Camping Sunday

The sun is shining, the days are longer, the flowers are blooming...winter is over and that means it is time to start thinking about CAMP!


If you are looking for ideas for a Camping Sunday Service, the 2012 service is now available at http://unitedcamping.ning.com/forum/topics/camping-sunday-service

Dates for summer camp at Kenesserie are also up and available at www.kenesserie.com start planning for your awesome camp experience now!

World Water Day

Water is life.

Today marks the UN's World Water Day.  Water is one of the major issues of our time and is likely to become even more important in the future.  People around the world and in our own country lack access to clean drinking water.

When a billion people in the world already live in chronic hunger and water resources are under pressure we cannot pretend the problem is ‘elsewhere’.

We can all help by following some simple steps:

• follow a healthier, sustainable diet;
• consume less water-intensive products;
• reduce the scandalous food wastage: 30% of the food produced worldwide is never eaten and the water used to produce it is definitively lost!

wasted food.

The average water footprint for a Canadian is 6,392 litres a day — that’s the total volume of freshwater used to produce the goods and services we consume.

Here’s the down low on H2O:
70 per cent of the world’s water is used for agriculture
1,755 litres of water required to make one sausage.
160 litres of water is used to produce one large banana
230 litres of water are used to make one 200-ml glass of apple juice.
1,040 litres of water are used for 1 kg of potato chips
50 litres of water is used to produce one tomato; about 530 litres to produce 1 kg of tomato ketchup
500 litres of water goes into producing 100 grams of cheese
1,260 litres of water goes into one margherita pizza
120 litres of water is used to make a 125-ml glass of wine
74 litres of water is used to make a 250-ml glass of beer
30 litres of water is required to grow enough tea leaves to make a single cup of tea
30 percent of the food produced worldwide is lost or wasted every year.
50 per cent reduction of food losses and waste at the global level would save 1,350 cubic kms of water a year. (By comparison, the volume of Lake Ontario is 1,640 cubic kms.)

Sources: United Nations, Canada Water Week, Water Footprint Network and One Drop. 

For more information check out: www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/

CHALLENGE: help your families plan meals for the week in a manner that will reduce food waste.  Remember that the less processed the food is the less water is used in its production.

40 Practices for Lent - Part 8

Day Thirty-six: Find ways to recognize people as children of God.  Make eye contact with the grocery store clerk.  Smile at strangers.

Day Thirty-seven: Try fasting from a different kind of hunger, consumerism.  Choose one day in Lent to prayerfully explore consumer spending habits and how often we bu more than we need.  Refrain from making purchases on that day.

Day Thirty-eight: Death is inevitably part of the Lenten journey as we tell the story of Jesus' death on the cross and find assurance of our new life we have because of the resurrection.  Take this time to remember those who have new life with God and be strengthened by the witness of their lives.  Take out photos of family and friends who have died.  Talk about these people with your family or share their stories with a friend.

Day Thirty-nine: Learn and practice the traditional practice of praying the Stations of the Cross.  Ask a friend who attends a Catholic church if you might attend a Lenten program with them that prays the stations, or visit: http://www.markdroberts.com/htmfiles/resources/stationsofthecross.htm

Day Forty: Practice resurrection.  We are the people of resurrection and hope, called to live passionately and compassionately with others, to defy death, to forgive, and to bring others back into the community, to do something that is life-giving, that fights death and needless suffering.



These are the last 5 days of Lent.  I hope that you have found some of these practices we've explored in Lent meaningful.  Peace & Joy, Nancy.

40 Practices for Lent - Part 7

Day Thirty-one: Follow your breath as it leads to God.  Simply observe your breath.  Inhale and exhale slowly, recognizing that breathing is a life sustaining and God-infused action.

Day Thirty-two: Fast. The purpose of fasting is to support our prayers and heighten our awareness of a most basic human need.  Paying attention to our hunger can help us connect to our thirst for God and the emptiness we feel.  Fast one day or one meal to join our physical needs to spiritual ones.

Day Thirty-three: Spring cleaning can be more than a way to get rid of "stuff".  Along with asking yourself "what don't I want" also practice asking "what don't I need?"  Invite God into these question and explore together a journey of letting go of the excess in your life.

Day Thirty-four: Light a candle.  Pray as it is lit "God thank you for the gift of your Light in the midst of all darkness.  Let his candle be a symbol of our faith in your presence among us."

Day Thirty-five: We follow Jesus and journey with others whose heritage has left a path before us.  Reflect on your faith journey and remember the names of those in whose footsteps you are following and who is on the road with you now.  Find a way to share with them your gratitude for journeying with you.

