The Ecumenical Water Network (EWN) is offering a collection of biblical resources and prayers during Lent to help local congregations address the justice issues of unequal access to freshwater and sanitation. During the Seven Weeks for Water initiative, theologians and church activists from Africa, Europe, North and South America will provide short biblical meditations with experiences of church agencies working on the ground.
“Traditionally, Lent is a time for concentrating on what is essential in life and opening our hearts to our neighbours, for example by fasting and giving to the needy,” says Mike Gorsboth, the EWN co-ordinator. “The Seven Weeks for Water initiative encourages Christian groups and individuals to deepen this experience, reflecting on the concrete issue of water justice.”
World Water Day on 22nd March is an ideal opportunity to highlight the importance of water. The UNESCO initiative grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. EWN has put together a collection of resources and links that can help congregations address the issue, inspired by prayer, biblical texts on justice and on water, and the experiences of church agencies with the challenges posed by unequal access to freshwater and sanitation.
See worldwaterday.org and oikoumene.org for further details.