It’s a brand new month! And the beginning of many new things… a new season, new school year, a new calendar page! Maybe you aren’t feeling the newness. Maybe you feel stuck somewhere back in May. Maybe you feel stuck somewhere in 2019! I had to look back through my photos today to remember if something took place in 2021 or 2022! and I realized just how much has happened in the last couple of years! I am finding that I really need to practice self-compassion!
I need to remember the compassion of Jesus. I need the reminder that our God is a God of compassion.
So however you’re feeling today at the start of September, PAUSE, TAKE A BREATH, and BREATHE in DEEPLY the great compassion of God.
READ the Scriptures…
1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.
MATTHEW 14:13-21 NIV
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes by JAMES TISSOT
READ OR LISTEN TO THIS PASSAGE IN DIFFERENT TRANSLATIONS
What is God’s Word for you today? What is God speaking you about today through these passages?
Use the psalm and/or the Gospel passage as your inspiration. Write, Journal, or create in Art, or Just BE with Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you! Feel free to use these questions the rest of the week.
- What is God, the Holy Spirit speaking to you about today?
- What do you notice that you haven’t noticed before?
- What questions come up for you from this passage?
- What part of this story do you relate to in your life right now?
- Jesus was trying to get away from the crowds.Trying to retreat. His plans got interrupted. How have you needed to get away recently? Maybe, like Jesus, your plans have been interrupted by the needs of others, or the needs of the crowd. Talk to Jesus about this. How can you put time and space in your schedule in the weeks ahead to have time to retreat, time to process.
- What do you need to take time to grieve?Jesus was in need of time and space to grieve too. See the beginning of Matthew 14.
- Jesus doesn’t get mad at the interruption. Instead he has compassion on the crowd. How do you deal with interruptions?
- What is your definition of compassion? What helps you have compassion for other people?
- Why is it so hard to show compassion for yourself?
- How can you allow Jesus to have compassion on you or how can you RECEIVE COMPASSION from Jesus and provide what you need just like he did the people in this passage?
- The people in this passage were hungry and needed food. What are you hungry for today?
- What do you need to bring to Jesus to have him multiply it?
In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus also has compassion on the crowds.
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
I’ve been working through Joyce Rupp’s Book Boundless Compassion
Joyce Rupp says there are FOUR SEEDS OF COMPASSION… Four Spiritual qualities necessary for compassion’s growth:
NONJUDGEMENT
NON VIOLENCE
FORGIVENESS
MINDFULNESS
Which one do you need more of right now?
“ The Four Seeds/ Spiritual Qualities of Compassion ….The more the seeds are nurtured, the better the harvest of compassion. Enlivening these four aspects requires deliberate practice, interior stamina, and trust in the power of the Holy One to assist in their development.” Joyce Rupp
“Compassion can never coexist with judgement because judgement creates distance and distinction, which prevents from really being with the other” Henri Nouwen
Since this is a season of Gardens, a season of harvesting, what does God want to harvest in you in this new season?
What does Jesus want to grow in you in the new season ahead?
GRAB A VEGETABLE ( or a Piece of Fruit) Consider the seeds. Consider all that went into the planting and harvesting of this produce. Thank Jesus for all the people (maybe yourself) who helped get this food to you!
When you wash a vegetable, pick one from your garden, see them in the store, or eat them for dinner, consider what Jesus is harvesting and ask him to show you!
Pick one if the ” compassion seeds” and ask God to grow this in you in the days ahead!
You might pick one for each week between now and October.
God of Compassion..help us to receive the abundance of your love. Help us to receive your gift of compassion for ourselves so that we may be more compassionate to others. In Jesus Name. Amen
©lillylewin and freerangeworship.com
Just a few months away and it will be time to celebrate Advent and Christmas. Let Godspace be a resource to you as you prepare! We have many devotionals, gifts, prayer cards, free downloads, retreats – and more – to offer. Check it out in our shop under the category of Advent!
All photos and writing by June Friesen; Scriptures from The Message Translation.
THEME: “Listen to the voice of creation” is the theme and invitation of this year’s Season of Creation. In his message for the World Day of Prayer 2022, Pope Francis calls us to use the season to “cultivate our ecological conversion” and to pray together in “the great cathedral of Creation”. (taken from a website on World Day of Prayer for Creation)
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is September 1, 2022. This annual day, established by Pope Francis in 2015, is an opportunity to pray, reflect and act to care for God’s creation.
