Adamah Congregations God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1: 9-10 Summer Adamah Challenge- Sacred Waters Water, used in the holy sacrament of baptism and mentioned over 500 times in the Bible, is a precious and scarce gift. While 70 percent of the Earth is covered in water, only 1 percent is suitable for human consumption. The fresh water we use in our daily lives, traveling from a river, lake, aquifer or another reservoir to a water treatment facility, is essential to life. A number of species are dependent on fresh water for their survival. Sadly, we often use water haphazardly, failing to remember our responsibility to be stewards of this God-given gift. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we use 5,900 million gallons of water in and around our homes each day: to cook, wash dishes, flush toilets, shower, bathe and tend to our lawns. The average American uses 80-100 gallons a day around the house. If we incorporate the amount of water used by industries, businesses, and institutions, an American uses an average of 650 gallons each day. That’s a lot of water! We should be thoughtful and faithful about how we use water—at home, at work, at church, and in our communities. Through education, we can learn how to better conserve, and to be better environmental stewards of our water usage. Accept the Challenge Learn and understand water from God’s perspective. Hold a “Water Stewards” Bible Study. You can hold one to five sessions using the curriculum found at the back of Water Stewards: A Toolkit for Congregational Care of Local Watersheds, produced by the NCC Eco-Justice Program. With lessons taken from Genesis to the teachings of Jesus, congregants can gain a greater appreciation for water and ideas on how to care for this God-given, but scarce, gift in the church and in the home. Sign up for the challenge, and we'll tell you how to get a free copy. Every drop counts!   First Name: Last Name: E-mail Address: Zip Code: Denomination (optional): Choose One... African Methodist Episcopal (AME) African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Alliance of Baptists American Baptist Churches, USA Baptist - Other Catholic Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Church of the Brethren Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Episcopal Church Friends Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Jewish – Reform Jewish – Orthodox Jewish – Other Lutheran – ELCA Lutheran – Other Malanarka Orthodox Syrian Church Mar Thoma Church Mennonite Church National Baptist Convention of America National Baptist Convention USA Orthodox Church in America Russian Orthodox Church Presbyterian Church (USA) Progressive National Baptist Convention Reformed Church in America Serbian Orthodox Church Swedenbogian Ukrainian Orthodox Church Unitarian Universalist United Church of Christ United Methodist Church Other Congregation (optional):   For more information: View these water saving tips Advice on reducing water usage around your home: http://www.h2ouse.org/ Calculate your household water usage: http://www.csgnetwork.com/waterusagecalc.html More Tips http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100ways/index.shtml   Tell Us Your Stories Share your challenges and successes with us and with others. Through sharing your stories, you can support the eco-justice ministries of other congregations committed to caring for God's creation. First Name: Last Name: Comment: