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.
Focus For December 2024
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Living Lightly 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. |
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Gifts—what’s the best gift you’ve ever received? What made it so special? Giving gifts at Christmas can be so very special, as we celebrate the amazing gift of Jesus to us. God gave us his only Son, and he’s also given us the wonderful planet to look after; is there a way your gift-giving could reflect this for 2024? For ideas, try considering a magazine subscription (Premier Christianity or Positive News ), or buying from Natural Collection. |
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Triodos Bank has shared some ideas for celebrating Christmas and caring for those you love, while treading more lightly on the planet: |
1. Experiences like day trips, tickets to events or vouchers for workshops can create lasting memories without producing physical waste. You could also look into supporting local businesses, whether it’s a class at a nearby art centre (Scrapstore?) or a wreath-making workshop at your local florist - explore the wonders that are on your doorstep.
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2. Try buying a living potted Christmas tree which you can water and later put in your garden after Christmas. If you don’t have a garden and have to dispose of your tree, then do it properly – many councils have collection services and will recycle them. Alternatively, if you’d rather buy a fake tree, try looking in second hand shops. |
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3. Plastic production surges by 30% over the festive season – that’s an additional 104,000 tonnes of plastic packaging finding its way into bins instead of recycling plants. While it can be hard to avoid, there’s lots you can do. Old maps, fabric or newspaper make good alternatives to wrapping paper, and you could try and make your own advent calendar this year. |
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4. Vouchers—creating personalised gift vouchers is a fun and budget-friendly way of tailoring your gifts according to a recipient’s needs and is an opportunity to express your skills. Cooking dinner, babysitting, walking the dog, gardening—make it personalised! |
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5. Cards—Did you know that in the UK, we send enough Christmas cards that if we placed them alongside each other, they’d cover the world’s circumference 500 times? This year, as well as the church communal card display this year, try out digital cards for a planet-friendly alternative. Digital cards can be customised to reflect your personality and the recipient's taste, making your greetings extra special. Try Don’t send me a card , Making a difference cards or British Heart Foundation cards. |
Food to look out for in December
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