“We can hear the planet’s “cries of anguish”, Pope Francis said in his message for the celebration of World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, set to take place on 1 September. Mother earth, he said, “implores us to put an end to our abuses and to her destruction ”’ (taken from a website on World Day of Prayer for Creation)
So, one may wonder – how can creation talk to us? Plants are a major part of creation, and they are basically silent. And while the plant/plants themselves are silent at most times they can make themselves felt/heard with stings, pokes, etc. And if they are ignored such as they do not receive proper nutrients, water, light and temperatures their growth is stunted, disease may set in and they may just die. Another part of creation is animals, and one may ask, “how do animals talk to us?” Or can animals talk and/or communicate with us and if they do how? As an animal lover and one who grew up on a farm let me tell you animals can communicate and depending on the kind and size of the animal, they can at times be very vocal. I have seen animals vocalize if they sense it is feeding time. Young calves will head butt, nuzzle and try their best to communicate their need for milk or water. Dogs will bark, birds will chirp, cats meow to name a few. Animals also can also let us know they care about us or if they dislike us. As I am writing this, I am also reminded that the weather can communicate at times too so it is heard with heavy winds, rain, hail, thunder etc. In our country especially we hear about how we should pay attention to the weather and how we may improve on some of the issues at hand.
In Psalms 145 and 65 the Psalmist addresses the wonder and beauty of creation and how it gives praise to God.
9 God is good to one and all; everything he does is soaked through with grace.
10-11 Creation and creatures applaud you, God; your holy people bless you.
They talk about the glories of your rule, they exclaim over your splendor…
9-13 Oh, visit the earth, ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers, fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden. Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields, soak the dirt clods with rainfall as harrow and rake bring her to blossom and fruit.
Snow-crown the peaks with splendor, scatter rose petals down your paths,
All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
Set the hills to dancing, dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
a drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout!
Oh, oh, let them sing!
Oh my, those words just make me want to go and find a beautiful place in nature and dance and sign praise and glory to God for all the beauty everywhere. You may wonder, well, I live in the big city and do not see much to get excited about. I have not yet been to a city that did not have parks, go to a park – walk or run or sit or lie down or put your toes in a stream if there is one – watch for birds, watch for bugs, watch for children at play, watch the clouds, etc. Imagine God creating or being involved at that moment in whatever you are observing – and how can you be involved in embracing it or maybe even improving it. And if there is something(s) that need correction or attention if you cannot do it let someone know who can. Meanwhile, say a thank you prayer to the Creator for being able to embrace His beautiful creation.
104 1-14 O my soul, bless God! God, my God, how great you are! Beautifully, gloriously robed, dressed up in sunshine, and all heaven stretched out for your tent.
You built your palace on the ocean deeps, made a chariot out of clouds and took off on wind-wings. You commandeered winds as messengers, appointed fire and flame as ambassadors. You set earth on a firm foundation so that nothing can shake it, ever.
You blanketed earth with ocean, covered the mountains with deep waters;
Then you roared and the water ran away— your thunder crash put it to flight.
Mountains pushed up, valleys spread out in the places you assigned them.
You set boundaries between earth and sea; never again will earth be flooded.
You started the springs and rivers, sent them flowing among the hills.
All the wild animals now drink their fill, wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Along the riverbanks the birds build nests, ravens make their voices heard.
You water the mountains from your heavenly reservoirs; earth is supplied with plenty of water. You make grass grow for the livestock, hay for the animals that plow the ground.14-23 Oh yes, God brings grain from the land, wine to make people happy,
Their faces glowing with health, a people well-fed and hearty.
God’s trees are well-watered— the Lebanon cedars he planted.
Birds build their nests in those trees; look—the stork at home in the treetop.
Mountain goats climb about the cliffs; badgers burrow among the rocks.
The moon keeps track of the seasons, the sun is in charge of each day.
When it’s dark and night takes over, all the forest creatures come out.
The young lions roar for their prey, clamoring to God for their supper.
When the sun comes up, they vanish, lazily stretched out in their dens.
Meanwhile, men and women go out to work, busy at their jobs until evening.24-30 What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,
made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.
