March 3, 2011

"Water and Just Peace" will be the theme of this year's Lenten reflections provided by the Ecumenical Water Network (EWN). Starting on Monday 7 March the weekly reflections will explore the connection between access to water, struggles over this precious resource and building just peace.

"The theme has been chosen because of its relevance to communities and churches around the world" says EWN coordinator Maike Gorsboth. "At the same time, the Seven Weeks are a chance for groups and individuals to prepare themselves for the call to just peace that will emanate from the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation that will be taking place in Kingston, Jamaica in May."

Biblical reflections are being posted week by week on http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=2267&rid=f_13684&mid=2893&aC=63bab3c8&jumpurl=1, along with complementary links and ideas for activities for individuals and congregations. Among them are reflections on Exodus and conflicts around water and oil by the Rev. Canon Dr Ezekiel Babatunde, director of the Institute of Church and Society of the Christian Council of Nigeria, on water conflict in the Holy Land by Fr Afrayem Elorshalimy from the Coptic Orthodox Church and on the role of faith for communities who defend their means of subsistence by José Pilar Alvarez from the Lutheran Church of Guatemala.

Worship materials for World Water Day on 22 March and for Maundy Thursday are already available on the EWN website: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=2267&rid=f_13684&mid=2893&aC=63bab3c8&jumpurl=2.

The importance of access to water was recently affirmed by the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The WCC governing body issued a statement during its meeting in February calling for the implementation of the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right.

The Ecumenical Water Network is an initiative of Christian churches, organizations and movements who advocate for water as a human right and work to promote access of people to water through community-based initiatives around the world. The WCC hosts the network's secretariat and helps to facilitate cooperation among the partners involved.

Sign-up for e-mail updates on the Seven Weeks for Water: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=2267&rid=f_13684&mid=2893&aC=63bab3c8&jumpurl=1.

More information on the Ecumenical Water Network: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=2267&rid=f_13684&mid=2893&aC=63bab3c8&jumpurl=4.

World Water Day tool kit: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=2267&rid=f_13684&mid=2893&aC=63bab3c8&jumpurl=5.

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

World Council of Churches