mentions someone who’s ill or in need.”

"The Sacred Circle had been a “very powerful gathering,” MacDonald said, adding, “God has spoken through the circle once again.”"