Oh, look—the deep, wide sea, brimming with fish past counting, sardines and sharks and salmon.
Ships plow those waters, and Leviathan, your pet dragon, romps in them.
All the creatures look expectantly to you to give them their meals on time.
You come, and they gather around; you open your hand and they eat from it.
If you turned your back, they’d die in a minute—Take back your Spirit and they die,
revert to original mud; Send out your Spirit and they spring to life—
the whole countryside in bloom and blossom.
WOW! Just wow! I was going to only put part of this Psalm in but I could not – and my heart just wants to burst with praise as I read this and realize the wonder of all creation and to embrace a God who had the ability to create it all and then to create humankind with the ability to care for as well as find sustenance from creation. So today I share a prayer with you for Creation.
PRAYING FOR AND WITH CREATION
For the tall trees, with leaves, needles, seed pods and more I thank You God,
For the flowers so many kinds, shapes, colors, fragrances and all-around beauty I thank You God,
For the grasses and reeds and even the things I call weeds, I thank You God,
For the fruits and nuts a plenty for humanity and animals alike, I thank You God,
For the forests, the woods, the mountainsides and cliffs, I thank You God,
For the rivers, the lakes, the streams, the oceans and oh yes, God those awesome waterfalls, I thank you God,
For the sandy shores where I can sit, make sand castles, and breathe fresh air, I thank You God,
For the veggies like peas, carrots, beans, lettuce, tomatoes and so much more I thank You God,
For the peaches, pears, strawberries, apples, and oranges so many more, I thank You God,
For all the grains like corn, wheat, barley and oats, I thank You God,
For the gardens, farms, orchards, fields and yes, the green houses too, I thank You God,
For the birds that sing and fly through the skies, I thank You God,
For the birds that give us eggs as well as meat, I thank You God,
For the bees that pollinate our fields and make us honey so sweet, I thank You God,
For the butterflies that also pollinate but also beautify our world, I thank You God,
For the animals so many, I thank You God,
For the cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats that supply us with meat and milk, I thank You God,
For the horses, dogs, domestic cats that provide pleasure and companionship, I thank You God,
For the fish, the seal, the whales, the anemone in the oceans I thank You God,
For the lions, tigers, camels, elephants, foxes and wolves I thank You God.
God, I am sure that there is something in Your vast creation I have missed today but what a blessing it is to be able to sit with You embracing and praising You for Your great creation. And now may I not walk away from this day to forget all these beautiful treasures that I enjoy but rather to remember to care for each part of it as best that I can to bring honor and glory to You wherever I am.
Did you know? If you visit our Seasons and Blessings Resource Page, there is a whole section on Back-to-School resources listed under the Autumn column! We have gathered prayers and practical resources to help you mentally and spiritually prepare yourself and your kids for the school year ahead. You might also enjoy checking out this free downloadable book of prayers for children, found in our shop.
by Elaine Breckenridge; Photo Credit: Randy OHC, CC BY 2.0 St. Aiden. Holy Cross Monastery Chapel, West Park, New York
Happy St. Aiden’s Day! My first introduction to St. Aiden was through reading A Holy Island Prayer Book by Ray Simpson. In the book, Simpson includes stories of some of the saints associated with Holy Island, Northumberland, England. As the founder of the monastery called Lindisfarne Priory and St. Mary’s Anglican Church on Holy Island, stories of St. Aiden figure prominently in the book.
St. Aiden was born in Ireland in the seventh century and spent his formative years as a monk in Iona, Scotland. In 635, he was called by King Oswald to bring Christianity to what was then Northumbria, England. Ordained as a Bishop, Aiden centered his ministry at first on the island but his mission extended as far south as London. He and his monks were faithful in corporate prayer and practiced solitude and seclusion, often praying on this small island opposite Holy Island and cut off twice daily by high tides.
St. Cuthbert’s Isle, Holy Island
He is credited for bringing Christianity to the English people. He also established the first school in England on Holy Island, training new monks who could carry on his ministry after his death. He died in the royal city of Bamburgh in 651.
Biographers agree that Aiden was both a humble and compassionate person. St. Bede in his book, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, written in 731, tells us that Aiden made an intentional effort to reach out to all the people he met, “whether rich or poor. If they were unbelievers, he encouraged them to embrace the mystery of the faith, or, if already Christians, he would strengthen them in the faith and stir them up, by words and actions, to alms and good works.”
