What is your favorite thing to drink? How often do we spend money on that soda, coffee, latte, tea while we are out an about when we have something that many people in the world don't have, and it is right at our fingertips....WATER! I know it is hard for us to truly understand that their are actually places in the world where clean, drinkable water isn't an option...but it is real and we have a chance to help!
If you are up for the challenge join me in spending these next forty days setting aside the money I would have spent on coffee, soda, etc. and drinking only water so that money can help build a well in Africa!
Here are some other ways you can participate in 40 days of water and still make a huge difference in Africa:
1. If 40 days of no drink but water is too difficult (and it IS huge) then pick one day a week that you will set aside to just drink water. Set that 2-3 bucks aside in a jar and you will be amazed at the end of Lent what you have to offer!
2. Pick ONE beverage you will fast from...say soda...and place the money you would have spent on soda in a jar each time and see what it looks like at the end of Lent.
These are just a couple of ideas to get you going. We will talk about it a little more on Sunday. I for one am already missing my coffee, but it helps to know that my sacrifice will help someone in africa get to have even one sip of clean water! We can do this!
We will have a bucket at youth group for money, as well as one in the back of the church just in case you can't make it to youth group. Feel free to have your own jar at home and bring it in at the end. We will send our money to the bloodwater mission at the end of Lent!
Check out the promo video and get excited:
Forty Days of Water Challenge
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Why?
Small Child: "Mommy, why do you have that stuff on your head? Why do I have to get it too?"
Mother: "Honey, because...because it is Ash Wednesday. It is just what we do."
Yes, this happened.
I was surprised by how quickly the answer was given, and how matter of fact it seemed. The child asked no further questions. The answer satisfied his curiosity,and that was clearly demonstrated by how quickly he went back to eating his cheerios. I, however, was not satisfied with the answer. The words "It is just what we do" have been rolling around in my head all day and it is only now that I'm realizing why. Those five little words have a lot of power in our daily lives, especially our spiritual lives. As Catholics we are often found most guilty of just doing things "because it is what we do" and by responding to the richness of our faith that way we are not only doing ourselves a HUGE disservice, but each of the people in we come in to contact with as well.
There is a lot that will be going on in these next 40 days that we could totally get away with doing "because it is just what we do" (no meat on Fridays, dirt on our heads, giving things up, taking things on, not saying alleluia at mass...) but I want to put the challenge before you to ask the question that little boy asked his Mom, WHY?! And get ready for the ride of your lives because we've got the next 40 days to learn about the beauty, richness and love that comes with sacrifice.
Got your ashes ready?? I'm all in...are you??
If you want to get a jump start before youth group sunday check out these sites:
Team Catholic
Are you ready?!
Just for fun...
Mother: "Honey, because...because it is Ash Wednesday. It is just what we do."
Yes, this happened.
I was surprised by how quickly the answer was given, and how matter of fact it seemed. The child asked no further questions. The answer satisfied his curiosity,and that was clearly demonstrated by how quickly he went back to eating his cheerios. I, however, was not satisfied with the answer. The words "It is just what we do" have been rolling around in my head all day and it is only now that I'm realizing why. Those five little words have a lot of power in our daily lives, especially our spiritual lives. As Catholics we are often found most guilty of just doing things "because it is what we do" and by responding to the richness of our faith that way we are not only doing ourselves a HUGE disservice, but each of the people in we come in to contact with as well.
There is a lot that will be going on in these next 40 days that we could totally get away with doing "because it is just what we do" (no meat on Fridays, dirt on our heads, giving things up, taking things on, not saying alleluia at mass...) but I want to put the challenge before you to ask the question that little boy asked his Mom, WHY?! And get ready for the ride of your lives because we've got the next 40 days to learn about the beauty, richness and love that comes with sacrifice.
Got your ashes ready?? I'm all in...are you??
If you want to get a jump start before youth group sunday check out these sites:
Team Catholic
Are you ready?!
Just for fun...
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