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Reflection on Acts 4:5-12 by Prof. Dr Dmytro Tsolin, pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine and professor at the Department of Biblical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, during a World Council of Churches morning prayer focusing on both the pain of the war in Ukraine as well as how we hang onto hope.

The last reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2024 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is jointly written by Rev. Audra Hudson Stone and Jacob Stone. They argue that natural disasters are not natural anymore; rather, they are human-induced. These disasters are the groaning of the earth, which is drawing our attention to mend our ways. The Stones are hopeful that, as Jesus rose from the shackles of death, the mother earth, too, will rise from its despair, suffering, and death through the “water of life”—Jesus Christ. To that end, we need to facilitate and practice “resurrection” of the earth!

The fifth reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2024 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by  Rev. Jane Stranz. In this reflection, she dwells on the text where Jesus calms a storm, while his disciples were panicked.  She calls for a conversion from relying on a God with magical powers to having faith in a God who calls us to take an active part in the miracle of overcoming fear. Jesus calls us to share in interpreting the signs of the times and take responsible action together for the kingdom.  A clarion call indeed in our advocacy for water justice and climate justice.

The second reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2024 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Rev. Vinod Victor, Anglican Church of Freiburg in Germany. In this reflection, he compares the water situation of early Palestine to that of today in the wake of the ongoing war in Gaza. He also asks how people can drink from their own cisterns when they are controlled by outsiders. 

The first reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2024 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Dr Munib Younan,* bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and former president of the Lutheran World Federation. In this reflection, the author, as a Palestinian, in line with this year's theme of "leveraging water for peace,” reflects on Isaiah's promise of free water for the thirsty in the context of the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza that has worsened the water situation in Gaza to catastrophic levels.

Rev. Dr Meghan Johnston Aelabouni, theologian in residence at the Middle East and North Africa Desk for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, reflects below on Holy Week and the path Jesus walked.

Atallah Hanna, Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, reflects below on the celebration of Easter.

Originally published in 2014, the sixth Biblical reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2023 is by Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, Germany, and moderator of the WCC central committee. Citing examples from the Bible, he highlights that water is absolutely necessary for life and that everybody has the right of free access to water for their sustenance,  irrespective of their economic status.

Originally published in 2018, the fourth Reflection of the “Seven Weeks for Water” 2023 series of World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Water Network is by Ivo Poletto, a philosopher, theologian and social scientist from Brazil. He is also national advisor to the Climate Change and Social Justice Forum in Brazil. In the following reflection, he analyses the water cycle of Brazil, the “flying rivers” of the Amazon but also laments on fast depleting forests which are breaking the water cycle and making clouds as well as aquifers disappear.  He insists that water is one of the common goods that require special care, as there is no life without water.

Die dritte der sieben Reflexionen der Fastenkampagne: Sieben Wochen für Wasser 2023 des Ökumenischen Wassernetzwerks (EWN) des Weltrats der Kirchen (ÖRK) wurde ursprünglich 2017 verfasst und stammt von Dr. Agnes Abuom, ehemalige Vorsitzende des ÖRK-Zentralausschusses .

Dr. Abuom ist die erste Frau und erste Afrikanerin, die diese bedeutende Position einnimmt. Sie ist auch geschäftsführende Direktorin der Organisation TAABCO Research and Development Consultants (Forschungs- und Entwicklungsberatung) mit Sitz in Nairobi, Kenia. In ihrer Reflexion am Vorabend des Internationalen Frauentages erklärt sie als afrikanische Frau die Zusammenhänge zwischen Armut, Wasserknappheit und deren Auswirkung auf Frauen. Sie ist auch sehr kontextbezogen, da Kenia heutzutage unter einer großen Dürre leidet, welche die Situation der Frauen verschlechtert. Letztere sind in ihren Familien vorwiegend für die Wasserbeschaffung zuständig.

Originally written in 2017, The third of the seven reflections of the Lenten Campaign: Seven Weeks for Water 2023 of the Word Council of Churches’ (WCC) Ecumenical Water Network (EWN) is by Dr Agnes Abuom, former moderator of the WCC’s central committee. 

Dr Abuom was the first woman and first African to hold this important position. She is also the Executive Director of TAABCO Research and Development Consultants, based in Nairobi, Kenya. In her reflection, being an African woman on the eve of International Women’s Day, she explores the linkages between poverty, water scarcity and its impact on women.  It is also contextual in that today Kenya is reeling under a serious drought which is deteriorating the situation for women as they are mostly responsible for fetching water for their families.

Thursdays in Black Bible Study "Exorcising the Silence in David’s House" on 2 Samuel 11-13 and Psalm 51, prepared by Rev. Dr Karen Georgia A. Thompson and Rev. Nicqi Ashwood.

Theological reflection on Romans 15:13 by Father Bashar Fawadleh, Spiritual guide for Christian Youth Movement in Palestine “The Homeland of Jesus Youth”, preparing for the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, to be held 15-22 September 2022.

“Faith Active in Hope and Love”, theological reflection by Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni, preparing for the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, to be held 15-22 September 2022.

The seventh and final reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2022 of the WCC’s Ecumenical Water Network is written by Prof. Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri*. In the following reflection she, being the staff focal point of WCC’s Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, makes a compelling analysis of how the WCC pilgrimage and the pilgrimage of water justice inter-relate, complement, and strengthen each other, with a particular reference to Europe.

The fourth reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2022 of the WCC’s Ecumenical Water Network is written by Susanne Öhlmann.* She says water and peace are similar to each other. We do not miss them until they are absent. On one hand, Europe, a water rich continent, has started to feel the pinch of water shortages in recent times, and on the other, peace and security of the region has started to destabilize in the wake of war in Ukraine. Drawing inspiration from the prophet Amos, she prays for peace and justice to prevail.

WCC-EAPPI Easter Initiative 2022 Bible Studies: Solidarity Is Sacred, Bible Text: 1 Peter 4: 7–11

The third reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2022 of the WCC’s Ecumenical Water Network is written by Louk Andrianos.* He reflects on the  words of God found in James and John, by warning Christians about less recognized  “ecological sins" toward water: “pollution.” When our thirst is not quenched by Jesus Christ’s water and we follow the worldly consumption lifestyle, we act sometimes as springs of polluted water that are destroying creation instead of giving life to it. We cannot be the source of blessing and cursing (James 3: 10-11). 

The first reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2022 of the WCC’s Ecumenical Water Network is written by Philip Vinod Peacock.* In the following reflection, he reflects on the promise of God found in Isaiah, that God will quench the thirst of the poor and will not forsake them. In the current global water crisis, he juxtaposes the poor against the rich in terms of their capacity to access  clean water. He challenges us to be enablers of God’s promise of water for the poor.