Aiden preferred walking on his mission rather than riding a horse. Walking among the people Aiden could identify their exact needs and minister to them in specific ways. When he was given money, he gave it to the poor or often went to the slave market to purchase a slave’s freedom. And he was bold enough to rebuke kings.
There is a story that King Oswin, son of King Oswald once presented Aiden with a fine horse as a gift. Aiden immediately gave it away to the first person he met on the road. When the King heard about this, he chastised Aiden. In reply, Aiden said: “What are you saying, Your Majesty? Is this child of a mare more valuable to you than this child of God?” After that response, the King humbled himself before his Bishop and said, “I will not refer to this matter again, not will I enquire how much of our bounty you give away to God’s children.” As Ray Simpson says, Aiden had both the boldness and the gentleness to unlock the hearts of those he encountered.
After praying with and reading from this book, I decided to take a pilgrimage to Holy Island and the surrounding area in 2010. A highlight of my pilgrimage was to visit St. Aiden’s Church in Bamburgh.
St. Aiden’s Church, Bamburgh
As I entered the church there was a sign welcoming me which read: “Welcome to St. Aidan’s whoever you may be—a casual visitor, a tourist fascinated by this beautiful historic building, a believer seeking an oasis of silence and prayer, a pilgrim in search of truth, a traveler hoping for healing and consolation.” What a beautiful word of welcome and gesture of hospitality that was.
In the entryway, there were displays which detailed the church’s current ministries. In the back of the church there was an entire children’s corner, with blankets, books, toys, and a rocking chair. This place obviously cared about welcoming children.
Then, I noticed all the women. I found panels of stain glass dedicated to women saints, from Mary and Martha of Bethany, to Brigid, Hilda, Ebbe, all Celtic saints, and more contemporary saints like Florence Nightingale. In another corner their needlecrafters had created a huge and marvelous history quilt, depicting the centuries of the ministries of women in that congregation, including what their women’s guild was doing in real-time.
A large central and freestanding altar draped with contemporary fabrics, fresh flowers and candles beckoned me to come near. As I walked behind the altar, I saw that I was in the presence of St. Aiden’s Shrine which I did not know would be there.
St. Aiden had died leaning against one of the buttresses on the outside of the church. A beam from where Aiden rested had survived unscathed through two subsequent burnings of the church. At the church’s third rebuilding, the beam was brought inside the church and many reported miracles of healing by touching it. It was touched so often that a decision was made to attach it to the ceiling to protect it.
St. Aiden’s Shrine, Bamburgh Photo Credit: Russell Wills
I sat down by the shrine. I was deeply moved to be there. After a period of silent meditation, I realized that it was St. Aiden himself who was embodied in the ministry of the church so many centuries later. The hospitality of St. Aiden was genuinely manifest in the things and symbols of this church building. Though I did not see a single person, I felt surrounded by the saints of God; both the living saints who were a part of that congregation and the love of the many saints who had followed Aiden and prayed at his shrine. Like Aiden, the members of that congregation were offering the hospitality of God, Christ and the Spirit to any stranger who crossed their threshold.
As a believer, I felt that here was a living and dynamic faith community, a place where I would have enjoyed worshiping and participating in their ministries. As a pilgrim, I was free to wander around the church, alone and at will. There were no ropes or rails that prevented me from exploring each nook and cranny. As a traveler, a side chapel, offered me an oasis of rest for prayer with soft cushions for meditation. As a tourist, I felt welcome indeed because another wonder was a sign which read,
“Looking for internet? Free access to the internet is available across the street, in the lobby of the Bamburgh Hotel. Just mention that you saw this sign at St. Aidan’s Church.” I went to the Hotel and the sign was correct. Gratefully, I was able to get online and connect with friends and family back home!
I experienced and learned that a church building can indeed be a sanctuary of divine, saintly and human hospitality. A stranger can grow nearer to the love of God in the fellowship of all the saints in any church that cares about the ministry of hospitality. And so, I offer this prayer for all of us by Ray Simpson from, A Holy Island Prayer Book.
“Lord Jesus, simplicity and a deep love for people shone out of your apostle Aidan. Grant that, like him, we may be gentle in our loving and bold in our speaking. May we inspire others to learn your ways, and so pass on the fire of faith. Amen.”
