CWU 47 Opening Prayer

It is water that delivers us, O God,

from the day of our birth,

to this very day, and every day in between.

Whether we drove, rode, or flew

to get to Hopewell,

water is why we're here.

Whether we're well-hydrated

or thirsty, water – or its lack –

is the force that has brought us to this place.

Let Camp Hopewell be a sacred wilderness

for us, not because it is in any way

lacking what we need, but because

it is the kind of place where bushes burn

and sandals are removed and we find out

we're standing on holy ground. 

Let it be our wilderness because its proximity

to raw nature offers us the opportunity

to step away from what we know and expect –

especially the double-edged sword of technology –

and rely, instead, on your sufficiency, O Lord.

May our five days together be a time

when water relationships are developed,

so that we might be able to support

and sustain one another throughout

our lifetimes as your water saints.

Give us focus, endurance, and a great sense

of the joy of being a part of your glorious creation,

through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

© 2015 Todd Jenkins