Find A Way: A Sacred Journey 2025-2028
What is it? Find A Way: A Sacred Journey is a 3 year intention to walk (literally and metaphorically) with the 350th anniversary of King Philip’s War across the lands of New England. This war between indigenous tribes and the settler-colonists of the church shapes our history and is largely unknown. It is an unhealed wound in our land, our culture.
“No dream of repair is possible without the long, slow, embodied work of reckoning.” These words from the Landscape of Slavery at Harvard Walking tour imagine a way towards a dream of healing that begins with learning from the land and the peoples who have lived with this land for thousands of years, discovering who we as church have been in that story. How can we begin a new chapter? How can we dream of healing centuries of damage? We will seek to Find A Way, against all odds, to listen, to witness to “streets that may be familiar but which we will seek to hear from in a new way.” (H& LS Tour)
Over three years, Province I of the Episcopal church with various native, ecumenical, interfaith partners in each diocese will sponsor convening opportunities to walk and pray and be in silence and listening together. These events will be on each of the Indigenous People’s Day weekends of 2025, 2026, 2027, and Holy Week of 2028, commemorating the signing of the treaty that ended the active phase of the conflict. Other events may emerge. In each event, the intention is to have opportunities to gather, to walk, to listen.
Diocesan Gathering
This October, we will journey to Deer Island with the leadership of the Dioceses of Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts.
(https://www.diomass.org/news/diocesan-news/massachusetts-episcopal-bishops-support-ma-indigenous-legislative-agenda/)
October 13, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM: Journey (by bus) from Natick to Deer Island – the internment site where hundreds of Native people from the “praying towns” died from exposure and starvation in the winter of 1675 - 1676. This spiritual experience of place, presence and still reflection will be guided by Native neighbors and include the bishops of both the Diocese of Massachusetts and the Diocese of Western Massachusetts. Registration is required by Friday, October 3.
Additional JouRneying Opportunities
On October 9 walk from Harvard Square to Natick, to gather with the host community for dinner, prayer and conversation.
October 10 there will be a walk from Natick to Watertown, also concluding with dinner and prayer and conversation.
October 11 walk from Watertown to Winthrop, concluding with dinner and prayer and conversation.
October 12 worship with St. John’s, Winthrop, and join a sacred paddle around Deer Island
October 13 walk to join the others on Deer Island.
People may join for any of the walking, any of the evening gatherings. Accommodations for people with mobility challenges are possible! We are working to find hospitality, places to stay for each pilgrim with each community. Contact rita@harvardepiscopalians.org to sign up and discuss how you can participate.