Join Christine Sine and Lilly Lewin LIVE on Wednesday, September 7th 9:00 am PT for a discussion on Celebrating the Gift of Life. Find the live discussion in our Facebook group, Godspace Light Community Group – or stay tuned to Christine Sine’s YouTube channel to catch it later!
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by Diane Woodrow, as originally published on her blog here. Featured photo: Locally grown flowers from Hilltop Garden Flowers who are part of a great organisation called Flowers From The Farm
Godspace is running a series about Hospitality at the moment with lots of info on cooking and having people come into your home. Now I am someone who loves cooking for people, but I remember a friend who really was worried when she first started getting involved with church because she was not a good cook and also had children who did not like people coming into their house. She did doubt whether she was a “good Christian” or not; whatever that phrase might mean.
But one of the things that struck me in Christine Sine’s post for Monday was about being a “good guest.” We can all come as guests. We don’t need to bring anything apart from ourselves. But what does it mean to be a good guest?
Well for me I get upset when people to my house and bring extra food. I get upset by that because I will have provided more than enough. Though I do love it when they bring wine, chocolates, and/or flowers. All those things to me say they are happy to come to my house. When my sister-in-law first came to stay at our house she brought her own towels. I was hurt by that because I wanted to lavish hospitality on her but she wanted to “save me too much trouble.”
I think when we come as guests of God to the table I think we should come knowing that it is not too much trouble for God to lavish things on us. Of course we shouldn’t trash the place. As those who have been reading my blog for a while, pre-covid I did Airbnb. I enjoyed it but really got upset if guests did not respect my home and left things in a mess.
So as guests of God we should bring those extras – the spiritual equivalent of wine, chocolates and flowers, which often is nothing more than our open hearts. But we should respect those who are joining us, should respect God’s creation, should respect God’s home – which is our earth.
Also I love having guests who delight in being in my home and delight in being with the people who have also come to the table. So as God’s guests we should delight in being invited, delight in those God has chose to be with us for this season of our lives.
So to be a good guest then it to delight in being there, and not think we need to add to what God has done, to respect the space God has opened for us and those who are also invited to that self same space, and come wanting to be lavished on. If you come like that when I invite you I will be most pleased. And I am sure if you come like that God then they will be most pleased too.
Did you know we have a resource for St Aidan’s Day?
Download now for free and enjoy these daily reflection prayer poems by Carol Dixon.
Also includes a music download for “A Special Place” by Carol Dixon! Check it out in our shop.
It is amazing how concerned we become with trivial matters, worries over mere nothings, when the glory of the world waits to speak to us. There is nothing in creation free from mystery if we look deep enough or long enough. Life takes place within the setting of a great miracle and we can derive endless delight from contemplation. (David Adam Love the World .)
Over the last few weeks I have posted short video prayers on Facebook and Instagram. These are prayers I find helpful to focus myself as I begin the day. I love to use the photos and videos I take to complement these prayers and find they enhance my delight in creation as they speak to me of God. Sometimes I just take a deep breath and sit quietly with my eyes closed while I listen to the prayer. At other times I find myself feasting on the images I captured in the video. The glory of God seems to shine through the images just as it does through the scene in creation. The collection of prayers is designed so that you can pause between prayers or bookmark a particular prayer that you want to use.
The quote from David Adam’s book Love the World revolved in my mind as I put together this collection of prayers today. It is not just the prayers that are refreshing, but also the images of God’s amazing and mysterious world. I hope you enjoy the prayers which are my gift of hospitality to you this week, but more than anything that you take time to get out into God’s good creation and enter into the mystery that is God, the mystery that inspires our prayers at all times.
How do we approach the world with gratitude and delight even in the midst of the most challenging situations? What if gratitude is more than an emotion? What can we do to bring more gratitude into our daily lives?
Enjoy 180 days of access to this popular online retreat with Christine Sine and Lilly Lewin as they grapple with those questions and more. This fun and interactive course will help you bring gratitude to your daily life and enjoy the upcoming season of gratitude. Check it out in our shop today!
A contemplative service with music in the spirit of Taize. Carrie Grace Littauer, prayer leader, with music by Kester Limner and Andy Myers.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-710-756.
