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."
PC(USA) Resources on Water
- Games and resources for kids on variety of issues are found at www.presbykids4kids.org.
- Congregational Ministries Publishing has created a website about Wetlands, in support of the Presbytery of Southern Louisiana's efforts at Wetlands education, restoration, and preservation.
- Just Living piece, Sustaining Waters, on good water stewardship.
- 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.
- Discover the hidden connections between food, water and energy in your everyday life, in the economy, and in society as a whole in the Nexus Guide: How Food, Water and Energy are Connected.
- Presbyterians for Earth Care has a bottled water campaign. Read more below.
Initiative for Clean Water and to Reduce Disposable Water Bottles
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.
Learn about the experiences of Joining Hands partners regarding water pollution and privatization - https://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
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…
Take the Pledge! "Say No to Bottled Water" http://www.presbyearthcare.org/advocacy-h20.html from Presbyterians for Earth Care.
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 ~ php@pcusa.org
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
- Great Lakes interactive resource
