A Rather Warm Summer
As
I
write
this
in
July,
much
of
the
UK
has
experienced
its
third
heatwave
of
the
summer.
We
still
might
have
more.
For
many
people,
a
spell
of
sunshine
is
something
to
enjoy.
Gardens
flourish,
children
play
outdoors,
and parks and beaches fill with families. Yet this year, as in recent years,
these
prolonged
periods
of
intense
heat
also
bring
concern.
We
hear
of
dried-up
rivers,
stressed
crops,
increased
risk
of
wildfires,
and
warnings
for
older
people
and
those
with
health
conditions
to
stay
cool
and
hydrated.
No
single
heatwave
can
be
blamed
entirely
on
climate
change,
but
scientists
continue
to
tell
us
that
a
warming
climate
makes
such
extreme
weather
more
frequent
and
more
intense.
Around
the
world,
people
are
living
with
the
consequences:
floods,
droughts,
rising
sea
levels
and
changing
weather
patterns
that
threaten
homes,
livelihoods
and
food
supplies.
For
Christians,
climate
change
is
not
simply
an
environmental
issue.
It
is
also
a
spiritual
and
moral
one.
The
opening
chapters
of
Genesis
remind
us
that
the
earth
belongs
to
God.
We
are
not
its
owners
but
its
caretakers.
In
Genesis
2:15
we
read:"The
Lord
God
took
the
man
and
put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it."
Those two simple
words,
till
and
keep,
speak
of
both
using
creation
wisely
and
protecting
it
faithfully.
The
Psalms
also
remind
us
that
"The
earth
is
the
Lord's
and
all
that
is
in
it"
(Psalm
24:1).
If
the
world
belongs
to
God,
then
caring
for
it
becomes
an
act
ofworship.
We
honour
the
Creator
by
treating
creation
with respect rather than carelessness.
Sometimes
the
scale
of
the
climate
crisis
can
feel
overwhelming.
It
is
easy
to
wonder
whether
anything
we
do
could
possibly
make
a
difference.
Yet
the Christian life has never been about waiting until we can do everything
before
doing
anything.
Jesus
spoke
often
about
faithfulness
in
small
things. Small acts, multiplied across many lives, become significant.
Perhaps
that
means
reducing
waste,
thinking
more
carefully
about
our
energy
use,
planting
flowers
for
pollinators,
supporting
conservation
projects,
or
encouraging
those
in
authority
to
make
wise
and
courageous
decisions.
As
a
church,
it
also
means
praying
for
our
world
and
remembering
that
the
poorest
communities
are
often
those
who
suffer
most
from
environmental change despite contributing least to it.
Hope
is
central
to
our
faith.
Christians
are
not
people
of
despair
but
of
resurrection.
We
believe
in
the
God
who
is
making
"all
things
new"
(Revelation
21:5).
That
hope
does
not
excuse
us
from
responsibility;
rather,
it
inspires
us
to
live
today as faithful stewards of God's wonderful creation.
May
this
summer's
unusual
heat
remind
us
not
only
of
the
challenges
before
us
but
also
of
our
calling
to
cherish,
protect
and
give
thanks
for
the
beautiful
world
that
God
has
entrusted
to our care.
Blessings, David
Minister’s Letter
Minister’s Letter
A Rather Warm Summer
As I write this in July, much of the UK has experienced its third heatwave of
the summer. We still might have more. For many people, a spell of
sunshine is something to enjoy. Gardens flourish, children play outdoors,
and parks and beaches fill with families. Yet this year, as in recent years,
these prolonged periods of intense heat also bring concern. We hear of
dried-up rivers, stressed crops, increased risk of wildfires, and warnings for
older people and those with health conditions to stay cool and hydrated.
No single heatwave can be blamed entirely on climate change, but
scientists continue to tell us that a warming climate makes such extreme
weather more frequent and more intense. Around the world, people are
living with the consequences: floods, droughts, rising sea levels and
changing weather patterns that threaten homes, livelihoods and food
supplies.
For Christians, climate change is not simply an environmental issue. It is
also a spiritual and moral one. The opening chapters of Genesis remind us
that the earth belongs to God. We are not its owners but its caretakers. In
Genesis 2:15 we read:"The Lord God took the man and put him in the
garden of Eden to till it and keep it." Those two simple
words, till and keep, speak of both using creation wisely and protecting it
faithfully.
The Psalms also remind us that "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it"
(Psalm 24:1). If the world belongs to God, then caring for it becomes an act
ofworship. We honour the Creator by treating creation with respect rather
than carelessness.
Sometimes the scale of the climate crisis can feel overwhelming. It is easy
to wonder whether anything we do could possibly make a difference. Yet
the Christian life has never been about waiting until we can do everything
before doing anything. Jesus spoke often about faithfulness in small things.
Small acts, multiplied across many lives, become significant.
Perhaps that means reducing waste, thinking more carefully about our
energy use, planting flowers for pollinators, supporting conservation
projects, or encouraging those in authority to make wise and courageous
decisions. As a church, it also means praying for our world and
remembering that the poorest communities are often those who suffer
most from environmental change despite contributing least to it. Hope is
central to our faith. Christians are not people of despair but of
resurrection. We believe in the God who is making "all things new"
(Revelation 21:5). That hope does not excuse us from responsibility; rather,
it inspires us to live today as faithful stewards of God's wonderful creation.
May this summer's unusual heat remind us not only of the challenges
before us but also of our calling to cherish, protect and give thanks for the
beautiful world that God has entrusted to our care.
Blessings, David
