Falling Off the Face of the Earth

I sit here typing to you from my couch. I'm still wearing what I wore to bed last night, and haven't yet taken a shower. So far, it's been an exceptionally wonderful down day. Unfortunately, this is the first time it's happened in what seems like months, and I'm not alone. Leslie, Mike, Jack, Matt and I seem to be heading in a thousand different directions in our lives, and scheduling a time to get together (via conference call) and put some more life into the Church is Alive proved to be difficult.

But we finally did it. In fact, we even had a follow-up brainstorming session a week later. Considering our individually hectic lives, I personally consider it a notable accomplishment. We are aware, however, of our on-again, off-again relationship with you. Sometimes it seems we're in your inbox every day, other times it seems like weeks since you've heard a peep from the Church is Alive. Please know that we're aware, and that we plan on doing something about it.

We're growing. At least, we're in the initial stages of growing. In addition to accepting submissions (we'll always do that!), we plan on having a group of 8-18 regular contributors, each posting every few months or so. This should keep things fresh and exciting, as well as holding to our roots as a user-generated content platform (buzzwords!).

So, what do you think? Could this evolving concept of the Church is Alive fly? Are you itching to to be a regular contributor? We don't wanna be falling off the face of the earth anymore.

The Church is Alive

The Church is Alive has been around for a little less than two years, and during that time we've been a video submission site, a showcase of stories from around the church, held an amazingly successful fundraising campaign, and been an open forum for discussion of what we want "Church" to be. A healthy resumé for sure, but now we've been featured on the Nick & Josh Podcast! Our very own Jack Jenkins was interviewed about the Church is Alive on Episode 164, so check it out below and listen to the story of how the Church is Alive came to be!

The Church is ALIVE through the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People!

Hey Friends!

We took a bit of a breather this past month, but now we're firing up the engines again for another season, so keep those submissions coming!

In the meantime, we've got a submission that we've kept on the back-burner for a while from the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People--Presbyterian Church (USA). They're doing AMAZING work all over the world (and they submitted some of their more recent work to us last year), and they've got four - count 'em, FOUR - videos to share with y'all.

The videos tell stories that cover the time gamut (some are several years old), but these tales of making the church alive through people are just at timely today as they were back then.

The submitter, Margaret Mwale, had this to say:

"The Presbyterian Church (USA) is engaging with and positively impacting disadvantaged communities through Self-Development of People. These videos share powerful stories of how the Church is alive in these communities!"

And now, the videos:

Story #1: In 1971, an association of Eskimos in Alaska were able to use a SDOP grant to help pay the legal costs in their battle to claim and keep their native land.

Story #2: A SDOP grant made it possible for Mapuche Indians in Chile to sustain their heritage through the building of a cultural center.

Story #3: In Virginia, a neighborhood group used a SDOP grant to buy and renovate houses and, in turn, provide affordable housing for themselves and others in their community.

Story #4: Kentucky tobacco farmers, faced with not being able to rely on the tobacco market, used a SDOP grant to collectively learn new ways to sustain themselves economically.

Awesome stories, right? You can find out more about what the SDOP does here and also apparently participate in their T-Shirt Design (which gets you money for college?!) contest here.

What I Want the Church to Be…A Prophetic Voice

Tina DeYoe - our on-the-ground report at this year's General Assembly of the PC(USA) - offers us the following report on this year's happenings.

At what pace are we as the Presbyterian Church (USA) to be prophetic? After attending the PC(USA)’s 219th General Assembly last week, this is the question I am asking. As a long distance runner throughout high school and college, I am used to pacing myself at a moderate speed. Sprinting is definitely not my cup of tea. However, when dealing with social justice issues in regards to society and the church I would rather be running the 100m race! When injustices are happening throughout the world I want the church to be a place that steps up and makes a statement or acts quickly! The 219th General Assembly (GA) did step up quickly on certain issues, but on others we were caught running the pace of a long distance runner.
This summer I have been interning in the Advisory Committee for Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) office within the PC(USA). What do we do? We are assigned to encourage the prophetic voice of the church on matters of social justice. We work with volunteer member-experts to write policies, resolutions, and study papers that are then adopted at GA by the PC(USA) as a whole. After these papers have been adopted the PC(USA) agencies are supposed to act in accordance to what is stated in the recommendations. The basis for most of the writings comes from applying the Bible, theology, confessions, and past policies to current challenges.

