Pastoral Letter on the 2016 Presidential Election

Pastoral Letter on the 2016 Presidential Election 

A letter from Dr. JR Norwood to his Congregation on 11/13/16 also shared with 1st Light Mission

Christianity and Smudging

Rev. J R Norwood, PhD.

When considering the American Indian practice of smudging, along with many other traditional tribal ceremonies and practices, American Indian Christians must evaluate the method and intent of the act and also whether it could be appropriated for uses which are consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dismissing such things merely because they are not common within a European/Western Christian tradition does not make them necessarily evil or unusable. In fact, dismissing such things merely because they do not conform to Western practices is due more to a cultural and racial bias than a fair evaluation based upon biblical doctrine.

On Christians Receiving a Tribal Name

By Rev. J R Norwood, PhD

In modern American culture, people are known by many different names. Sometimes the names are their formal legal name, written on the birth certificate and other legal documents. And, sometimes the name is more of a well-known nickname, given by family, friends, and community members. There are some people who are better known by their nicknames than by their actual names. There are also various aliases that may be used for business. Sometimes entertainers or authors will use pseudonyms instead of their actual name. None of these various names are necessarily in conflict with the concept of receiving a “new name” when one is born again as a “Child of God” or the victorious eternal name granted by our Lord and Savior when we will be received in his heavenly kingdom.

Life is Sacred - A Prayer in Response to Recent Domestic Shootings and International Terrorism

A prayer by Dr. J R Norwood

Lord Jesus, Creator and Redeemer, our nation and our world are torn by violence. The sinful refusal to see one another as your image bearers has left families in deep mourning over loved ones lost and inflamed irrational responses and extremism among many who have harbored hostility against those whom you have declared to be their neighbors.  Far too often we have rejected your command to honor, value, and respect all life.

"The Unknown Jesus" Preached at the 2016 Pow Wow

A sermon by Rev. J R Norwood, PhD

Delivered outdoors at the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Powwow on June 12, 2016

"Not Good Enough" - Preached at the 2016 Spring Gathering

A sermon by Rev. J R Norwood, PhD

Delivered at the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Spring Tribal Gathering Worship on May 22, 2016

Chief Quiet Hawk's Thoughts on Religion & Spirituality

Religion and spirituality Is there a difference? Can we find a difference? It is the process, it has always been the process or the reason why.

Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Families and the Blessings that We Share

Reflections on Blessings by Chief Gould

          Forty years ago the family unity that our ancestors fought so hard to keep seamed to dwindle. We had no idea what the Creator had in store for us. When we started to reunite our families we had no direction, we just had a dream, a vision to bring our Lenape families back together.

“Scheyichbi? What is That?”

by Dr. JR Norwood

Originally published in the Newsletter of the Greater New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church

Have you ever heard of Scheyichbi?  You may not have heard the word, but you know the place.  It is the location of most of the Greater New Jersey Conference.  

PDF Book on Ministry Challenges among the Nanticoke-Lenape Communities

THE HISTORICAL IMPACT AND CURRENT CHALLENGES OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AMONG THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE DELAWARE BAY REGION

We Have Come this Far by Grace

by Rev JR Norwood, PhD

For many people, the presence of tribulation means the absence of God's grace.  But, this could not be farther from the truth.  In this sermon from April 27, 2014, Pastor Norwood is preaching at the Harmony United Methodist Church of Millsboro, Delaware, on the occasion of their Native American Sunday observance.  He speaks about the fact that the presence of difficulty does not necessarily mean the absence of grace.

We Have Come This Far By Grace - 2 Corinthians 4:5-10 

Prayer that Avails Much

By Rev JR Norwood, PhD

It would be hard to find a believer who would disagree that prayer is an important part of our walk of discipleship.  In this sermon, preached on April 19, 2015 at the historic Indian Mission Church of Millsboro, Delaware, Pastor Norwood examines what effective and fervent prayer is all about.

Prayer that Avails Much - James 5:16

Remembering the Martyrs of the Gnadenhutten Massacre

by Rev. JR Norwood, PhD

The Gnadenhutten massacre, also known as the Moravian massacre, was the killing of 96 Christian Lenape (28 men, 29 women, 29 children) by colonial American militia from Pennsylvania on March 8 & 9, 1782 at the Moravian missionary village. In an effort to spare their ammunition, the militia men bludgeoned the Indians to death with mallets and the butts of their guns. 

Christmas Reflections

By Chief Mark Gould

Christmas is a special time for most of us. I’m siting hear on my job thinking about the blessings and struggles that made me who I am today. 

Mixed Feelings on Thanksgiving

by Chief Mark Gould

I have very mixed emotions about Thanksgiving... and so should we all. 

The Chief's Reflection on Prayer

by Chief Mark Gould

Prayer has gotten us this far and prayer is going to take us all the way. That’s what I would like to talk about. 

Benedictions

The following blessings include words from the Unami Dialect of Lenape and incorporate phraseology consistent with Nanticoke-Lenape cultural traditions.  (by Dr JR Norwood)

How Can You Be Christian?

Many times people will ask American Indians who are followers of Jesus how it is that they could accept Christianity, given all the suffering it has caused tribal people.

Triune Creator Dwell Among Us

(a litany for worship by Rev Roy E Bundy)

Psalm 23

(A modern indigenous paraphrase by Dr JR Norwood)

Ten Commandments

 (A modern indigenous rendering of Exodus 20:1-17 by Dr JR Norwood)

Ancient, Dusky Rivers

A Litany for Worship by Rev. Roy E Bundy 

An American Indian View of Jesus

by the Rev. Richard Twiss* (Lakota)

Jesus was an aboriginal boy. Jesus was Hebrew. Jesus was born into a traditional Native village. Jesus was a political refugee. Jesus was a cultural man born into the Tribe of Judah.