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PRESBYTERIAN
FALL 2021
presbyterian.ca
 Members of the National Indigenous Ministry Council in 2019.
Nine ministries comprise the National Indigenous Ministry Council (NIMC). Each ministry operates under a min- ister, director or representative who meets with the Council for mutual care, encouragement and discussion. Though the relationship between The Presbyterian Church in Canada and Indigenous peoples is wrought with history and pain, in part as a result of Residential Schools, the church is committed to the ongoing process of healing and reconciliation. The National Indigenous Ministry Council operates to uphold ministries engag- ing in this important work of sharing the reconciliatory action of Jesus in word and deed.
The work of the members of the National Indigenous Ministry Coun- cil spans a variety of contexts and ways of ministering. All the minis- tries serve Indigenous people who are Survivors or intergenerational Survivors of forms of colonialism, such as Residential Schools (of which the PCC operated 11), the Six- ties Scoop, loss of ancestral lands,
disproportionate rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA (Two-Spirited, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer, Questioning, Intersex and Asexual) people as reported by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, as well as higher rates of removing In- digenous children from their homes even today and placing them into foster care systems. Though each ministry goes about its work in dif- ferent ways, this context of colonial- ism means that often the ministries are working with people living with trauma and in need of healing. The ministries work to facilitate that healing through programs to meet needs in their specific contexts, in- cluding help with housing or food essentials, cultural programs for In- digenous youth, facilitating Sharing Circles or Sacred Fires with Elders, and helping people within commu- nities bridge generations to foster connections that suppor t commu- nity members at all stages of life.
In 2021, the NIMC became a standing committee of the General Assembly.
To learn more about the National Indigenous Ministry Council, watch the worship service the Council produced for National Indigenous Peoples Day this year (June 21) found here at presbyterian.ca/ worship-service-indigenous-leaders or visit the Council’s web page at presbyterian.ca/indigenous-ministries.
Connection
COMMITTEES
The National Indigenous Ministry Council
  The Nine Ministries of the National Indigenous Ministry Council:
Anamiewigummig Fellowship Centre – Kenora, Ont.
Winnipeg Inner City Missions – Winnipeg, Man.
Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry – Saskatoon, Sask.
Mistawasis Memorial Presbyterian Church – Mistawasis First Nation, Sask.
Place of Hope Indigenous Presbyterian Church – Winnipeg, Man.
Edmonton Urban Native Ministry – Edmonton, Alta. Nazko & Area Dakelh Outreach – Cariboo Region, B.C. Hummingbird Ministries – Vancouver, B.C. Cedar Tree Ministries (CTM) – Duncan, B.C.
  Telling Bible Stories with LEGO®
By John Barrett, Clerk of Session, Zion Presbyterian Church in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
From the crumbling walls of Jericho to the classic manger scene, the Christian Education Department at Zion Presbyterian Church in Char- lottetown, P.E.I., has been exploring and sharing stories from the Bible with LEGO.
In early 2020, we started recre- ating Bible story scenes with LEGO in our Sunday School classes. With help from a stop-motion app, we’ve been able to bring our creations to life.
After choosing a Bible story, we plan a storyboard, build the scenes and assemble the characters. Next, we set up the lights and camera and then we begin to shoot our LEGO video using the app. To create the appearance of movement, we move each of the characters between each photo. The stop-motion app strings hundreds of photos together to create a stop-motion video. To complete the video, we add music, sound effects and voiceover audio recordings.
Recreating Bible stories with LEGO creates an opportunity for children to dwell in and explore the Bible to- gether. These tiny theologians, while digging through boxes of LEGO, be-
gin to ask questions about the story, its setting and its characters. What did the Beautiful Gate look like? Was Hannah praying at the temple or the tabernacle? Why did Jesus tell this particular parable? Exploring these questions together with our children allows us to experience these much- loved stories in new ways.
Using these videos during our Chil- dren’s Story component of Sunday worship has brought endless com- ments from congregation members of all ages. Who knew that these stop-motion animations would be a huge hit with adults, as well! Our Christian Education Coordinator, Melissa Deelstra, her husband and their four children have invested so much work into these productions. Through these efforts, they have managed to bring Bible stories to life for all to enjoy at Zion Church.
Over the past year, more than 20
stop-motion videos have been pro- duced, including: The Tower of Babel, Moses and the Burning Bush, The Fall of Jericho, Hannah’s Prayer, The Birth of Jesus, The Shepherds and The Road to Emmaus. You can find all these LEGO Bible story videos and more on our website at zionpres.org/ bible-story-videos. Feel free to use the videos with your family, friends or children’s ministry. Better yet, down- load a stop-motion app and join us in retelling Bible stories with children in new ways!
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Gifts to Presbyterians Sharing provide support for the nine ministries of the National Indigenous Ministry Council.
   


































































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