Water: A Gift and a Right
In Scripture, in the baptismal font, and even in the cups that grace our tables, water is a gift from God. Water is also a right for all people on earth. Knowing that water is powerful, both life-giving and destructive at times, we praise God for the gift of water as we work to provide clean water throughout creation.
Read an article from June 2013 Presbyterians Today magazine, "Polluting Our Baptismal Waters."
PCUSA RESOURCES ON WATER:
- Games and resources for kids on variety of issues are found at www.presbykids4kids.org.
- Living Waters for the World provides water purification systems and health education to communities around the world.
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance responds to water and other related disasters.
- Presbyterian Hunger Program focuses on poverty and hunger alleviation and economic justice concerns that include water concerns, particularly the recent drought.
INITIATIVE FOR CLEAN WATER AND TO REDUCE DISPOSABLE WATER BOTTLES:
1. Incorporate a practice of prayerful mindfulness into your daily life. Notice when, where and how you encounter water. Say a prayer of thanks for easy access to clean, safe water where you find it. Say a prayer for water justice when you encounter water that is unclean, not shared or used unwisely.
2. Download resources from CPJ's Environmental Ministries pcusa.org/resource/resource-list-water and ecumenical resources from http://nccecojustice.org/resources/#waterresources.
3. Learn about the experiences of Joining Hands partners regarding water pollution and privatization - http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/joininghands/water-privatization-and-pollution and learn about health, chemical contamination, and cosmetics with ecumenical resources from the National Council of Churches at http://nccecojustice.org/health/cosmetics.php
4. Join the “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign (www.thinkoutsidethebottle.org) by taking the pledge, or make your own pledge to drink public tap water and forego bottled water. Purchase a reusable nonplastic or BPA-free plastic bottle (like one with PW’s logo, which can be ordered from PDS at http://store.pcusa.org). Fill with water and carry with you when you exercise, hike or travel. You can take the empty bottle through airport security and fill it with tap water on the concourse. Read more…
5. Take the Pledge! "Say No to Bottled Water" http://www.presbyearthcare.org/advocacy-h20.html from Presbyterians for Earth Care.
6. Share with other! To download the brochure with scripture references, tips, and encouragement to sign the Bottled Water Pledge, click here.
Contact the Presbyterian Hunger Program for more information ~ email@example.com
ECUMENICAL RESOURCES ON WATER (WORSHIP, EDUCATION, OTHER):
NCC Eco-Justice Working Group, “For I Was Thirsty” (World Water Day), and “Water Stewards” resources
United Church of Canada, Water resources, including links to curriculum from 2005: “Waters of Life: Issues, Ethics, and Actions” by David Hallman, and many other resources.
United Church of Canada, Waters of Creation worship resource
Living Waters for the World, Worship Resources
Church World Service Worship, Worship Resource on water
Church World Service Worship, Seven Weeks for Water (land and water; oil and water; commodification of water; women, water and violence; water conflict in the Holy Land; climate change refugees; water for Guatemala’s landless)
World Council of Churches, Ecumenical Water Network
United Nations, World Oceans Day June 8
United Nations, World Water Day March 22
United Nations, UNICEF Tap Project