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Sunday, March 7, 2021:
Water, Water!
World Water Day is March 22
WELCOME to ST JAMES'
ONLINE SUNDAY SCHOOL!
Here are the readings for this Sunday:
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Here's what we're wondering about:
Water, Water! It's World Water Day on 3/22
As the poster says, "Water means different things to different people. In households, schools, and workplaces, water can mean health, hygiene, dignity, and opportunity."
Where's water? Water covers 71% of our earth (but only a tiny percentage is drinkable). 96% of Earth's water is in the oceans of our planet. The rest is found in lakes, rivers, glaciers, under the earth, and in the air.
Our bodies are about 60% water! People can only live for a few days without water. Fact: babies are about 75% water, around the same percentage as a banana (!).
The Bible mentions water some 722 times. There is water of life, living water, quiet waters, pure water, clean water; deep water, wells of water, cups of cold water, water for washing, water for baptizing; flowing rivers and never-failing streams!
In Genesis, God separates the waters from the waters. Later, there are 40 days and nights of rain (& a rainbow!). In Exodus and Numbers, Moses asks God for drinking water in the desert; then there is the miracle of the Red Sea dividing. Jesus walks on water, stills the raging water, turns water into wine, and tells a Samaritan woman, "Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”
Here is my favorite, Isaiah 58:11: The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
In our church, God's gift of water is a part of our worship. The sacrament of baptism uses blessed water (check out our Online Sunday School lesson "By Water & The Holy Spirit"), most usually in a church ceremony at a special font (like a fountain!). On special occasions and to remember our baptism, we are asperged (sprinkled) with blessed holy water! Have you ever been sprinkled with holy water at church?
- What does water mean to you?
- How many ways do you use water every day?
- Have you ever wanted water, but not had it?
- What are some ways to use water wisely?
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How can we help others have the water they need?
- How can we say thank you to God for the gift of water?
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Pray & ponder this prayer
O gracious Father, you opened your hand
and filled all things living with plenteousness:
Bless the lands and waters, and multiply the harvests of the world;
let your Spirit go forth, that it may renew the face of the earth;
show your loving-kindness, that our land may give her increase;
and save us from selfish use of what you give us,
that people everywhere may give you thanks; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
What words, music, dance and other movement, and artwork
would you offer in thanksgiving for water?
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All the water in the world. . . is all the water in the world! Learn all about this precious resource. Hear the story here!
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This Caldecott medal winner tells about an Ojibwe girl who fights against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Hear the book & earth-saving tips here! You, too, can be a protector.
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(By the way, the illustrator is also an orthodontist!)
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Pour boiling water into a heat-safe glass (adult job! be careful!), cover it with a plate. Mound ice cubes on the plate. Watch what happens inside the glass. (When all's cool, water house plants!)
You can find many water-related activities and glorious stop-action photos in Walter Wick's beautiful book A Drop of Water.
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The Fifth Sunday in Lent: purple days! Click here for an email about this season.
Please let me know if I can be of service to you these days, or any time. We are traveling this Lenten journey together! Love - Linda
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