Sounds fun right? Think of having the grand assignment and scope of superwoman or superman fighting injustices and evil in this world, but instead of having special powers to fly and stop bullets we use words, research, and our biblical and theological texts to combat such evils like gun violence, domestic violence, usury, discrimination, oppression, immigration detention abuse, sex trafficking, torture, and pretty much any evil you can think of. I was lucky enough to observe and work with ACSWP during this year’s 219th General Assembly and also helped them get some of their policies and papers passed. Papers like: Loving Our Neighbors: Equity and Quality in Public Education; Becoming an HIV and AIDS Competent Church; Gun Violence and Gospel Values (a paper on gun violence prevention); Living Through Economic Crisis: The Church’s Witness in Troubled Times; Human Rights Report 2010.

Other awesome social justice papers, policies and resolutions that were passed by different ministries at GA include: Amending ordination standards which allows all people to serve the church no matter their sexual preference; Directing the PC(USA) Board of Pensions to Extend benefits to the same-gender spouses and domestic partners; Approval of a study group to study violence against women and children on the Mexico-US Border; Approval of refraining from holding PC(USA) national meetings at non-PC(USA) establishments in Arizona; Recommendations for the PC(USA) to work with local communities and the families affected by the Deep Water Horizon Oil disaster with finances and resources from the church; Directing the PC(USA) to call on the US Government to end military aid to Israel; Directing the PC(USA) to call on the US Government to impose a national moratorium on the imposition of the death penalty; the Belhar Confession to be included in the Book of Confessions; and many more pieces of legislation.

However, there were also papers, policies, and resolutions that were not passed by the GA or parts of the document were passed, but the main parts left out. Some of these include: Calling on the PC(USA) to divest from the Caterpillar Co. because their vehicles are being used by Israelis to bulldoze Palestinian homes; On amending the definition of marriage in the PC(USA) book of worship (which then would have included LGBTQ people); On Living a Human Life Before God study paper, which provides a well-reasoned base for churches to engage in moral discourse regarding life and death issues; and a key recommendation of Neither Poverty Nor Riches: Equity, Compensation and the Unity of the Church report, which would have prevented top salaries in the General Assembly Mission Council of the PC(USA) from being more than 5 times higher than those of the lowest paid, was removed from the document. These and several other papers, policies, and resolutions would have allowed the PC(USA) to have more of a prophetic voice in this world by more fully backing words with deeds.

Looking back at all the resolutions adopted, the church can be rightly proud, but again at what pace is the PC(USA) church to be even more prophetic in this world? I look to the prophet Micah as being a voice and example who can lead us in the right direction -- out of the corruption of power so visible in a lot of today’s society. It is a voice, which states, “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” Micah 6:8. This is a prophetic voice that can lead us out of fear and into hope.

Yes, I am disappointed in the PC(USA) for not having been as prophetic as I would have liked; however, I do have hope for what our church did accomplish at this year’s assembly. Throughout my life I will continue to advocate for the church being a prophetic witness to the world. I will push the pace of policies, resolutions, and papers so that those who are being oppressed will be oppressed no more. I will live in the light of hope even if sometimes that light seems to fade only to a peep hole. I will keep running the race and will sprint when necessary, and will continue to help others sprint to the finish along with me in order to help bring God’s kingdom closer everyday. It is our job as prophetic Christians in this word to help push one another to run and sprint to the makings of a just and peaceful world!

What do I want the church to be? A joyful chorus of prophetic voices, that comes together to end oppression, evil, greed, hate, and violence in this world.

Tina DeYoe is a seminary student at Princeton Theological Seminary and an intern for the Advisory Committee for Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) of the PC(USA). She is also - generally speaking - awesome.

Photographs courtesy Danny Bolin and the PC(USA).

The Church is ALIVE in Young Adult Volunteers!

Our reporter-on-the-ground at General Assembly, Ms. Tina Deyoe, grabbed a few interviews from Young Adult Volunteers while on the floor of GA last week. Young Adult Volunteers (a.k.a. "YAVs") are a fantastic part of the PC(USA), and two of them - Kate and Jim - had this to say:

Stay tuned for Tina's all-encompassing reflection on General Assembly, coming later this week!

