Sierra Club Celebrates International World Water Day with Local Outreach

March 22^nd, 2019 is observed as the UN World Water Day. The theme “Leaving No One Behind’ was highlighted by lovely weather and a moving talk by Ched Meyers, author of Watershed Discipleship/Reinhabiting Bioregional Faith and Practice. Hosted by the Green Faith Team of the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), it featured informational tables by Fair Trade LA and the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Water Committee. This was my first ever outreach event representing the Water Committee. It was a small event, so participants didn’t take much literature, however, I received several thank you’s for having the display there.

This public event was attended by many people who were motivated to acknowledge the importance of water to us as individuals, to our society and to our planet.  Mr. Meyers spoke of having gratitude for our water resources, protecting our watersheds and restoring water justice.  Urging for renewal rather than destruction of the earth, he pleaded for a “rehabilitation of hydrological abundance” and “solidarity with earth”.  He noted that it is the church’s duty to recover its vocation as good stewards of nature and embark on eco-discipleship.  His insight that we won’t save places we don’t love and we won’t love what we don’t know reminds us of the Sierra Club motto: Enjoy, Explore, Protect. He said we need to see our watersheds as the areas where all living things are linked by their use of water

The Sierra Club would like to thank the ELCA Green Faith Team for the invitation to be part of this inspiring and worshipful event.  We look forward to next year.

Note that in top photo, Mr. Meyers was flanked by the artwork “The River” by John August Swanson 2018 and with the Glendale Narrows soft-bottom portion of the LA River at Lewis MacAdams Park as a backdrop.  Ched’s talk was supported by the blessing given by Synod Bishop R. Guy Erwin.