Creation Care

Sheldon Road Church is committed to do all we can to care for God’s Creation in our worship, lifestyle and engagement with our community.  We include this commitment in our church vision: Caring for the whole of God’s creation so that it thrives now and into future generations. We are part of A Rocha UK’s Eco Church programme, and we are currently working towards the Gold Award.

The month of preparation: Getting ready for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday often involves marking off the days of Advent in some way. It often means getting something when you open a door/pocket/box.  Here’s a different way: a Reverse Advent Calendar, meaning that instead of getting, you are giving.  Each day has a suggestion of a donation of a food or household item to the local Food Bank, or £1 instead.  This one was prepared by Carmarthen Food Bank, run by Towy Church, but it can just as easily be used here.  Or make up your own!

COP 30: It was big (194 countries, 56,000 people, giant city of tents in the middle of the Brazilian jungle), but the end results were not big at all. Lots of networking, talking in groups, protests, sharing of ideas and problems, but no unity on making things move forward. The Bristol District held a webinar last week with Caroline Pomeroy from Climate Stewards sharing something about the frustration of COP, but also of its value: delegates won’t give up trying to find answers to the problems.  There is hope for smaller groups getting together around the world, and that of course includes us.  Eugene Peterson wrote about keeping on keeping on: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.  This is our faith, and our call to prayer for God’s creation to flourish, and our individual and small collective duty.
Celebrate Jesus’ birthday:  Try to keep it GREEN! Cards – give one to all your friends at church and a donation of your choice. Gifts – make them count, not just in money, but in meaning: an Alternative Gift ,make a donation to help change a life through a charity. Recycling – make a special effort to sort out paper, cardboard, glass, foil etc, and use vegetable peelings for compost.  Decorations – get together with friends to make something different (Pinterest for ideas). However you celebrate…keep Jesus at the centre!