Your Responses, Round 4 (Woah!)

These videos of super excited and passionate people exclaiming their wishes for what they want church to be energize me. Just sayin'.  Here are some (MORE) video responses from Presbyterian (USA) General Assembly attendees Alex, Benjamin, and Lindy. Feel inspired? Record yourself and submit it to us!







Send us your response! What do you want the church to be?

Your Responses, Round 3 (video round!)

Here are some video responses from the Presbyterian (USA) General Assembly about what young people in the denomination feel the church is called to be. Check them out and send in your own responses!







Send us your response! What do you want the church to be?

Your Responses, Round 2

We have a BUNCH more responses from people about what they want church to be! We figured we'd share a few of them below:

I want it to be something that helps develop our relationship with God and Christ. Although I don’t think that something has to be a place or an organization, nor does it necessarily have to have walls or even a name. I want the church to be that entity that connects us to each other so we can worship and minister and grow in our relationship with God and Christ together. I want the church to be about love, with no place for judgment or hatred. I want the church to be that thing that teaches us that the best way to teach others about God and Christ is through our actions. I think the church can be in a building with an organization that has a name, but it can also be everywhere…just like God.

- Sue

A community that welcomes people for who they are and loves them like the children of God they are, but might not know yet.

- Anonymous

A place for open spirituality and serious engagement with people, God, text, spirit, and self.

- Anonymous

If it were my church, I'd have an answer. Actually, I don't give a rip about what I want the Church to be. I'm wrestling with the question: What does Christ want the Church to be? Striving to answer this question is much more important in my opinion.

- Jim Truesdell

Keep 'em coming, folks! What do YOU want church to be?

We've been thinking...

Some of you might have noticed we've been a little lax in posting lately, but while we haven't been writing we have been doing quite a bit of thinking! Two topics have been on our minds this summer: 1) the 219th PCUSA General Assembly and 2) the question of what we - and you - want the church to be.

But what does this mean, you ask? Well, here's the rundown on how these topics will impact The Church is Alive:

Firstly: The 219th General Assembly - a.k.a. "GA" - of the Presbyterian Church (USA) - a.k.a. the PC(USA) - kicked off 2 days ago in Minneapolis. This is a big deal for us at CiA (that's our fun acronym - use it :D) as many of us call this denomination home, but it is also a real-world example of a group of people deciding what they want "church" to be. To clarify: GA is a gathering of people who want to keep the PC(USA) alive and well by deciding on its future endeavors. This, of course, affects all of us, including other denominations - we all pay attention to and learn from each other!

Naturally, we here at the CiA wanted to be at the center of this actions. As such, we placed a few friends of the CiA on the ground at GA who will be sending us updates and reflections from the GA floor for the next couple weeks. (Hopefully we'll get a few of those up soon! Check back!)

Secondly: We don't want to just hear from the PC(USA) General Assembly - we want to hear from YOU! We'll be posting a whole slew of blog posts on this topic all summer (and, if you want to submit a blog post yourself, click here and let us know!), but we encourage all of you to check out the right side of the Church is Alive homepage. Just click on the question mark and send us a few words on what you want church to be. We really hope this will generate some great discussion about different aspects of the church and the ways in which 'church' can be experienced. You can put your name on your submission or respond anonymously, and we'll periodically post responses here on the blog. In fact, we've already received a few awesome responses. Have a look see:

"A community of faith that embraces, emulates, and empowers others to live as disciples of Christ."

- Dan W. Boles

"Home. For all.

A place of peace love, and justice, personally as well as communally and globally."

- Anonymous

"A place where difference is valued and isn't used to divide or oppress one another."

- Anonymous

"Church: Anyplace Christ's Body gathers to
Worship Him
Fellowship together with Him
Serve others with Him
Grow together in Him
Tell others about Him
In the power of the Holy Spirit"

- Laurie

"Church should be home. It should be an atmosphere in which you are welcomed home like the prodigal son (whether or not you ever left the church in the first place). It should be a place and atmosphere that you can pour out your heart and soul in. Finally, it should reach out in christian love into the community. This can be applied to local congregation, the Presbyterian (U.S.A.) denomination, or the entire Christian Church."

