You may have also noticed the blankets which are spread out in front of the chancel steps. For many years these quilts, comforters and other blankets have been used for the Kairos Blanket Exercise, a teaching time to help people understand the reality of Indigenous peoples in Canada. If you look closely, some of the blankets have still got bits of forest and leaves from the confirmation camp event which was held at Camp Edgewood. During the blanket exercise the blankets represent the land and we are invited to take off our shoes and enter onto the land as Indigenous peoples. This morning we could also think of these blankets as representing treaty. Like a covenant, a treaty is about relationship to other peoples who share the land with us. The Two Row Wampum Treaty, the Dish With One Spoon Treaty, the Haldimand Proclamation, the Silver Covenant Chain Treaty - all of these treaties describe how best to live together with creation and one another. Our ancestors made these treaties when they arrived on the territory. These are not simply historic agreements, but rather the embodiment of our relationship with the land and the people who live, learn and work on it. We can think of these blankets layered over one another as linked covenants with the many peoples who have walked this land in the past, who still live here now, and who will show their faces in future generations.

A few weeks ago Pastor Sebastian told the first creation narrative, when the wind came over the water and everything was created during six days. This morning, we heard the second narrative which describes God forming a human being from the soil of the earth, and how God breathed the Spirit, or breath of life, into the dust to create a living being. On Ash Wednesday we say: You are dust, and to dust you shall return. This statement encapsulates the cycle of life. We are made of dirt, and we will return to the dirt at the end of our earthly existence.

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Lenape Creation Story-

Kacheh Munitto, the Great Spirit, had created a beautiful world filled with mountains, valleys, rivers, creeks, pebbles, and trees of every kind. There were birds, fish, and fowl, as well as people from all nations and languages. Although they were all different, every nation understood how to live in harmony and gratitude. In appreciation for all the blessings—such as food, water, and medicine to keep us healthy—the Creator instructed us never to forget these values.

Arguments began to arise due to greed and the hoarding of resources, leading to nations fighting against one another. This conflict resulted in a complete lack of respect for other languages and cultures. Such disrespect ultimately culminated in a great flood.

During this time, a man named Amen-a-push noticed the water levels rising quickly. He decided to climb to higher ground in the mountains. As he ascended, he gathered a few animals in the crook of his arm to ensure their safety. When the waters continued to rise, he found the tallest cedar on the mountain top and began to climb again. With his other arm, he collected cedar branches, which he tucked into his leather belt. As he neared the top of the tree, he realized that the waters continued to rise.

In fear,he built a raft and floated out upon the waters with the animals he had saved.

Alone, Amen-a-push longed for the old ways and the wisdom of his ancestors. He stared into the waters, trying to see all that had been lost in the soil of the earth, which still thrived with the ways of being, even far beneath the surface.

First, he sent the Loon to swim to the bottom to reclaim the soil, but the Loon, unable to dive that deep, returned half alive and without the earth. Next, the Otter tried, followed by the Beaver, but neither was successful. Just when Amen-a-push began to lose hope, the Muskrat, having been gone for an unimaginably long time, finally returned with the living soil of the ancestors. This soil was beautiful and steeped in the knowledge and memories of the ways to be.

Amen-a-push, full of gratitude, rubs the soil dry between his palms and, with blessing and thanks, blows the living soil across the water. The breath of Kacheh Munitto, Benevolent Spirit, carried it far and wide and as it settled, it grew and came to life again.

We have all begun from this living soil, as it carries the wisdom of the past generations. Today, and each day of our lives we strive to live out that knowledge and to love in the present. And, we must live such gratitude that, in the end, when we return to the soil of the Creator, we leave it in a good way.

If we leave the earth with only pain, hurt, greed for wealth, without any care for creation by destroying resources and forgetting that we should be grateful every day for the NOW. What is left?

If we live with humility, love, kindness, and respect, we enrich the living soil; the earth that nourishes us—fertile and abundant, to be shared with future generations in peace and harmony.

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The reading from Acts explains that the disciples held their possessions in common, pooling their resources for the good of the whole community. To our capitalist ears this may seem far-fetched and strange. Another example of this kind of sharing would be communities where hunters share the animal with the village to make sure that everyone gets fed. The early followers of Jesus were walking the talk and cared for one another in very practical ways. They model for us a radical hospitality and generous stewardship of resources.

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Dish with One Spoon

The creation story teaches us that everything we need to be healthy and well-nourished, including clean water sources, is provided by the Earth—not just for people, but for all plants, animals, and birds as well.

The "Dish" symbolizes the Earth and all its goodness, while the "spoon" represents the equal sharing of these resources. There are no forks or knives at the table because sharp edges can cause harm to one another.

Covenants and treaties are just as valid as words written down. In fact, history has shown that written records can be altered to benefit the few. This is why it’s important to revisit and renew these covenants together.

We all live under the "Dish with One Spoon" Wampum treaty, which is simple to uphold. Imagine the Earth as a giant soup bowl that we must all share equally.

1. Take only what you need. This serves as a reminder to use resources wisely and not to waste food and medicines from the land that are essential for overall health.
2. Always leave something in the bowl for the next person. This acknowledges the great abundance provided by the Creator. It reinforces that there is no need to fight over resources, and if we share and live respectfully for those who come after us, we can ensure no one goes hungry. It also speaks to being thankful daily for the gifts we have received.
3. Keep the bowl clean. This means taking care of creation; do not litter or harvest without considering the mess it leaves behind.

It is the good foods and medicines we share that strengthen our community. The Creator desires for us to live in peace, symbolized by the white wampum beads surrounding the bowl. The purple beads represent the Earth, or the "dish," while the white shell beads in the center are referred to as the "beaver tail" or "spoon," representing the loving way we nourish ourselves and each other.

This treaty is not merely about words; it is about the relationship we build with each other based on respect and gratitude. It is a gift from the Creator that, if fully embraced, will sustain us for generations to come.

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I asked Pastor Sebastian to read Eugene Peterson’s translation of the Gospel which is quite interesting.I particularly like: “to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving.“ The Good News is that God gives us everything we need. God liberates us so that we can love our neighbour. Steep your life in God-initiative. What is God up to here on Benton Street; just outside the walls of St. Matthews?How can we embrace the gift which is the communities of Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit? How might St. Matthews become a safer space where urban Indigenous peoples exploring their cultural roots would find a welcome that nurtures reconciliation?

God, the potter of the land; God, the womb of all creation; God, the resurrected truth; God, present in every moment and who meets us here; breathe into our hearts and minds a Spirit of reconciliation. Amen

By Deacon Scott and Lana Moses