Join us on Wednesady June 17, 2026 at 7:00 pm for conversation, music, prayer, and a potluck meal as we continue on our “Red Dress Journey” with guest speaker Iris Schweiger.
Food contributions and help with set-up and take-down are appreciated.
For more information on the Red Dress journey, see: The Red Dress Journey https://easternsynod.org/the-red-dress-journey/
Our Land acknowledgement
We acknowledge the land we are meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. This land is covered by Treaty 13. Tkaronto is also part of the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which calls all who live here to share the land and protect it in the spirit of peace, friendship, and mutual care.
As a bilingual German English Lutheran congregation founded 70 years ago, our community has long been shaped by migration, resettlement, and the search for belonging. Many who first gathered here were newcomers seeking stability and spiritual grounding; today, our congregation includes people of many backgrounds, ages, and life stories, united by faith and by the lake that has always been our neighbour.
Rooted in this place, we have built a sanctuary of welcome – a space where worship, language, culture, and community care meet. Through ministries such as Bowls & Blessings, where we share food outdoors with neighbours in need, and through gatherings like our Dinner Church, where people from the wider community join us for conversation and nourishment, we strive to embody hospitality and compassion.
We recognize that our ability to gather, worship, and serve is made possible by the stewardship of Indigenous peoples who have cared for this land since time immemorial. In response, we commit ourselves to reciprocity – to learning about Indigenous histories and present realities, to supporting Truth and Reconciliation, and to caring for the land and waters that sustain us. We seek to walk gently here, honouring the responsibilities that come with living in this treaty territory. May our presence on this land reflect gratitude, humility, and a shared commitment to justice and healing.
The Red Dress Journey
In Canada, the red dress journey refers to an interactive resource and event package used by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (Eastern Synod). It travels between different congregations to raise awareness and educate people about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). The project, which was launched around Red Dress Day (May 5th) in 2023, uses the red dress as a visual symbol to spark compassionate conversations about reconciliation and the ongoing legacy of residential schools.
What is the story behind the red dress journey?
The story behind the “red dress” is a deeply moving and powerful movement of remembrance. It stems from The REDress Project, an outdoor art installation created in 2010 by Métis visual artist Jaime Black to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S).
The project has since evolved into a global symbol and is commemorated annually on Red Dress Day (May 5).