- Anonymous

So, what do you think? Do you agree with these folks? Disagree? What do YOU want the church to be??

Stay tuned - there's more to come!

Questions...

(click the image above)

Please Stand By...

Never fear: we haven't disappeared!

We're busy working on some fun new stuff, but the Church is ALIVE will be back in a jiffy!

Together, We Did It!

It wasn’t a huge idea really. It wasn’t even the most interesting idea I heard that week. But there was something that excited me about the thought...What if we raised money to build a well as a community on this website? What if a community of people who believe that the Church is ALIVE proved it by doing something good for the world? $5,000 seemed like a lot of money, but the excitement of the moment floated the goal into an expectation.

And with that, the Water Project began.

When we launched the water campaign Ninety-One days ago, it was Ash Wednesday. Looking back, it seemed like perfect timing. Throughout the Lenten/Easter seasons we heard amazing stories and reflections of wise, passionate, and inspiring people from all over the country. But ninety days is a long time, and it is especially a long time to keep one's attention. Anyone who knows me knows that it's tough to get me to focus for even five minutes! Yet these past ninety days consumed me. Even more amazingly, the words, donations, and actions of this online community made it clear that this campaign to build a well for a needy population has consumed "us." It has been a surreal journey, but a journey that not only united us as a community, but will also join us with another community somewhere in the world.

12-18 months from now, charity: water will send us - and all of you - pictures and GPS coordinates pinpointing the construction site of a brand-new fresh water well. Granted, 12-18 from now seems like a long time! But when I think about the community that is going to receive the well, 12-18 months that cannot come soon enough! A community that has yet to see the first drops of clean water waits in anticipation to watch water gush from the earth. In 12-18 months we will officially join in the promise of clean water, of new life with a community somewhere in the world. They will not be mere recipients of the well, but will be part of our narrative and part of our community, just as we will be part of theirs. Great moments do not occur solely because of good ideas, but rather when people unite behind ideas to do something great. Indeed, this community - the Church is ALIVE community - has clung together over the past ninety days to do something great! Thank you, each of you, for your work!

YOU have done something great. Together, we made the world a better place. 12-18 months from now, we will join our celebrations with another community's celebrations somewhere as we observe the construction of a clean water well!

Thank you. Together, you have made it clear: the Church is indeed alive and well!

The Water Dichotomy

I can't help but share in the excitement. The Church is Alive Water Project has met it's goal. Seriously. As of Thursday night, and because of the incomprehensible generosity of this community, you've raised over five thousand dollars to change the the lives of those in a community in need. On behalf of the Church is Alive, thank you.

A few weekends ago, I visited my brother in Nashville, Tennessee. We had a great time seeing the sights, going out on the town, and catching up with some old and new friends. The very next weekend, Nashville and the surrounding area saw over a foot of rainfall in a two-day period. The Cumberland river, which flows through downtown Nashville, crested at nearly 52 feet. The damage done has been horrific, and our hearts go out to those who lost cars, homes, and loved ones. The flooding also put one of the city's water treatment plants out of service, prompting a water conservation effort to ensure that all have access to clean water.

Nashville is at risk of not having enough clean water to go around. The same weekend, Boston had a similar misfortune. The water crisis doesn't have to be in a third-world country. The water crisis affects all of humanity.

Water is a necessity of life. One to be respected, both for it's destructive potential and our dependence on it to sustain life. You. Us. We. We're sustaining life. We're now making it possible for a community in need to have access to clean water. Pause and think about that, and perhaps offer a prayer to those to whom water now represents grief and loss.


Image courtesy of Leslie Rodriguez Photography. Video from Michael Deppisch.

7 Days to Go!

It has been 83 days since we began the water campaign on the site. $4,051 has been raised so far, and we are officially in final push mode. We believe over the next seven days we can raise the remaining funds and meet our goal! In order for us to accomplish our goal, we need all hands on deck. If you have not donated, please do. If you haven't told a friend, please do. If you have given, and can give again, please do. There is a community somewhere in the world waiting for a well. We have come so far, let's keep up the good work. Good work, and let's build this well!

Please give here: http://mycharitywater.org/churchisalive

Pit Tah Pot Tah

We've got 8 days left in our Charity:Water fundraiser and a lot left to raise. Spread the word!

