Everyday Devotion: Here come the young

Here Come the Young*


As we wrote in February’s edition, our young people’s groups will contribute two or three articles for this section of Currency. We welcome this challenging start to the mini-series, written by Georgia Elvin.
*The title of Martyn Joseph’s 2019 album.

John Bryant

In light of the recent invasion of Ukraine, security is at the forefront of all our minds. Am I safe? How will this end? The list goes on. News channels have been filled with messages from world leaders about how serious this conflict is. Yet as this crisis continues, the issue of climate change is put on hold. 

4 months ago the world’s attention was on COP26, the agreement we had all been waiting for. However, today our focus is on a very different matter. Both state and energy security have been threatened by the conflict in Eastern Europe. Nations like Germany who have previously relied so heavily on Russia for energy are now turning to coal and gas as a solution to their energy crisis. These measures will have devastating effects on our environment.


Throughout the Bible we see God’s heart for his creation and his people. God gave us the privilege of caring for this planet. This can seem daunting, especially when the change needed is much greater than the change we can make on our own. However our God is the God of the impossible. As this conflict continues, I urge you to pray for those affected and for those in positions of power regarding the climate. May our prayers move mountains.

Georgia Elvin

Everyday Devotion: Carbon Fast for Lent

Carbon Fast for Lent

Pancake day is nearly here (on 1st March) which not only means that we get to have pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner (if we so choose) but that Lent will be starting on Wednesday 2nd.

For some of us, Lent is another chance at New Year’s resolutions, for others it is a time of deep reflection and pressing into what Holy Spirit is doing. And for some of us (like me, most years) it passes us by because we couldn’t think of something more original to give up than chocolate – plus we weren’t that committed to giving up chocolate anyway… Lent is a full 40 days, and who wants to avoid chocolate for that long?

This Lent I wanted to help myself and others to learn about and reduce our environmental impact. May I introduce the Carbon Fast for Lent. Each week you will receive an email with easy, medium and harder challenges along with a prayer, some light info on the topic and some links to useful websites and materials.

There are challenges for everybody, whether you are new to considering climate in your daily walk, or whether you have been mindful of your climate impact for 50 years. To give you a taster, the challenges are as simple as playing board games instead of watching tv one night, all the way up to joining a local campaign group.

Why not join with your family or a group of friends and take on the fast together?

Sign up here.

Alice Corrie

Everyday Devotion: Who is my Neighbour?

Who is my Neighbour?

There are many compelling reasons for exercising creation care, one of which is love for our neighbour. Climate change, combined with other aspects of environmental damage, has and will have dire consequences for millions of people. Jesus made it clear in his answer to the question posed by an ‘expert in the law’ (Luke Chapter 10) that anyone might be our neighbour. Loving our neighbour crosses cultural and national boundaries. Those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change in Africa or on Pacific Islands are as much our neighbours as the person affected by coastal flooding in Devon. 

But there is another aspect of neighbourliness that doesn’t get talked about so often, namely that it also crosses generational boundaries. Yes, it is obvious that our young people are our neighbours. However, we must also think of the generations yet to come, descendants of our current young people, as neighbours, at least in the context of creation care.

It is for that reason that we have asked our young people’s groups to contribute this section of Currency for the next three months. In the words of a recent song by Martyn Joseph, ‘Here come the young’. I am very much looking forward to reading what they have to say.

John Bryant

Everyday Devotion: Why I Upcycle - Lizzie Pridmore

Why I Upcycle - Lizzie Pridmore


I upcycle clothes because I love the transformation. The trash-to-treasure redemption story of turning unwanted, unloved garments into something useful, fun, maybe even beautiful. I’m thrifty by nature, I don’t like things to go to waste so if I love a garment, I wear it until is worn out! But if I don’t love it, after a while I think about why I’m not wearing it and what I can change. So my upcycling story began with my own wardrobe - basic repairs and colourful patches to start with, then simple alterations like shortening a skirt (or more usually for me, adding length!) and gradually moved on to more ambitious projects.

The film ‘The True Cost’ changed my thinking about what I buy and about what happens to the clothes I don’t want any more. Our desire for new and cheap clothing has a huge impact on both people and planet, and then once it’s produced each item might be worn just a handful of times before it’s discarded. Upcycling has become part of my response to this, valuing and appreciating what I already have - and it’s really fun and satisfying to wear something that’s individual and has a story to tell.

Claire and I discuss tips and practical solutions for up cycling in this month’s easy swap video so please do take a look at that too.

