This season, many of our congregations celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord, the moment when Jesus steps into the Jordan River, the heavens open, and God declares, “You are my beloved.” In that moment, sacred water is not only cleansing, it becomes a sign of calling, identity, and shared purpose.

Baptism reminds us that water is never ordinary.
It is where God claims us, renews us, and calls us beloved.
It is life, promise, and liberation.

This Gospel imagery is powerful to hold alongside the realities facing our region today. For the first time in nearly twenty-six years, California is drought free—a milestone worth celebrating. Yet the long-term megadrought across the West is far from resolved.

Much of Western Nevada has temporarily emerged from drought, but Southern and Eastern regions still face significant water stress. And Lake Mead continues to hover near historic lows, signaling that the challenges beneath the surface remain urgent.

Our baptismal waters call us to remember that all water is sacred, whether flowing through the Jordan River or the Colorado River basin. Water is not a resource to be hoarded or taken for granted, but a shared gift entrusted to our care.

As Nevada’s leaders consider how water will be managed and equitably distributed in the decades ahead, LEAN stands rooted in faith:

• Water is life.
• Creation is a neighbor.
• Stewardship is a calling, not a political option.

Just as Jesus rose from the water beloved and sent, we too rise from baptism with a purpose—to advocate, protect, and care for God’s world and every neighbor who depends on it.