Today's post comes from a regular guest/resident artist of Broad Street Ministry:

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT

PIT

PIT

LET IT FLOW

ON

YOUR HEAD

TO

YOUR MIND

FROM

YOUR MIND

ON

YOUR HAND

TO

YOUR TOE

LET IT FLOW

PIT

PIT

PIT

LET IT FLOW TROUGH YOUR TOE

IN

THE SAND THEN SING

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT

PIT

PIT

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT

PIT

PIT

WATER

FROM

THE

SKY

TO

THE GROUND

IT

FLOW ROUND THE ROCK

TROUGH THE CRACK

IN THE SAND

THEN SING

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT

PIT

PIT

THE WATER DROP

ON

THE HILL TOP

IN

THE POND

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT

PIT

PIT

RISE RISE RISE

TO

THE TOP

THEN OVER FLOW ITS BANK

THEN RUN OVER ROCK

TROUGH THE CRACK

TROUGH THE SAND

TROUGH THE LAND

TROUGH YOUR HAND

TROUGH YOUR MIND

THEN

RUN

RUN

RUN RUN RUN

PEOPLE

OUT

A THEM MIND

PIT PIT PIT

IT

FLOW

TO

THE ROCK

TROUGH THE CRACK

IN

THE SAND

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT TAH POT TAH

WATER

WATER EVERY WHERE

AND

NOT A DROP TO DRINK

WATER

WATER EVERY WHERE

AND

NOT A DROP IN MY SINK

WATER

TECK THE LAND

WATER

TECK THE SAND

WATER

TECK THE CAR

WATER

TECK THE HOUSE

WATER

TECK LIFE

WATER

THE

SPIRIT OF LIFE

MAKE

THE

PLANTS GROW

SO LET IT FLOW

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT TAH POT TAH

PIT PIT PIT PIT

PIT PIT PIT

PIT PIT

PIT.

By IKRU WARM AN EASY

Copyright @ 1,15,2010.

Rupert E. Salmon Biography
IKRU warm an easy

Rupert E. Salmon, a.k.a. Ikru, was born in Jamaica where he studied at the Jamaica School of Arts in Kingston, receiving Bachelor of Arts in Realistic Painting and Sculpting. His credits include the Bronze Medal for Art in Jamaica and the Bronze Medal for Pop and Variety. The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, the Pump House Gallery in Hartford, CT., the York College in Queens, NY., and the Chatom Museum of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA are just a few of Ikru’s impressive exhibition and teaching credentials. He professorial history includes the Jamaica School of Art and Craft, Black Rock High School, and Cobbla Youth Camp. Ikru is a long time accomplished writer of poetry, sculptor, musician and dancer. One must only take a glance at his written word, listen to his personal vocal recitations or view his painting or sculpture to know that his artistic gifts are vast and his voice and rhythm are like no other.

Presently, Ikru can be found roaming all over the streets of Philadelphia creating, photographing and showing his work at places like Broad Street Ministry, Project Home, The Senior Center, the Philadelphia Community College, and the Eastern Service Workers Association. And one can always find him working his magic down on the corner of 3rd and Market near the Artist & Craftsman Supply shop.

"The Water's Gonna Win"

I was reminded last week of a song by David LaMotte. As I reflected on the images and stories from Tennessee, these words came to mind. There are those in this world still waiting for clean water, and those who need for the water to subside. I often struggle to find adequate words that sufficiently capture the feelings of my heart. So I simply say today: my thoughts and prayers extend to those in Tennessee that have watched their homes swept away. My thoughts and prayers extend to those in countries without access to clean and safe drinking water. My thoughts and prayers to those in this world who struggle to keep their heads above water. My thoughts and prayers for those who feel as if the rain of violence will never cease. My thoughts and prayers for those who depend on rain for work and for food. My thoughts and prayers of thanks for all the mothers of the world that guide their families and children through the times of joy and pain. Amen.

