PRAY FOR RAIN....AGAIN! AND MORE....

.

.

It's been a year since we held the

 "PRAYER VIGIL FOR RAIN"

the flyer information above refers to, that

we held at the Chapel of the Living Waters.

We're going to try to recreate the idea

in a new way, in a different, digital form.

Here's a short video we used last year

at the Prayer Vigil, narrated by Travis Sullivan,

of Sullivan Bucking Bulls, Dusty, New Mexico.

.

 

.

Below is a painting, with our plea, of

the Hopi Indian Snake Dance, the oldest

ceremony and prayer for rain in North America.

The painting was done by E.I Couse, who

 witnessed the dance at a Hopi village in 1903.

.  

"....if the gods are good - and if all has been done well,
 the gods are good - rain is coming.
  As the late afternoon light wanes,
 dusk is usually hastened by the gathering of huge clouds,

streaks of rain appear over distant mesas, dude-wranglers
 marshal their charges into cars, eager to 'cross
 the wash' before floods fill it, Hopis from
 neighboring villages get themselves and

 their families loaded into cars; and then comes the long,
 swishing, sweet-smelling rain, pouring in cleansing floods
 from the roofs into the streets and over the edges of the mesa,

bringing hope and confident assurance that hearts 

were pure and the work was pleasing in

the sight of the unseen ones.

The Snake-dance always brings rain."

Erna Fergusson

Dancing Gods: Indian Ceremonials of

New Mexico and Arizona

.

.

Jewish Tradition/Water/Rain/Prayer

"The land you are about to enter and settle is unlike the land of Egypt you have left, in which one could sow seeds and irrigate by foot, like a vegetable garden. The land you are going to settle is a land of mountains and valleys, which absorbs water as rain from heaven."
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 11: 10–12

Water plays a central role in Jewish tradition, both literally and metaphorically. The ancient Israelite agricultural system was dependent on rains coming in their proper times and in proper amounts. And throughout our liturgy, we are presented with the idea that rain is a blessing that reflects our societal balance 
 and harmony.
Today, water continues to play a crucial role in our agricultural systems. And while we have developed advanced irrigation methods, ultimately, we are dependent on clean water and rains coming in their proper times.

During the High Holy Days we take stock not only of our own lives, but also on the state of the natural resources on which our lives depend. When we consider water, it has been quite a year indeed. We have witnessed a frightening series of droughts, forest fires, floods, ice melts, heat waves, and other extreme weather events. On top of these natural phenomena, hydro-fracking has emerged as one of the most significant environmental issues of our time.

.

ABOUT THE VIDEO BELOW
"A Prayer for Rain" Jewish Farm School's first video in the Feast Forward series, includes a diverse cross-section of people reading an adaptation of T'filat HaGeshem, and the themes of the poem are connected to contemporary issues related to clean water, sustainable agriculture, and climate change.

.

.

.

.

Below is a music video of one of the most CLASSIC

songs about rainstorms ever composed - "Cloudburst" - 

from THE GRAND CANYON SUITE by Grofe.

One of the major sacred places of Hopi Tribal origins

 and religious beliefs is the Grand Canyon,

 known to the Hopi as Öngtuvqa, including the area of the

 confluence. It is believed to be a place where many Hopi

 ancestors lived and their spirits still dwell there including

 many cultural resources that support its 

revered status for Hopi people.

.

.

 .

From the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer 

For Rain
.
O God, heavenly Father, who by thy Son Jesus Christ
hast promised to all those who seek thy kingdom and its
righteousness all things necessary to sustain their life: Send
us, we entreat thee, in this time of need, such moderate rain
and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth, to
our comfort and to thy honor; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

.

LITANY FOR ALL CREATION IN A

TIME OF DROUGHT AND FIRE

.

God of all creation, of rain and fire, of ponderosa and pinon,
we your people lift our prayer to You.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For rain in this thirsty land, and for hope in this hard time.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the people who are dealing with a water shortage and its effects - both financial and personal - from Magdalena to the Plains, from the Rio Grande Valley to Elephant Butte Reservoir.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For firefighters on the front lines, for pilots and crews, and all who are working across the State of New Mexico at this time to contain fires - for their safety and stamina.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the animals and birds that have lost habitat or lack water sources, for the plants and trees, rivers and lakes, and all creation that is suffering because of drought and fire, and often because of human greed or human carelessness.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the farmers and ranchers, and others of our rural communities whose lives and livelihoods are threatened by fire, drought, or water theft.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the just and wise use of the water You have given us, to be gracious stewards
of Your creation and good neighbors with all people.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the wisdom to conserve resources, and the grace to share them, with common sense and a dedication to protect what is a sacred trust - to understand that we are not so much owners as we are custodians of land, and to know that water is life.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the local, state, and federal authorities and leaders - to have Your courage, O Lord, and Your vision, to make hard decisions for the common good, and the will to stand up to financial and political powers that would rob the state's citizens of what is theirs.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For a peaceful resolution to the difficulties that people face on the San Augustin Plains aquifer water project, and a fair, just, and timely answer from the New Mexico Court of Appeals.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, You who hear the prayer of every heart, hear now the prayers we lift up to you now.

(A moment of silent prayer.)

Hear all of our prayers O God, spoken and unspoken.

Remind us that You are the One who listens and Who hears.

Grant us the wisdom to love one another, and this God-given earth, as You do.

We pray in Your name, and offer the prayer that Christ taught us:

Our Father, Who are in heaven, holy be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen

.

 The litany above was written by

  Rev. Talitha Arnold of Santa Fe, NM. 
Permission is allowed to reproduce and adapt
for worship services or church education.
  Publishing rights are reserved.

.

.

Here's the link to a post we did last year on another blog
titled "PAUSE FOR A PRAYER FOR RAIN."
The blog is concerned with an attempt by foreign "operators"
who are trying to steal 52,000 acre feet of water in New Mexico.
Obviously, the NEED for water during a period of drought
gives any flim-flam artist who says they can deliver water
an opportunity.  The fact that New Mexico is so incredibly
corrupt and ignorant makes the issue much worse.
But here's more praying for rain:
http://stopthewatergrab.blogspot.com/2013/03/pause-for-prayer.html