Each year, UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence calls people around the world to stand together in prayer, awareness, and action to end violence against women and girls. This global campaign begins on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and concludes on December 10 (Human Rights Day). We'll be posting daily exerpts from the Episcopal Relief & Development’s 16 Days of Activism Toolkit, which the National Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will be using throughout the campaign. This resource is designed to inspire faith-based action and deepen our collective efforts to end violence against women and children.
We begin the 16 days with prayer and will continue to offer prayers from the Toolkit* throughout this series.
From the Rev. Joann Conroy:
Woyatan lyeche Mary
Mary said, “My soul sings praises”
As we gather in your name, Creator God, we face the Four
Directions remembering before you all Indigenous women and girls who are
missing and murdered. We pray for those who are victims of violence, their
families and communities. In Mary’s Song we find our way, loved, blessed,
protected and strengthened with God who created us. We breathe. Wakan Tanka,
wocikiyaye, wocikiyaye. God Hear our Prayers. Amen.
Slow breaths and read:
|
46 “My soul
magnifies the Lord, 47 and my
spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has
looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all
generations will call me blessed; 49 for the
Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. |
46 ēkwa Mary
ōmisi itwēw, “nitahcāhk
mamihcimēw kā‑tipēyihcikēyit. 47 mīna
nitahcāhk cīhkēyihtam, ayisk kisē-manitow ē‑pimācihit, 48 ēkwa
nikī-kiskisitotāk, niya ē‑atoskēyākaniwiyān. anohc ohci
kahkiyaw ayisiyiniwak sawēyimikowisiw nika-itikwak. 49 ayisk ana
kā‑māwaci-sōhkātisit kihci-kīkwaya
nikī-tōtamāk mīna kanātaniyiw owīhowin. (Plains Cree) |
Slow breaths and read:
|
50 His mercy
is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has
shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of
their hearts. |
50 Áádóó
dahodísinígíí da’ahílchííhdę́ę́’ áádóó da’ahílchííhgóó hwe’aa a’ááh hasin bił
dahólǫ́. 51 Hagaan bee
hwe’adziil bééhózingo ájiilaa, Diné bijéí
biyi’dę́ę́’ ádaa hodzódlí yee (Navajo) |
Slow breaths and read:
|
52 He has
brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has
filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. |
52
Tsu-na-li-ni-gi-dv du-we-ka-hv-sv u-na-nv-di-yi, a-le u-yo
i-yu-na-dv-hna-de-gi du-sa-la-da-nv. 53 A-go-nu
tsu-ni-yo-si-s-gi o-s-dv ge-sv du-ka-li-i-s-ta-nv, tsu-ne-hna-i-no
a-sv-ha do-u-ne-nv-s-di-yi ni-du-wa-ne-lv-gi. (Cherokee) |
Slow breaths and read:
|
54 He has
helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according
to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants
forever.” |
54 Iye
towaonxila kin he kiksuye,ca Israel ookiyeye cin he ikiye ce; 55
Hunkakewicunyanpi, Aberaham cinca kici, henan ohinniyan oie wicakicaton qon
hje iyececa ce, eya, (Sioux Lakota) |
WO CI KI YAYE.
*Note: The ERD Toolkit contains prayers The Heads of communion of Churches Beyond Borders have published devotions focused on violence against women and girls, timed with and inspired by the 16 Days of Activism. The devotions are written by the four bishops (heads of communion) and others representing each of the Churches Beyond Borders: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada, Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and The Episcopal Church. Each writer has been deeply involved in this work, addressing grave issues such as missing and murdered Indigenous women, human trafficking, women at the borders, exclusion of people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and domestic violence. Since Advent coincides with the campaign, they chose the Magnificat as their guiding text, offering prayer and reflection alongside the call for awareness and action. The devotions give thanks for the strong and enduring voice of Mary as she says “yes” to the angels to the angel’s annunciation and as she greets her sister Elizabeth. We share the Rev. Joann Conroy’s prayer and reflection. She is the president of the ELCA American Indian Alaska Native Association, Inc. (AIAN) and a chaplain at the Good Samaritan Society/Sanford Health in Maplewood, Minn.