Water is a Blessing - Water is Life:  World Water Day

There's a growing worldwide movement of deeper awareness that water is precious, sacred, and...threatened. In spite of the fact that the earth appears as the "blue planet" with abundant water, all the water presently on the planet is all that earth has ever had.  No new water is produced, and of that limited supply, only 1% of it is actually available for human use (drinking and everything else we use water for). That means the same water that we have now is the same water that existed when Muhammed (pbuh) lived, when the Buddha lived, when Jesus lived, and yes, even when the dinosaurs lived. We may be drinking some of the same water they drank!

Water is a blessing that we can easily take for granted. Over a billion people worldwide have no access to clean water.   March 22is World Water Day, an opportunity to offer prayers of gratitude for all that water provides and pray for the health of water for those who have little access. You are invited to join others worldwide in prayers of thanksgiving for the blessing of water on World Water Day. 

As we are blessed by water, we can be a blessing to the waters through our actions. Care of the water, the source of life (see this short video) is a worldwide responsibility and our faith calls us to care for waters in our own watershed, our portion of the precious 1%. Reducing waste of water as well as sources of pollution, like Styrofoam (see IPC's Foam Ban action page), and stormwater runoff are ways that we are blessing the water with our care. And most recently Governor Hogan's endorsement of a ban on fracking in Maryland also takes a stand for preserving the health of waters for future generations. Learn more about the proposed statewide ban on fracking along with other ways to take action to protect sacred waters on our advocacy webpage. (See actions below.)

The annual United Nations World Water Day website states: Do what you can, do it with others, and do it with passion. IPC's mission is to inspire and equip people of faith to Care for Sacred Waters. Patuxent Riverkeeper, Fred Tutman encourages us to "forge a spiritual connection with your local water body." When you care for sacred waters in your local watershed, are part of a global movement - blessing the waters with your passion for loving action!

Speaking out in Maryland

This week, our priorities are: (A complete list of actions, phone scripts, and contact numbers can be downloaded here.)

• Forest Conservation Act Amendments - This bill has evolved, and is now a call for a study over the summer to develop more detailed information on the status of forest canopy in Maryland and how to address losses. The study/task force bill has passed the Senate, so calls are needed to House Chairman Kumar Barve to support this bill.
• Ban on Fracking - Gov. Hogan signaled his support of a statewide fracking ban. It has already passed the House, so calls are needed to state Senators
• Keep Antibiotics Working - This bill really needs to pass the Senate today, March 20th. Urgent calls are needed to your Senators, but specifically 
  • Sen. Astle - District 30 - Annapolis
  • Sen. Benson - District 24 - Prince George's County
  • Sen. Currie - District 25 - Prince George's County
  • Sen. Zirkin - District 11 - North Baltimore
  • Sen. Klausmeier - District 8 - Baltimore County
  • Sen. Miller - Senate President
• Ban on Foam Food Packaging - This strategy is quickly shifting. There is talk that this may turn into a study/task force bill. Please continue to contact your state senators and delegates to support this bill. 

If you would like to sign up for our weekly action alerts, please click on our volunteer signup page and select "Advocacy Work".  

This Weekend - One Water Partnership-Spiritually Led Nature Walks in the Jones Falls Begin!

Prince George's County Alternative Compliance Program (ACP)

Sign up NOW for our April 4th ACP Workshop! Prince George's County congregations can learn how to save money through the Alternative Compliance Program Options 2 & 3. Sign-up HERE for either the April 4thworkshop or the final workshop on May 10th. Download and share the flyer HERE. Offered by IPC and our partner the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

Congratulations to our Vacation Bible School/Sunday School Training Participants in Prince George's County

Still two openings available! Join members of these congregations (photos of training held 3/18) who are excited about teaching others to become "God's Water Heroes" using IPC's Vacation Bible School program: St. Stephen's Baptist Church, Mt. Ennon Baptist Church, Fort Washington Baptist Church, Walker Mill Baptist Church, Jerusalem AME, Richie Baptist Church, Union Bethel AME, and First Baptist Church of North Brentwood.  And we are grateful that Mt. Ennon Baptist Church has graciously agreed to host the Training sessions.

