The Wonders of Alabama

1. Session Two
Wonders
The Wonders of Alabama
Preparations Education: 25 minutes
Arrange a classroom table “altar” Teach from the following.
with a cloth, a candle, a clear As we learn more about “Water-
container with water, and a Bible sheds and Warming” – that is,
open to Deuteronomy 8:7. Before how our home waters are related
participants arrive, familiarize to climate change – our focus to-
yourself with the Legacy posters, day is The Wonders of Alabama.
so that you can refer to them as What is so significant about the During the last ice age, as glaciers
you share information about the lakes, rivers, streams and water advanced southward, they pushed
Wonders of Alabama. Decorate features of our Diocese, and the nutrient-rich topsoil ahead of
the room with the posters that state of Alabama? them, right into Alabama. (Refer
will be referred to in today’s Ses- to Legacy “Soils of Alabama”
sion. As class begins, invite par- The World Wildlife Fund, whose poster.) The glaciers themselves
ticipants to add their gifts to the support contributed to this Guide did not reach as far south as
table “altar” – representing the (http://www.worldwildlife.org/), Alabama, so we did not experi-
beauty and wonder of Alabama. has targeted 200 places world- ence their adverse effects. These
wide for their focus over the factors contribute to our rich bio-
Reflection: 10 minutes next 50 years. Out of these select diversity. (Refer to Legacy “Ala-
1. Prayer 200 places around planet Earth, bama’s Water Resources” poster.)
We thank you Almighty God, for the WWF is focusing more closely
gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit on just 19 places – worldwide
moved in the beginning of creation. – between now and 2015. One
Through it you led the children of Is- of their top-focus 19 places is
rael out of their bondage in Egypt into the combined Tennessee River
the land of promise. In it your Son and Mobile Basins. This includes
Jesus received the baptism of John and most of the state of Alabama,
was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the and therefore the Diocese of Ala-
Messiah, the Christ… To him, to you bama. The region of our Diocese
and to the Holy Spirit, be all honor is among the most biologically
and glory, now and for ever. Amen. diverse and beautiful geographi- The region of our Diocese
(BCP p. 306, excerpt from the Thanksgiving
over the Water)
cal areas in the world. Our rivers is among the most
and streams are the richest in biologically diverse
2. Someone reads the Scripture North America, and among the
and beautiful
For the Lord your God is bringing richest on Earth. And we have
you into a good land, a land with just named several wondrous geographical areas
flowing streams, with springs and places and features of God’s Cre- in the world.
underground waters welling up in ation in Alabama.
valleys and hills. Deuteronomy 8:7 NRSV
The term “biologically diverse”
3. Meditation is used to describe the number
Invite participants to meditate of different organisms that live
quietly for one minute and then naturally and thrive in our state.
to identify special places in Ala- Alabama’s rich diversity exists
bama, particularly those in and because our state is uniquely
around water (lake, river, creek, located where some of the great
beach, Camp McDowell, etc.) landscapes of North America
Make a list on newsprint. come together.
Watersheds and Warming 2-1
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2. Session Two
Wonders
Topography/Landscapes highest-ranked state east of the
Alabama has a broad range of Mississippi. To travel the scope
topographies or landscapes. of the Diocese of Alabama and
the length of our state from the
At the south end of the state, the Gulf Islands to the Cumberland
Gulf of Mexico creates beaches, Mountains is an experience of
dunes and coastal habitats that the incredible richness of God’s
support a wealth of plants and Creation.
animals. (Refer to Legacy “Plants
of Alabama” and “Wildlife of
Alabama” posters.) A Network of Water Courses
(Refer to Legacy “Alabama’s
Further inland, great pine forests Water Resources” poster.) Fresh
dominated by longleaf pine once water is always moving through
stretched across more than 2/3 the State and among the different
of Alabama. The remnants of physiographic regions described
these forests contain a unique above. (See the Alabama River
and rich diversity of plants and map from http://alabamamaps.
animals; indeed, the plant diver- ua.edu.) About 8% of the fresh-
sity of longleaf pine forests is the water in the continental U.S.
richest in North America. Places originates in or flows through
like the Bankhead National For- Alabama. Our state has more
est (near Camp McDowell) con- navigable rivers (1,438 miles)
tain elements of both the coastal than any other state.
pine and Appalachian hardwood
For the Lord your God forests and contain a rich tapes- High in the mountains, rocky
is bringing you try of species from both regions. streams and creeks fall through
into a good land, (Refer to Legacy “Common Trees the forests, joining together into
a land with flowing streams, of Alabama” poster.) increasingly larger streams and
with springs eventually small rivers.
At the northern end of Alabama
and underground waters the Cumberland Plateau is home There are a number of small
welling up to the rugged mountains and and medium rivers crossed by
in valleys and hills. deep caves that contain a wealth Alabama citizens every day
of species that make the Appala- – the Paint Rock, the Cahaba,
Deuteronomy 8:7 NRSV chians one of the biological “hot- the Sipsey, the Choctawhatchee,
spots” on the entire continent. the Perdido. These small rivers
Alabama ranks first among the and their headwater streams are
50 states for cave diversity – the among the most biologically rich
number of different life forms freshwaters on Earth.
that live underground.
