From the Minister

               October 2026                                           

Dear Friends,

This year resources for Creation Season and for Harvest have both had a watery theme.  This has been particularly pertinent in a year when we have seen both flooding (way back in January) and drought in the country.  We have a heightened awareness of how much we rely on water and how vital it is for life and growth.

In this country we tend to take water for granted.  Most homes have a ready supply of water and we simply turn the tap or flush the toilet to take advantage of a seemingly endless supply of fresh, clean water.  We may have felt the pinch in not being able to water the garden with the hose, but we have not been restricted in the amount we have to drink or to wash with.  We may not often celebrate water as part of harvest, but without it the harvest would not take place.

Yet water, particularly clean water, is a precious resource that many across the world still struggle to access.  It is essential to life and yet people walk miles to access it and treasure every drop.  It is a sign of the great inequality that still remains across nations.

Water is a reoccurring theme in scripture and has powerful connotations linking it to life, health and justice.  Amos refers to justice as a ‘never failing stream’, Isaiah describes God’s word as being like rain and Jesus even describes himself as Living Water.  Water is seen as a gift from God and something that refreshes, blesses and even brings peace – think of the river in the holy city in Revelation.

If we allow ourselves to be informed by scripture, then perhaps we might treat our water with greater reverence and find ways of conserving and sharing the blessing.  There are ways of saving water at home, which are very simple; timing a shower, reusing ‘grey’ water in the garden and making sure taps are switched off properly.  We can also share the blessing with wildlife by creating ponds, bird baths or wet spaces in the garden, by saving water in a water butt and by supporting charities such as water aid.  We can also remember to be thankful, perhaps by saying a prayer every time you turn on the tap.

No doubt, with winter on the way, we will soon be complaining about the rain, let’s try not to forget how important water is.

 

God bless.

 

Ruth.