Where does the name “Upwellings” come from?
The Upwellings Ministry takes its name from the natural ocean phenomenon, upwelling, which takes place yearly on five of the world's west coast, including California 's central coast. In the spring or summer the coastal wind currents shift, blowing surface waters southward, and making room for the very cold, nutrient-rich waters of the deep to upwell. These waters are part of a world-wide system of deep sea currents; some of the water has been in the depths for millennia. Humans have no control over when and where upwelling happens; in El Nino years there is little upwelling. Our rich local marine life, as well as our ecosystem and economy, all depend on the food and gift of upwelling. Our spiritual connection to the natural world is like that upwelling gift; when the surface is blown away, from the deep, from far away and long ago, comes the gift of God's spirit, full of life, beyond our control, reminding us of interconnectedness. This ministry seeks to open up the soul of the Monterey Peninsula to these deep spiritual gifts and connections, and to unite different people in loving care of God's creation.