A FREE training and curriculum for a Vacation Bible School (VBS) or Sunday School program will be offered to churches in Prince George's County, through a grant provided by Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Prince George's County Department of Environment! Our program offers, for free:

Project Clean Stream

Join the largest annual volunteer cleanup event in the Chesapeake Bay region! Every spring, tens of thousands of volunteers come together to clean up local streams and neighborhoods as part of the Alliance for Chesapeake Bay's Project Clean Stream. Cleanups take place across the entire Chesapeake watershed, in all 6 Bay states and DC. Cleanups will take place all spring, from March 1 to June 9. If you would like to register a cleanup or volunteer at one, please click HERE to visit their website.

29th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup

The 29th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup will be held Saturday, April 8, 2017. It is the largest regional event of its kind, covering four states of the Potomac watershed (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania) and the District of Columbia, and brings together hundreds of community organizations. The first Potomac Watershed Cleanup took place in 1989 and was inspired by students on a field study at the Alice Ferguson Foundation, who noticed trash along the Potomac River and asked what could be done about it. Over nearly three decades later, more than 145,000 volunteers have removed more than 7 million pounds of trash - the equivalent weight of 250 school buses! Can't make the 8th? There is still so much you can do!

VOLUNTEER by picking up trash! If you can't make the cleanup on the 8th, the Alice Ferguson Foundation will be hosting a cleanup event on every Saturday and Sunday (plus some weekdays) during the month of April. Click HERE to see the list of volunteer opportunities.

LEAD a cleanup in your community! Register online and invite friends, family, and coworkers. We will provide you with supplies and logistics.

Last year 9,465 volunteers removed more than 300,000 pounds of trash from the watershed. Can we count on you this year? Learn more HERE or call Hannah at 202-417-3524.

Celebrating Where We Pray and Play

God's great creation is made for each of us. We can learn about our creator while we enjoy healthy recreation and the beauty of the outdoors--especially in our nation's national parks and public lands. From neighborhood parks to national parks and monuments, there are numerous opportunities to get outside and enjoy God's creation.

This spring, to celebrate our national parks and public lands, the National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPE) is challenging the religious community to conduct 100 sermons and prayers for our public lands. Sermons and prayers can be short or long, held indoors or out, delivered to an audience of adults or children but should focus on protecting our national parks and public lands. 

Sign up by May 15, 2017. Additional information and resources can be found on their website.

Pledge Drive Now OPEN! Baltimore City Residents Take Your Pledge Between March 16th and April 16th Baltimore's Clean Drain Campaign: Prevent Clogged Pipes and Help the Hungry

Here is a way for Baltimore City residents and congregations to help protect Creation AND help the less fortunate. All it takes is a couple of clicks on your phone or computer - - and the resolve to dispose of your fats, oils and grease (and wet wipes) into the trash instead of down the drain. IPC will be attending services with our friends at St. Vincent DePaul’s Catholic Church, Knox Presbyterian Church, New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Rehobeth Church and Ministries and Zion Baptist Church to get the word out. Click HERE for DPW’s press release. Baltimore City residents can take the pledge and help spread the message too. Click HERE to link to the website to take the pledge and to learn more. You will get to designate which food pantry you would like a donation to be made to at no cost to you (thanks to our generous sponsors). Click HERE for a downloadable flyer that you can share or print out and bring to your church, work or school. Click HERE for sample church bulletin announcement and pulpit message. Click HERE for sample Facebook posts or follow #CleanDrainCampaign on Twitter so that you can let people know how they can help too.  Please feel free to contact Bonnie Sorak or 443-799-0349 if you have any questions. 

Want to take your faith group out on the water to get up close and personal with God's Creation and see firsthand how faithful stewards can better protect it? Coastal Anthology, a boat tour/guide outfit in the Susquehanna/Upper Bay area, is offering up to 4 cost-free, 4-hour, on-the-water exploration charters for faith groups of 6 or less. IPC can provide discussion questions that your group can take with you. After those 4 slots for free charters are filled, up to 6 additional faith groups can request a tour at a negotiated price. The standard price is $60 per hour for a 4-hour tour. Non-faith based groups can request boat tours at the standard rate. Contact IPC at [email protected] to request one of the open slots. A description of Coastal Anthology charters can be found HERE.

FREE Trees and Program Available for Prince George's County Congregations