Why I support the Season of Creation

First published on: 19th September 2019


It may feel like it’s faded into the background as this country obsesses itself in the leave or remain barracking of the Brexit debate but the threat humanity poses to our planet remains ever-present. The stark reminder of the burning Amazonian forests, the courageous activism of Greta Thunberg and the urgent protests from Extinction Rebellion should serve as the wakeup call that we need to become better stewards of our planet.
That’s why I am supporting the call for the church to embrace the Season of Creation which runs until October 4th. And why I encourage you to do something in this season to promote biodiversity.

I am going to be at St Cuthbert’s tomorrow (Sept 21st) for the Faith, Climate and Food event. Organised by the excellent Faiths 4 Change charity in partnership with the Faith and Climate Network this family-friendly event promises to give plenty of ideas of the things we can all do. I am certainly hoping to pick up some useful hints for activities I can do and changes I can make.

The Diocese of Liverpool is working to become an Eco Diocese. This involves taking simple steps to take care of the world around us, to look at our churches and see what we can do to make a difference to the planet.

God has given the world to us to delight in, to work with and to make our home.  The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Ps 24) The world which God delights in and calls “good“, from which he has formed us and appointed us stewards and which testifies to God (ps 19).  But through ignorance, carelessness, weakness and deliberate sin we have harmed our earthly home and proved ourselves unworthy of the trust God has placed in us.  As the Earth cried out against the spillage of Abel’s blood, so it is now crying out for us to stop this catastrophic abuse. This calls for repentance and a change of heart and mind on the part of all of us. 

We were called to take care. We have failed in that call. This must stop and we must change.

For many the global problems seem too vast and we are tempted to withdraw and hide. So the Season of Creation activities, the event on Saturday and our diocesan efforts to become an Eco Diocese are of themselves small and simple. Yet together they can make a big difference.

I am looking to roll my sleeves up and get stuck in. It is what I understand God call us to do. It is one of my ten things to do. It is what I owe Greta and her generation of young activists. Will you join me?
 

Find out more about the Season of Creation here

churchofengland.org/seasonofcreation
 

Find out more about the Eco Diocese here

Liverpool,Anglican.org/EcoDiocese linkneeded
 

#DoTenThings
#BiggerDifference

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