Lizzie Pridmore
Under The Sun Upcycling, Instagram: @underthesun_upcycling

About Lizzie: Lizzie has been upcycling for longer than she can remember; she started Under The Sun Upcycling on instagram in June 2020 when lockdown gave space to revisit some old creative projects. Lizzie works for the Diocese of Exeter and when she is not sewing she can usually be found playing folk fiddle, writing music or putting the kettle on for another cup of tea.

Everyday Devotion: We're all in this Together?

We are all in it together – a phrase much loved by politicians but in relation to climate change it is only partly true. It is certainly correct that climate change affects the whole planet, albeit with some regional variation. However, when we look at social geography and economics, we see that, despite the worldwide occurrence of global warming, we are not all in it together.

The increased CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has been almost entirely caused by the activities of the developed industrialised countries of the global north – the richer nations of the world. However, even though climate change is universal, vulnerability is not. The countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are mostly poorer, low-income countries who had little to do with causing the problem. Further, many of these vulnerable countries do not have the means to mitigate the effects of climate change – it is for them.
Factoring in both vulnerability and mitigation potential, the University of Notre Dame in the USA has developed a Global Adaptation Index in which these inequalities are clearly apparent. To aid our praying I suggest that we all have a look at the latest figures: Rankings // Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative // University of Notre Dame (nd.edu)

John Bryant

Everyday Devotion: What is COP26 and why should you care?

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What is COP 26 and why should you care? 

In Saving Us Katherine Hayhoe estimates that “Individual choices control at most 40% of emissions in wealthy countries”. Minimising our personal impact on the planet is still important for many reasons. However, alone it wont save us or bring about the better future a green transition could provide to us, our brothers and sisters across the globe and future generations.

At COP 26 nations will discuss their plans to limit emissions to the targets they agreed in 2015. We are currently not on track and COP 26 is possibly our last chance to adjust our trajectory so we can avoid catastrophic climate change (although some areas are already experiencing this).

We should care, simply, because of love. We love God and our purpose on this planet is to do God’s work. In fact Jesus himself said that “By this everyone will know you are my disciples” (John 13: 35). We also know:

·      We are to care for Creation (Genesis 2:15)

·      We are to care for the poor (1 John 3:17)

·      We are to speak up for the oppressed (Isaiah 1: 17)

Love, the guiding principle of our faith and the source of which is God, is what makes the climate crisis a priority for all Christians and COP 26 is a unique opportunity to demonstrate your faith. If you’d like a more detailed explanation, this Tearfund article is a great start.  

We need political and corporate change to bring about a brighter future and that’s why Christians engaging with COP 26 is so crucial. To find out what you can do look out for a separate email on this next week.

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6).

Claire Williams

Everyday Devotion: Water

I wonder if you know what proportion of water globally is usable for drinking… Any ideas?

1%.
That’s it...

The planet may be 71% covered with the stuff (1.4billion km³ in total), but as this image shows, most is unusable seawater, and over two thirds of the remaining fresh water is frozen.

Water.png

Unfortunately, water is not the infinite resource many of us like to think it is – and climate change and population growth are placing further strain on the relatively little we have. Even in the rainy UK, water demand is predicted to outstrip supply in as little as 20-25 years ['Escaping the jaws of death: ensuring enough water in 2050; Sir James Bevan (Environment Agency CEO) 2019] unless action is taken.

As stewards of God’s creation, we can play a key role is conserving water and reducing our water demand to ensure sustainable water supply both in the UK and globally. Simple day to day decisions, like turning taps off when brushing teeth, and capturing rain water to water garden plants all help. For more ideas see this month’s Easy Swap video. We can also play a role in challenging water companies to prioritise the development of sustainable water treatment technologies and to minimise water network leakage through petitioning and advocation.

Joe Snowdon

Everyday Devotion: Wasting Away

Wasting Away

The art installation above, Mount Recyclemore, was created for the G7 summit in Cornwall and used 20,000 pieces of discarded tech.

Dealing responsibly with our waste is a huge issue and our collective failures are having big impacts on the environment ranging from pollution from clothes factories, potent greenhouse gases being emitted by refrigerants to the plastics in our oceans.

Undoubtedly, part of the solution must come from government imposed change but we can all do our bit too. Here are a few ideas:

  • Can we donate or upcycle any of our waste?

  • Can we switch from a disposable product to a reusable or packaging free alternative?

  • Are there any products that we can cut out entirely?

  • Devon County Council runs a number of recycling centres.

  • Exeter City Council provide recycling banks across the city e.g. Tetra Paks can be recycled at Heavitree Park.

  • Terracycle recycle all sorts of products from toothpaste tubes to Pringles pots and you can find drop off locations on their website

  • We can purchase products that are designed with recyclability in mind, like LiveCoco, who recycle their own products at the end of their life.

