Greetings,

In church this Sunday we will celebrate the baptism of Lachlan Ward.  This is a significant event for Lachlan and his family, even though Lachlan is too young to appreciate it yet.  Since Jesus was baptised in the Jordan by John, Christians have viewed Baptism is the sign by which the Spirit of God joins people to Jesus Christ and incorporates them into Christ’s body, the church.

Just as we use water in baptism, water is essential for all life.  In fact the waterways that flow through the landscape are the lifeblood for all plant and animal life.  Some creatures make their home in water and all of us need it to sustain our bodies.  Plants will not grow without water and we use it to cleanse and clean and keep germs at bay. 

While we all use water every day, we have not cared for our waterways as we should have.  This causes many ongoing problems.  You may not be aware that one in every ten people, worldwide, are still not able to access clean water.  I have just discovered that WaterAid Australia have designated this month as Water Challenge Month.  The idea is that by making water your only beverage, and donating what you would have spent on other drinks during the month, you can help give someone safe water.  Of course they are also accepting one off donations.

Last year alone, WaterAid helped 1.5 million people access clean water through our direct work in communities around the world.  If you would like to find out more about their work you can visit https://www.wateraid.org/au/ – and next time you turn on the tap, remember to thank God for all you have.

Blessings – Heather.