Weekly Celebrations, Actions and Meditations
To Promote Earth Stewardship
Week 2:
March 30-April 5: “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate the
water from the water.” (Genesis 1:6, NIV).
Focus on God’s
creation of water. The Earth has been called the “Water Planet.” No
planet that we know has water available like the Earth, our island home.
Without the unique molecular properties of water (the universal solvent), life
as we know it would not exist. Spend the week admiring the beauty and
life-giving nature of water and how you can conserve it and keep it pure.
Consider the many times Jesus spoke of water. Consider those who do not share
equally in this bountiful gift and think of ways to alleviate their suffering by
providing clean water.
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Celebration
- Read the
“living water” passage in John’s gospel, chapter 4.
- Look at a
globe and see that approximately 75 percent of the Earth is covered by water;
give thanks to God for this bounty!
- Drink water
after a brisk walk, instead of drinks with artificial ingredients. Feel the
natural goodness as you swallow.
- Take a
stroll at Great Falls and thank God for water!
Photo: Great Falls NHP - Maryland |
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- Bike along
the C&O Canal towpath.
- Pick up a
stone in a stream and look at the bottom of the stone. You might see planaria,
stonefly larvae, mayfly larvae, and many other interesting creatures.
- Plan a hike
to a local waterfall.
- Plan a trip
to the shore in winter when the beaches aren’t crowded and just listen to the
surf.
- Consider the
enormous power of flowing water, how it shaped the Grand Canyon and other
landscape features. Look at pictures of the Grand Canyon.
Photo: Grand Canyon, Arizona |
Action
- If you have
a older toilet with a large tank, fill a liter plastic bottle with water and
place in your toilet cistern to save water and energy with every flush.
- Take a
shower instead of a bath.
- Only fill
your kettle with as much water as you need.
- Re-wear
clothes that aren’t dirty and only run your washing machine when you have a
full load.
- Turn the tap
off while brushing your teeth and put the plug in when you wash your face.
- Use “gray”
water from a rain barrel to wash your car. Use a bucket rather than a hose.
- Think of all
the lives that have already been lost and damaged due to tsunamis and floods
caused by global warming. Contribute to efforts to stop global warming.
- Send
contributions to aid those in need of safe drinking water.
- Cut down on
the chemicals you send down the drain. Replace with a greener brand.
Appropriately dispose of those which are harmful to the environment.
- Reduce your
impact on groundwater and runoff by reducing chemical use on your lawn. If you
use an herbicide, use it on specific plants. Do not spray your entire lawn.
- Consider
alternatives to pavement. Paving contributes to runoff and can harm
watersheds. Make a rain garden. The biggest cause of pollution in rivers, the
source of our drinking water, is runoff from streets and lawns that carry
pesticides, fertilizers, and oil from the storm drains to the streams.
Every drop of rain that you keep on your property helps to keep our
drinking water less polluted. Every drop matters. Every drop counts. Make a
rain garden below any paved area – visit:
http://www.rainkc.com/GARDENS/INDEX.ASP.
Meditation:
Think of the desert-like
nature of the area in which Jesus spent his earthly life and the total
dependency of people on water bodies and wells. How did Jesus draw on this
environment for illustrations and inspiration? If possible, perform this
meditation within hearing distance of flowing water, like a creek, river, or
waterfalls.
Week 3: Plants