40 Practices for Lent - Part 6

Day Twenty-six: Think of persons you haven't heard from you in a while.  Give them a call, or send them a card.  If there is something that needs mending in your relationship, take the first step.

Day Twenty-seven: Find ways to live more simply, shring God's good gifts with others by protecting the environment and supporting local farmers.  Read stickers and labels to see where your food is grown.  Make efforts to buy food grown within our community or province.

Day Twenty-eight: Learn the names of individuals contributing to the leadership of the local community.  Offer prayers for them.  Express your appreciation for their service.

Day Twenty-nine: Make a prayer wall at home.  Put up a large peice of paper and encourage famiy members to write or draw pictures of the prayers of joy and concern they have for that day.  Pray together for each person and for the prayer tey have expressed.

Day Thirty: Slow down and observe the Sabbath.  Whether Sabbath time is one hour in a day or a 24 hour period, take time to intentionally stop "working" and spend time in worship, prayer, and family time.

Confirmation Retreat

I am putting together a confirmation retreat for you on April 20-21.  It will be themed around spiritual practices, with a few games and fun thrown it, too!

Let me know if you are interested - nancy_walker@hotmail.com

40 Practices for Lent - Part 5

Day Twenty-one: Find a psalm or hymn text that is meaningful to you.  Write the words out and study them.  Choose a different portion of the text for each week of Lent and memorize it.

Day Twenty-two: If you consider yourself a spiritual "dropout" reach out to someone you trust and talk about your feelings.

Day Twenty-three: Practice random acts of anonymous kindness.

Day Twenty-four: Pray the scriptures by using the ancient art of Lectio Divina.  For more information: http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html

Day Twenty-five: Find the oldest person you know and ask them to teach you something.

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day.

The UN theme for International Women’s Day 2012 is Empower Women – End Hunger and Poverty.  In many countries, International Women's Day is an occasion to honor and praise women for their accomplishments. In 2012, Oxfam America is inviting people to celebrate inspiring women in their lives by sending them a card or honoring a woman whose efforts make a difference in the fight against hunger and poverty.

How are you celebrating the work of women in the world today? 

For more information and ideas check out www.internationwomensday.com

40 Practices for Lent -- Part 4

Day Sixteen: Remember your baptism.  Place a bowl of water in a visible place in your house.  Touch the water and remember that we are linked to Christ and the Christian community through the waters of baptism.

Day Seventeen: Write a letter to God.

Day Eighteen: When attending worship or other gatherings of your faith community pay attention to how the music, liturgy, conversation, and fellowship time affect you.  Be open to how God speaks to you through community.

Day Nineteen: Prayer on the move. When in the car be intentional about turning the radio off and not talking on the cell phone.  When you are alone in the car, use that quiet time to be in prayer. 

Day Twenty: Jesus didn't "convert" Christians, he formed disciples and sent them out to continue the formation process.  Reflect on ways you have been shaped by the teachings of Jesus and shared them with others.

40 Practices for Lent - Part 3

Day Eleven: Circle of gratitude.  Before meals invite everyone around the table to share one thing they are grateful for that day.

Day Twelve: Call or visit someone who is lonely.  This might include an elderly shut in, stay at home parent, someone who has recently lost their job or is grieving.

Day Thirteen:  At the end of the day ask your "Where did I see God today?"  Make a list.

Day Fourteen: Caring for others as ourselves take acts of truth-telling and confrontation.  Abstain from laughing at jokes or comments that are hurtful to others.  Share with that person your commitment to caring for God's children.

Day Fifteen: Keep a prayer journal (can be on the computer or in a paper notebook).  Include prayers of joy, concern, and questions.  Write down the prayers offered to God for yourself and for others.

World Day of Prayer

Today is the World Day of Prayer.  World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service. 

You don't have to be a woman to want to pray for peace, justice and solidarity in the world.  I wonder which part of the world you hear crying out for God's light and love?  Is it the political situation in the Middle East?  Is it the hungry and sick in Africa?  Is it the communities in the north of our country?  Is it the people in your own community or family?

Say a prayer and light a candle for whatever situation particularly touches your heart.

A prayer for today:
We believe hat God is present
In the darkness before dawn;
In the waiting and uncertainty
Where fear and courage join hands,
Conflict and caring link arms,
And the sun rises over barbed wire.
We believe in a with-us God
Who sits down in our midst
To share our humanity.
We ffirm a faith
That takes us beyond the safe place:
Into action, into vulnerability
And into the streets.
We commit ourselves on the line;
To bear responsibility, take risks,
Live powerfully and face humiliation;
To stand with those on the edge;
To choose life
And be used by the Spirit
For God's new community of hope.
Amen.
-Iona Community.

For more information about the World Day of Prayer check out www.worlddayofprayer.net