Environmental Stewardship Commission

Welcome! We're glad you're planning on observing a liturgical season of creation. We have prepared some materials for you to use in worship, teaching, and personal reflection.

The Reflections and Notes on the readings for this Sunday are available for you to use. You may

• copy and paste what you wish from this page directly to your preparation materials or
• download the materials as part of a reference materials for the individuals involved in preparing religious education, homilies, or special liturgical materials for your Service.

Reflection and Notes for Easter 2, Year A:

There are several Themes for this Sunday:

Lectionary themes:

• Joyful faith and confident hope
• Gospel theme: Doubting Thomas

Creation themes

• Precipitation Cycle – Rain – Dew
• All life on Earth depends on moisture of some kind

Water runs through so much of our scripture and ritual. Water is a primary symbolic spiritual metaphor. From Creation stories in Genesis, all three of them, to Psalm 1, 23 and many to Baptism and many of Jesus parables, healings and narratives to the rivers of Revelation “A river runs through it”

QUESTIONS

• When do we need and trust our faith in Water?
• Do we trust in its ability to sustain us?
• Is there enough for all?
• How do I know, for sure?
• Do I care to save, conserve, to share, do I care to pare my own wanton use of water?
• Will it matter if I do? How will I know?

Noah trusted in God, finally, “after long days on the ark and the sea” He sought dry land.
Noah sent out the dove to bring him proof of the subsiding waters, an olive branch was returned, proof enough for Noah.
He required enough fresh water for those animals and to grow things anew in his vineyard.
Noah finally learned trust, that God had not deserted him.

Peter, chosen as a fisherman, from a life on the fresh water of the Galilean Sea, followed in trust that did waver, yet always returned to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah.

David learned to trust in God, established a kingdom, wrote to share the songs and stories from his repentance and deeper level of trust.

• God would sustain him, if he lived his trust
• David learned the hard way with the prophet Nathan as a coach
• David learned to confess, repent and renew his faltering faith
• David himself became a prophet

Thomas, the disciple could not trust until he saw Jesus himself. Can we believe the story, can we find trust?

Are we skeptics about the water prophets? Do we not trust the scientists, do we not trust the Arctic explorers who witness the north pole melt down?

I have seen some of the proofs of climate change and miss use of fresh water. I have lived most of a long life on the beaches and shores of four of the Great Lakes. I know of the pollution and lower water levels due to pollution, diversion and evaporation. I know of the invasive species that disrupt the ecosystems of the fresh water seas. I have seen the Sea of Galilee, and the loss of its fresh water and in the River Jordan due to over irrigation. I have been to the Arctic and spoken to folks whose lives are changing due to lack of polar ice packs and thawing of permafrost. I have seen melting, receding glaciers. I have heard Lonnie Dupre and Will Steeger speak and depict the melting north pole cap.

Yet I know I waste water and I eat fresh vegetables and enjoy flowers irrigated in desert areas depleting rivers like the Colorado and Ogala Aquifer. So I know I remain part of the problem. Do I purchase bottled water?

Why do I not follow the prophets more myself.; what are some specifics that I can effect to reduce fresh water loss and use. How can I be a more just, sharing steward of the fresh water sources around me?

Activities:

Identify all the ways we use water. Keep a week long log of water use.
Identify and visit local places where one's, or a community or church water supply originates
Visit treatment plants and discuss how individuals, homes and churches may use water more prudently
Interview someone who lives in a desert. Learn more about the middle East, especially the Holy Land and Scriptural stories about life with little water.
Identify justice issues for folks who have little fresh water.
Children can make great pictures, murals, and collages for large areas of bulletin boards.

• Creation Stories
• Local water sources
• Justice issues – giving a drink of water to the thirsty.

PDF Version of these notes: click here

This page last updated 2008-02-14.

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