Irvington church celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day through sermon and song
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Irvington paid homage to America's Indigenous people on Sunday.
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St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Irvington paid homage to America's Indigenous people on Sunday.
Dozens of congregants listened as Rev. Gareth Evans, the church’s rector, honored the community during his sermon.
"We don't possess the land. We are simply stewards of it," Evans said.
Evans also touched on the holiday's apparent cultural clash with Columbus Day.
"It can seem, on the surface, very contradictory...Both commemorating Columbus, who took the land, and at the same time, commemorating the indigenous peoples, from whom the land was taken," Evans said.
The church's choir continued the celebration through song. They performed "My Kind-Hearted Boy" in the Lakota language at their 10 a.m. service. Music director Jesse Goldberg shared why the lullaby, which was arranged by composer Linthicum-Blackhorse, was selected for Sunday's service.
"I thought it was really special, and it seemed appropriate to do for this particular day," Goldberg said.
Evans said he was proud that his congregation took the time to recognize the indigenous community's contributions to the country.
"I think it's important for the culture at large, to recall and remember those things that sometimes we'd rather forget," Evans said.
Monday marks the third Indigenous People's Day in the U.S.
