THEME: Water awareness and action will be a major theme for SSC in 2014, and we want as many congregations as possible to be involved. SSC will provide education, organizing ideas, resources, networking, the possibility of common projects, and opportunities for celebration.
GOALS:
- To broaden awareness of the sacredness of water and the world-wide water crisis in its many causes and manifestations
- To motivate and equip people of faith to take significant actions to protect water, ranging from the personal to the systemic
WHY THIS THEME? Water is essential for life. It holds a central place in the practices and beliefs of world religions and indigenous peoples. It is a sacred gift that sustains and purifies object and persons, physically and spiritually.
Withholding or contaminating water is an affront to the sacredness of water. As people of faith and good will, it is our collective responsibility to preserve fresh water and make it available to all people, especially the vulnerable and voiceless. We can work together with all persons for solutions that demonstrate compassion and justice and that nurture peace throughout the world.
Today we are facing an enormous crisis of water: problems of shortages, distribution, degraded quality and quantity, actual or impending local and international conflicts over water. Today, more than 2 billion people lack access to potable water. The UN estimates that by 2050 more than 4 billion people will be living in nations defined as water-scarce or water-stressed.
INVITATION: Are you and your congregation ready to join the Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition and the United Nations and the World Council of Churches Creation Justice Ministries and others around the world who are advocating for sacred water and for the basic human right of all people to clean, life-sustaining water? Imagine the difference we could make if 100 or more congregations in the metro area walked together on a path of awareness and action?
PROGRAMS: Come to Village Presbyterian Church on Monday evening, January 6, 7:00-8:30 pm, for our monthly program, which will introduce the theme of sacred water and invite you to share your concerns regarding water and what you might need to make this project a reality. Will include a film and prayer.
On Saturday, February 8, from 9:30-11:30 am, (location to be announced) we will have a workshop on water to share a full spectrum of inspiration, ideas, resources and local connections, including success stories and printer-ready handouts, for you to use in whatever focus you decide best suits your congregation.
Together we can make a real difference. Will you join us?