St. AndrewÂs Creation NewsNovember 2, 2023 | | |  | TodayÂs Creation News created by Anna Magner | | The Gift of Water It started at the very beginning when the God spoke and brought water into being. Throughout the history of GodÂs people, there has been water at pivotal moments. The Thanksgiving over the water in the rite of holy baptism (Book of Common Prayer p. 306) recalls the children of Israel being led through the water of the Red Sea from bondage to the land of promise. We also have Noah's Ark (Genesis 6-9), Jonah and the Big Fish (Jonah), Jesus is Baptized (Matthew 3 or Luke 3), Jesus Walks on Water (Mark 6:45-56), Woman at the Well (John 4), Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet (John 13:1-17) just to name a few. Water is alive, moving, and ready to carry us through transformation to new places. How has your life been transformed by water?
The sound of a babbling brook or the water of a river tripping lazily over rocks has brought peace to me many times over the years. At a particularly difficult time in my life, I went to visit relatives in central Washington. While there, we all piled into the car and drove northwest for a few hours until we came to a small cabin in the woods. IÂd been having difficulty sleeping and was worried about the long dark night in an unfamiliar place. As I lay in bed listening to the house quiet down, I became aware of  the sound of a burbling creek just outside my window. It was very meditative. Soon, I was enveloped in a deep, peaceful sleep. Now I find myself drawn to rivers and creeks just to sit and listen and experience the peace that the sound of moving water offers. | | The Salish Sea Atlas This is a really cool website that has interactive maps of the inland waterways that empty in and around the Salish Sea, from the far reaches of the Fraser River in British Columbia to our local Dungeness and Elwha Rivers, from as far south as the western slope of Mt. Rainier and east to the headwaters of the Skagit River high in the Cascades. Check it out, youÂll be glad you did.
Rivers Did you know that the headwaters of the Elwha River that drains into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Queets River that drains into the Pacific Ocean south of Kalaloch are separated by less than 2 miles by a glacier called the Elwha Snowfinger? |
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| | The Elwha River The Elwha River travels 45 miles down through the mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. From 1911 to 2014, dams blocked fish passage on the lower Elwha River. The National Park Service working with the Elwha Tribe removed the two dams completing the work in August 2014. Freeing the river has allowed five species of salmon to return to their native spawning areas, and carried enough sediment to its mouth to create 70 acres of estuary habitat at the Strait of Juan de Fuca. |
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| Dungeness River The second steepest river in the United States, the Dungeness River begins high on Mount Mystery in Olympic National Park, flowing into Dungeness Bay on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Its watershed provides an important source of clean drinking water for Sequim, Washington.
Sol Duc River As the largest of the four rivers which ultimately form the Quillayute River, the Sol Duc River travels 72 miles west from its origin on the north side of the High Divide in Olympic National Park. | | | I Really Have No NeedÂ
by Will Rout
The veins of Earth run clear and blue
reflecting every single hue,
the lifeblood of entirety
a scene of perfect majesty,
an early morn debutÂ
And flowing downstream endlessly
from mountain high unto the sea,
with fish like filled up SimonÂs net
I cast a line with no regret,
it flows abundantlyÂ
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| Along the banks the grasses grow
and sip itÂs surreptitious flow,
with trees and shrubs of evergreen
creating such a splendid scene,
I whisper a helloÂ
The sounds of trickles fill the air
I listen, as I blankly stare,
when suddenly, IÂm back awake
to feel the tug and fishÂs shake,
IÂve breakfast to prepareÂ
And as I cook my morning feed
I thank the Lord as I proceed,
and glance to smile the river fair
while wafting fish cooked fills the air,
I really have no needÂ
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| | Lakes
There are lakes scattered all over the Olympic Peninsula. The most familiar are the large lakes: Crescent, Sutherland, Cushman, and Quinault. But most of the lakes are small alpine lakes that are accessible only by hiking. These lakes have names as beautiful as the scenery around them. In the Sol Duc area is Seven Lakes Basin with Mink, Deer, Heart, and Lunch Lakes. Farther east between Deer Park and Obstruction Point are Moose Lake, Grand Lake, and Gladys Lake. If the names themselves donÂt make you want to hike into the mountains and camp by one of them, maybe some photos will. | | Water Water connects all physical and spiritual life. As well as being the visible sign of Baptism, it is essential for life. Having clean water for all GodÂs children is an act of justice, love, respect and a core value of what it means to be a Christian. Â
There is a the resource guide called Shadow of the Salmon: Respect the Salmon, Respect Yourself. It was developed for teachers of the eighth grade by the Washington Indian Education Association, Â the Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians, and the Pacific Education Institute. The guide includes a list of 10 things we should know about watersheds and I think it is worth a read: Â
http://standrewpa.org/special/Top_10_Things_You_Should_Know_About_Watersheds.pdf | | A CALL TO WORSHIP
(inspired by Isaiah 55:1-3)
Come to the water, all you who thirst,
come drink deeply from the river of life.
Come to the water, all you who are weary,
come rest in the quiet pools of GodÂs love.
Come to the water, all you who long for justice,
come be renewed in GodÂs ever-flowing stream.
For God is here among us,
washing away the dust and grime of our lives,
and pouring out the Spirit on all who thirst.
Let us worship God together.
Source: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/06/call-to-worship-my-soul-thirsts-for-god.html | | Ways to Worship with Us Wherever you are in your journey of faith, you are welcome at the Lord's Table. For those who cannot attend in person, the service is offered via livestream on our Facebook page or anytime on our website. St. AndrewÂs Sunday Worship - 8 am and 10 am. Sunday School (all ages) at 9 am. Nursery care available. In Forks at St. Swithin's - Â Each Sunday at 2:30 pm - We meet at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for Holy Eucharist or Prayer. Mid-week Worship Service each Wednesday in person at 11 am. If you need assistance in accessing our worship services, please contact our office 360-457-4862.
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