“Seek Ye First” By Karen Lafferty Copyright 1972 Maranatha! Music
“Magnificat” Copyright and all rights reserved by GIA/Les Presses de Taizé
“The Law of God is Love” By Kester Limner, shared under the Creative Commons License, Attribution (CC-BY)
“By the Mark” Written by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
Thank you for praying with us! www.saintandrewsseattle.org
by Tom Sine, as originally published on his blog New Changemakers
People from London to South Africa are experiencing record heat waves. In my last post, I described how a number of churches in the US are offering air-conditioned spaces, with beverages, for those in their community who are at risk from unprecedented heat waves.
Thankfully President Biden & the US Congress and Senate have passed a historic bill to address the accelerating rate of global warming in the United States that is being recognized globally.
“The law directs $369bn toward investing in renewable energy and reducing America’s planet-heating emissions, marking the country’s most significant effort yet to combat the climate crisis. Experts have estimated the bill could reduce US emissions by about 40% by 2030, compared with 2005 levels, close to Biden’s goal of cutting emissions in half by the end of the decade.”
“Biggest Step Forward Ever…” The Guardian August 16, 2022
The Guardian was right. It was the “biggest step forward ever “ in the United States. However, given the alarming rates of global warming we not only need to open shelters in our churches, we also need to join people all over the US who are making serious changes in our personal lives to create a sustainable environment for our children and grandchildren.
Here is a list of 10 steps most of us could take to reduce our carbon footprint for Gen Next excerpted from a list provided by the Washington Post February 22, 2022:
1-Create less food Waste
“The environmental consequences of producing food that no one eats are massive. Keep a list of the food you have on hand and organize your refrigerator so you can keep track of what is inside.”
2-Ditch your grass
“Replacing grass with plants is among the most important ways to keep a yard eco-friendly. Laying down mulch is an easy place to start. It quickly kills grass and offers a blank canvas for planting.”
3-Save coral reefs by packing smartly for your beach vacation
“Skip sunscreens and toiletries that contain oxybenzone and other chemicals and opt for mineral-based products instead. And remember to pack a reusable water bottle, utensils and bag, so you can avoid single-use plastic.”
4. Shop sustainably by buying less
“In many situations, the “greenest” product you can buy is … nothing. Unless your purchase represents a significant upgrade from what you already own — say, swapping out your old gas-guzzling car for an electric vehicle — you are better off trying to refurbish or repurpose existing items than acquiring more stuff. Instead of buying paper towels, tear up old T-shirts to use as rags. Give your family’s discarded books and toys to younger children in your neighborhood. Build your own “circular economy” in your community and your home.”
5, Protect our Forests
“There are a number of groups that aim to help protect forests and old-growth trees. Joan Maloof, founder of the nonprofit Old-Growth Forest Network, said land trusts often buy and conserve land, and that the Land Trust Alliance runs findalandtrust.com to help connect people to organizations close to them.”
6. Trade in for an electric car
“One of the most powerful individual actions people can take against climate change is to change the way they get around… New electric vehicles can be expensive — even the most affordable have a suggested sale price between $30,000 and $40,000. But as more car manufacturers start producing EVs (General Motors has even said it will only make EVs by 2035), the cost of these cars is expected to come down.“
7. Weatherize your home
“Weatherization comes in many forms, but the easiest is closing up the cracks around windows and doors.”
8. Learn about the link between climate change and racial equality
“One study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that Black and Hispanic communities in the United States are exposed to far more air pollution than they produce through actions such as driving and using electricity. In contrast, White Americans experience better air quality than the national average, even though their activities are the source of most pollutants.”
9. Consider carbon offset
“Without systemic changes in the way society functions — such as an electric grid powered completely by renewable energy or a food system that generates lower amounts of greenhouse gas emissions — it is pretty much impossible for a single person or even a large institution to go completely carbon-free.”
10. Pass it on
“Educating your peers is a great way to multiply your efforts. Share this article with your friends and family and help them take steps to make their lives a little more climate-friendly.”
This is your invitation to join people of faith who care deeply about both God’s good creation and our offspring who will value the significant difference we have made.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Did you know we have a resource for St Aidan’s Day?
Download now for free and enjoy these daily reflection prayer poems by Carol Dixon.
Also includes a music download for “A Special Place” by Carol Dixon! Check it out in our shop.
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