Water lyrics by David Lamotte

So they built their shiny hotel
Where the water meets the land
They smiled a little nervously
As the ocean took the sand
They went down below the shoreline
And they hauled it back again
But the heavy rain and the hurricane
And the water's gonna win
The water's gonna win
Bring it all back
It will wash away again
The water's gonna win
Pack it up or pack it in
The water's gonna win
The glass of water you were sipping
As you watched the morning come
Has quenched the thirst of seven others
Underneath a younger sun
We are memories and moments
We are born and born again
Rushing stream and breathing steam
The water's gonna win
The water's gonna win
Ascending and falling and rising up again

The water's gonna win
Ride the tide and ride the wind
The water's gonna win
Haul the rocks and sign the papers
Pour another glass of gin
Cut the ribbon with the scissors
But the water's gonna win
You went down beside the river
Just about a year ago
Gave the ashes to the current
Saw them swirl into the flow
You still hold it all inside you
You can't stop once you begin
Close your eyes and feel it rising
The water's gonna win
The water's gonna win
You can't hold back the tide
You can't hide from what's within
The water's gonna win
Feel it move beneath your skin
The water's gonna win
It will with keep flowing through
All we are and all we've been
The water's gonna win
Forever and amen
The water's gonna win

Immigration Reform and the PC(USA)

Yesterday, our moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow sent out an invitation to comment on the statement issued on behalf of the PC(USA) regarding the recent Arizona legislation known as SB1070. This was his status on facebook:

Bruce Reyes-Chow just had a wonderfully challenging conversation with a "younger than me" person about today's interactions about the PC(USA) immigration statement. So here you go, for those 30 and under only, what are YOUR thoughts on the statement, the interactions, etc. Over 30's try really hard to listen.

No matter how inundated I am with final papers and exams, there’s no way I could pass up such a delightful invitation to thank the church for their active role in speaking out against this legislation, and give a few reasons as to why I am against the law myself. Before I show my response to Bruce’s message, here’s a brief summary of the statement if you haven’t read it or don’t plan to read the whole thing (though I do encourage you to read it - it's a great statement!):


I. An immediate need exists in the country for immigration reform
a) SB1070 is characterized by bigotry, trauma and fear
b) We need action at the federal level

II. Churches see the pain the broken system causes; ripping families apart, children left behind
a) law puts Christian workers at risk who work with undocumented immigrants
b) we cannot stand by and allow this to happen

III. The law also jeopardizes the safety of immigrant communities, further pushing the invisible population of undocumented immigrants into the shadows which:
a) prevents people from reporting crimes
b) fosters a distrust of the law
c) hinders federal legislation dealing with immigration

IV. LEV 19: 33-34
a) IMMIGRATION REFORM PLEASE!

Here was my response, it’s not eloquent (facebook just isn’t as fancy as a blog and I was in a bit of an “in-the-moment-adrenaline-rush” after reading the statement) but it sums up a few points:

Bruce,
When I got my tattoo of the Presbyterian seal on my wrist my mom asked me "why couldn't you just have gotten a necklace?" and many people asked me "what if you don't always agree with your church?"

Well, there have been times since when I haven't exactly adored what the Presbyterian church has done, but there are times like these when the PC(USA) stands up and speaks out against injustices in the world that completely overwhelm any trivial disagreements I have with the church. This is EXACTLY where I see the living church in action in the world. The statement issued about SB1070 is a testament to the living church. I'm so glad my church took action and stated plain truths about the legislation.

My concentration, I hope, in the sociology PhD program I enter in the fall will be immigration and immigration reform. I've already studied the issue at length and legislation like this has all kinds of unintended consequences. The third paragraph in the statement, for example, discusses the distrust of law enforcement that already existed. This legislation will only augment the distrust and push the invisible population further into the shadows. This kind of legislation hinders federal investigations and further complicates our already broken system.

In practice, the legislation is a nightmare. If Javier (my husband – from Chile) and I want to go on a road trip to California, he'd have to bring his birth certificate? What papers would we need? How sensible is it for him to take all of his precious documents with him? Those documents need to be kept SAFELY at home in a fire-proof lock box, because they were hard enough to get in the first place. How full will the already inhumane detention centers be? How many more families will be split up?

In a perverse way, though, this legislation has brought to the forefront something this country desperately needs: immigration reform. There's no way congress can escape this issue now. Again, unintended consequences.

