Unbound to release ‘With Creation: A Native and Indigenous Lenten Devotional’

‘The Western worldview will not sustain our future,’ contributing writer says

by Darla Carter | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — A Lenten devotional from the staff of Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice will highlight Native American and Indigenous voices and perspectives, from Ash Wednesday to Easter.

The online and downloadable series, “With Creation: A Native and Indigenous Lenten Devotional,” will feature 12 Native American or Indigenous writers and is intended to fill a need within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

“Native and Indigenous voices and perspectives are often ignored or silenced, especially in the context of the church and faith, though their voices and perspectives have always been here,” said the Rev. Lee Catoe, editor of Unbound. “It is crucial that the people who have been here, will be here and will always be here have a platform to express their spiritualities and their perspectives. This isn’t only a devotional but a calling to an invitation to be challenged, to grow and to be at one with the Creator and Creation.”

The Rev. Lee Catoe

The contributing writers include familiar names, such as the Rev. Irvin Porter, the Associate for Native American Intercultural Congregational Support in the Presbyterian Mission Agency, but “as all Unbound devotionals do, we branch out to hear and experience other perspectives and traditions from the broader faith community,” Catoe said.

Dr. Randy Woodley, co-sustainer of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds, is one of the contributing writers. He was drawn to the project because “the Western worldview will not sustain our future,” he said. “People need to hear from Indigenous peoples to realize a better way of viewing the world is possible.”

There will be a downloadable PDF of the series as well as a digital version at www.justiceunbound.org/withcreationlent. Also, Unbound’s social media will feature the series, with easy accessibility to each piece.

Check out previous devotionals from Unbound:

• “Una Jornada Para Surgir: Devocional De Cuaresma Mujerista” (“A Journey to Arise: A Mujerista Lenten Devotional”)
• “Disabling Lent: An Anti-Ableist Lenten Devotional”
• “Ashes To Rainbows: A Queer Lenten Devotional”