“Traditionally Lent is a time for concentrating on what is essential in life and opening our hearts to our neighbors, for example by fasting and giving to the needy,” said Maike Gorsboth, coordinator of the Ecumenical Water Network. “The Seven Weeks for Water initiative encourages Christian groups and individuals to deepen this experience, reflecting on the concrete issue of water justice.”
For each of the seven weeks of Lent, theologians and church activists from Africa, Europe, North and South America will post biblical meditations on the water network’s Web site (water.oikoumene.org) as well as campaign ideas and resources.
The Ecumenical Water Network was formed by Christian agencies and movements to raise the awareness of churches about the urgency of issues linked to water.
The first set of materials will be available beginning February 25, Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent in the Western Christian tradition. The network is providing an RSS stream to allow groups and congregations to give visibility to the campaign on their own Web sites.
The World Water Day of the United Nations on March 22 falls during the Seven Weeks for Lent initiative, and the water network have assembled a collection of resources and links to help congregations address the issue.
The Seven Weeks for Water initiative was first marked during Lent 2008. This year, the resources will be available for the first time in four languages: English, Spanish, German, and French.
Web links: Seven Weeks for Water: www.oikoumene.org/7-weeks-for-water;
Seven Weeks for Water RSS feed: www.oikoumene.org/en/activities/ewn-home/resources-and-links/seven-weeks-for-water.html?type”4&spU38; ideas for World Water Day: www.oikoumene.org/?ida29.