This was not a part of my original comment but I later pressed the point of how important it is that our church MADE such a statement. We are not the only denomination to issue a statement on immigration reform: the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has issued a statement called “Toward Compassionate, Just and Wise Immigration Reform,” and the United Methodist Church is part of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition and works with groups to increase the religious diversity in the campaign toward immigration reform. What would we have the PC(USA) do – ignore the situation? Not stand up and make a statement? That’s just not our personality. We may not have a unified consensus – has that ever happened in our church? This is a time for action. I’m so proud of the PC(USA) for making this statement and joining the ranks of other denominations who have already become involved in the fight for comprehensive immigration reform.

What do you all think? We’ll take comments even if you are 30+ years old.

photo by: www.ryanrodrickbeiler.com, taken from Soujourners

Row, Row, Row (Your Boat)

Pro tip: listen to this song while you read this post.


Some people decide to change the world after they have the financial means to do so. Others figure out a way to do it to raise money to change the world. Take 23-year-old Katie Spotz from Cleveland, Ohio, last month, she became the youngest person ever to row across the Atlantic Ocean. She rowed a boat. Across the Atlantic Ocean. Know why she did it? To raise awareness of, you guessed it, the need for clean drinking water.

Well crap. That hits home. I'm 23, and I don't think I could muster the passion, dedication, or pure physical endurance to row across an ocean. Katie's story is pretty incredible, you should check it out on rowforwater.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

People can do amazing things when they believe in something.



[Author note: Another reason she's totally awesome]

Water: National Georgraphic

Water: by National Geographic. Day Three.

Today we bring you excerpts and photos from Our Thirsty World, from Water: A Special Issue by National Geographic- April, 2010. You can find the article, pictures, and video here. Photographs by John Stanmeyer.

Our Thirsty World

"In wealthy parts of the world, people turn on a faucet and out pours abundant, clean water. Yet nearly 900 million people in the world have no access to clean water, and 2.5 billion people have no safe way to dispose of human waste—many defecate in open fields or near the same rivers they drink from. Dirty water and lack of a toilet and proper hygiene kill 3.3 million people around the world annually, most of them children under age five. Here in southern Ethiopia, and in northern Kenya, a lack of rain over the past few years has made even dirty water elusive." -Tina Rosenberg

"Where clean water is scarcest, fetching it is almost always women's work."

"When I first came to Foro, some 60 men were sitting in the shade of a metal-roofed building, drinking and talking. It was midmorning. Women, says Binayo, "never get five seconds to sit down and rest."

"In much of the developing world, lack of water is at the center of a vicious circle of inequality."

"When we are born, we know that we will have a hard life"-Binayo

We have passed the $3,800 mark of our water campaign! As a site, we are seeking to raise $5,000 to build a well for a community of 400, that will provide them with fresh, clean water for 20 years. If you can donate please do so here. Every dollar counts. Please tell you friends, family, Church's, youth groups, work, and school. Again, the link to donate is here.

Sacred Waters

Water: by National Geographic. Day Two.

Today we bring you excerpts and photos from the article Sacred Waters, from Water: A Special Issue by National Geographic- April, 2010. You can find the article, pictures, and video here. Photographs by John Stanmeyer.

Sacred Waters

"From the droplets in a baptismal font to the scattering of ashes on a holy river, water blesses our lives."- Cathy Newman

"From our worldly entrance in a burst of amniotic fluid to the ritual washing of the dead (taharah in Judaism; ghusl al0mayyit in Islam), water flows through our lives, scribing a line between sacred and profane, life and death. We are doused, dunked, dipped, sprinkled-- and blessings flow, deep and wide as the River Jordan of Scripture, wondrous as the spring at Lourdes, cathartic as tears." -Cathy Newman

"The world, Genesis says, was brought to life by a God who created a "firmament in the midst of the waters."-Cathy Newman

The body thirsts. So does the spirit. "I must live near a lake. Without water, I thought, nobody could live at all." -Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung.

"If I were called in/ To construct a religion/I should make use of water"
Philip Larkin-1954

"Symbol of creation, harbour of all seeds, water becomes the supreme magic and medicinal substance; it heals, it restores youth, it ensures eternal life."- Mircea Eliade 1907-1986
Patterns in Comparative Religion

"May the waters from the snowy mountains bring health and peace to all people. May the spring waters bring calm to you...and may the rains be a source of tranquility to all." -Atharva Veda, Circa 200 B.C.

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