  • Sainsbury’s now collect and recycle flexible plastics.

  • B&Q recycle waste electrical items, batteries and light bulbs.

  • Any of us who have the spare cash can invest in a compost bin or Hotbin for food waste.

Claire Williams

Everyday Devotion: The Big Picture

The Big Picture


Sometimes when I am seeking inspiration, I turn again to the book of Job, and especially to Chapters 38 and 39. In magnificent poetic language, the writer makes it clear that he (and it probably was a ‘he’) fully understands that God is the creator and the sustainer of the Universe. It is a big picture – the glory of the heavens, the power of nature, the interdependence of living things – presented as a glorious cascade of awe and wonder, combined with a sense of inadequacy felt by the human observer.

Earlier in the book, human exploitation of the Earth’s resources is illustrated by mining for precious metals but we cannot find wisdom down the mine. Wisdom in the Bible starts with loving and worshipping God which includes caring about what God cares about. It matters that the balance of nature is being disturbed by climate change, it matters that people are being driven from their homes by rising sea levels, it matters that oceans are poisoned and polluted. It matters because it matters to God. So, when we make decisions relating to sustainability, ranging from details of lifestyle, to social or political action and to prayer, let us also hang on to the big picture.

John Bryant

Everyday Devotion: Powering our Homes

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Powering Our Homes


Switching to a renewable energy supplier is often suggested as a way of significantly reducing your personal carbon footprint (see this BBC article and one from Climate Stewards).

A significant portion of the UK electric grid is already generated from renewable sources. This is a great start but more work is needed. Sadly “green” energy supply is a murky world vulnerable to greenwashing.

Ethical Consumer magazine have produced a short video on this issue and the Guardian delves into the detail here. I can’t give you a perfect answer but here are some thoughts:

  • If your budget is tight then switching to the cheapest “green” tariff is a great first step. It might not be perfect but surely showing consumer demand for these products is helpful.

  • Uswitch now offer a comparison tool for green energy so this could help you find good deals.

  • The Ethical Consumer video above lists some brands to avoid.

  • If you can afford it Ethical Consumer’s best buys are Good Energy, Green Energy UK and Ecotricity. The latter is offering a switching deal through Ethical Consumer.

  • Finally, could you generate your own renewable energy?

Claire Williams

Everyday Devotion: Green Spaces

Living sustainably involves caring for, supporting and where possible, enhancing the natural environment. Food isn’t the only thing we get from the natural world; there are a wider set of benefits that we gain from God’s creation. Extensive research shows that regular exposure to the natural environment, such as ‘green spaces’, enhances our mental, emotional and, indirectly, our physical wellbeing. Children who regularly encounter the natural world may also actually learn better.

Regular walks have helped many people cope with lockdown, given them a greater appreciation of nature and, for Christians, a greater awareness of the work of God the creator. But, some people are, for various reasons, unable to get out into ‘green spaces’ and miss out on the health benefits of being ‘in nature’. If we love our neighbours, as Jesus commanded, can we help people to enjoy nature who otherwise would not be able to do so?

Focussing on both general ecology and on climate change, one thing we can do is to plant trees. Trees are very effective at capturing CO2 - they pull it from the air and use it to build the ‘plant body’ where most of it remains throughout the life of the tree. I’ve just seen this tree-planting programme on Countryfile, which anyone can participate in.

We can also help to plant trees every time we do a computer search. I use the search engine Ecosia - they use the revenue from advertisements to pay for tree-planting schemes around the world. Simply by using this site we can help to increase the wellbeing of God’s world and to mitigate against climate change.

John Bryant

Everyday Devotion: Show me the Money

Show me the money


It’s a classic line, as is “Money talks”, but where we put our money does reveal our values and priorities.

According toMake My Money Matter, moving just your pension “to a more sustainable fund can have many times more impact in reducing your carbon footprint than giving up flying and becoming a vegan combined.”

So if you’re keen to get stuck into some environmental activism without even leaving the couch then this one is for you.

Ask yourself where your money is? Do you know what it’s funding and whether it’s contributing to God’s plan? Here are some tips to help your money work for good:

  • Ask your bank what your money is being invested in and whether they offer sustainable alternatives.

  • For ethical options for current accounts, savings, mortgages and more, this article is helpful along with this one.

  • For more detailed help on choosing where to put your money Ethical Consumer Magazine frequently assesses and rank financial institutions.

  • For the biggest impact, think about where the majority of your money is going – it’s probably your mortgage (if you have one), can you change this first?

  • Lobby for local authority pensions to divest – find out more here.

  • Consider donating to an environmental charity.

Claire