Two Great River Systems
Plants and Animals Most of Alabama’s small rivers
Plants and animals, on the land, flow into one of two great river
in the water, and underground– systems of North America.
all of these species make our
state of Alabama fifth-ranked In north Alabama, they flow
among all the U. S. states for into the Tennessee River, one
biological diversity, and the of the great biological treasures
2-2 Watersheds and Warming
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3. Session Two
Wonders
on the continent. The Tennessee Alabama has more species
flows into the Mississippi River. of mussels, freshwater snails,
crayfish, freshwater turtles and
In south Alabama, most of the damselflies than any other state.
rivers flow into the Mobile River
system which ends in the Ten- (Source for watershed informa-
saw Delta and Mobile Bay. Like tion, pages 2-3: Jeff Danter and
the Tennessee River, the Coosa/ The Nature Conservancy http://
Tallapoosa/Alabama system of www.nature.org.)
rivers, and the Tombigbee/Black
Warrior system, have been of
great importance to the develop- Summation
ment of our state, and are also Return to the newsprint. Invite
among the biologically richest participants to another minute
river systems on Earth. of silence. Then, as time allows,
add to your list of special water-
shed places.
Biological Diversity
Because of the rich biological
heritage of Alabama, our state
is one of the most popular for
ecological research, conservation
efforts and naturalists.
Alabama is ranked among the
top 10 states for reptiles and am-
phibians, and is home to a large
numbers of species of mam-
mals and birds. (Refer to Legacy
“Wildlife of Alabama” poster.)
Birdwatchers arrive annually
from around the country to expe-
rience bird migrations, contribut-
ing to the state’s economy.
According to The Nature Con-
servancy Alabama ranks #1
among the 50 states for fresh-
water diversity, the number of
species that live in our rivers and Our human body is 60% water,
streams. 4 billion year recycled water
Alabama has more species of
that comes from
freshwater fish than any other the rivers
state. The Cahaba River alone and streams
contains 135 species of fish, of Earth’s waters.
compared to 99 species that exist Healthy rivers and streams
in the entire state of California.
are crucial to the future of life -
(Refer to Legacy “Fishes of Ala-
bama” poster.) and there are no refills.
Watersheds and Warming 2-3
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4. Session Two
Wonders
Action: 10 minutes Prayer We join with the earth
Invite participants to select one We give you thanks, most gracious and with each other.
or more of the following Care of God, for the beauty of earth and sky
To bring new life to the land
Creation activities. and sea; for the richness of moun-
To restore the waters
tains, plains, and rivers; for the songs
To refresh the air
1. As you pray, worship, study of birds and the loveliness of flowers.
We join with the earth
and work this week, notice vari- We praise you for these good gifts,
and with each other.
ous features that contribute to and pray that we may safeguard them
the beauty, wonder, and natural for posterity. Grant that we may con- To renew the forests
biodiversity of the Diocese of Al- tinue to grow in our grateful enjoy- To care for the plants
abama. Invite family and friends ment of your abundant creation, to To protect the creatures
to notice too. Write what you the honor and glory of your Name, We join with the earth
find in a journal or notebook, now and forever. Amen. and with each other.
take photos, sketch images, or Thanksgiving for the Beauty of the Earth,
look for pictures in magazines. BCP p. 840 #8 To celebrate the seas
Bring your reflections/ images To rejoice in the sunlight
to place on the table “altar” for To sing the song of the stars
Session Three. We join with the earth
and with each other.
2. When rain falls at your church To recreate the human community
or at home, where does it go? To promote justice and peace
Delineate the route that water To remember our children
takes from your home site to the We join with the earth
river, or groundwater. Describe and with each other.
how the waters of baptism for
your parish get from their source We join together
to the baptismal font. as many and diverse expressions
of one loving mystery:
3. Bring pictures of your home for the healing of the Earth
river or stream to place on the and the renewal of all life.
table “altar” for Session Three.
Prayer from U.N. Environmental Sabbath Program
Earth Prayers From Around the World, p. 94
Resources: Wading in the Waters
http://www.legacyenved.org/index.htm
The beautiful and informative posters used in this session, along with other resources, are produced by
Legacy, Inc. Their website contains a wealth of information for citizens. To order your own set of posters, go
directly to the poster page by using the address below. One free set is available to each citizen of Alabama.
Remember to put an “underline” in the space between “materials” and “poster.”
http://www.legacyenved.org/materials/materials_poster.htm
http://www.riversofalabama.org/index.htm
This is a beautiful website. It features Beth Maynor Young’s photographs. As you click on the photo for a par-
ticular watershed, the site will open to an enlarged photo, plus that watershed with its river and tributaries
superimposed on a map of Alabama, outlined by county. Under the picture you can click on a topic of inter-
est and will find not only good information but usually more pictures. This site is wonderful. This website
gives information about the wonders of our biodiversity, with beautiful photos of our rivers and pictures of
river creatures. It also connects to the EPA watershed site for access to even more information. Have fun!
2-4 Watersheds and Warming
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