Sermon by Patti Pettigrew and Rev. Shawn Newton.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day this Sunday, it is an honour to welcome to our pulpit, once again, Patti Pettigrew, the President of the Board of the Thunder Woman Healing Lodge and member of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. The healing lodge, which has been approved for construction in the Cliffside area of Scarborough, will help to support the healing, rehabilitation, and reintegration of Indigenous women offenders. On Sunday, Patti will reflect on the complicated journey involved in establishing the first healing lodge in Ontario to serve Indigenous women who are in conflict with the law, and she will update us on the bold steps TWHL has taken over the past year to help these women in the midst of the pandemic. Following Patti’s initial remarks, she and I will engage in a dialogue during the service.

As we deepen our relationship with Thunder Woman Healing Lodge, we are being invited, in a direct way, to take up the work of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. TWHL is the beneficiary of our March Sharing the Plate offerings, so I encourage you to be as generous as possible. Contributions may be made through our Canada Helps page or by sending cheques (indicating the gift is for TWHL) to the office at First Unitarian.

I look forward to sharing in this special Sunday with you all.

In faith and love,
Shawn