Where in the world makes you say wow, and wow again? Where has made you marvel at God’s amazing creation?

For me, it’s Croyde Bay in north Devon. A place we go every year with a big group of friends to camp, surf and play on the beach. It’s a beautiful place, a wide open sandy bay with cliffs either side and a headland with amazing views. In the evening the sun sets over the dunes and the smoke of many BBQs fills the air. It’s a place that every year makes me wonder for a moment at the amazing creative beauty of God, not just in the sand, beach and cliffs, but also in the friends, laughter, and burnt sausages.

But with that beauty, for me, comes a sense of responsibility. Our house group recently looked again at the Creation story, and the direct instruction from God to ‘tend and care’ for the Garden of Eden, and thereby for all creation. The need to ‘tend and care’ for our environment has never been so great. We are the first generation who can prove climate change is happening, and the last to be able to do something about it.

As a church we will be stepping up our commitment to become an eco congregation, and I am certainly challenged to step up my commitment to respond to God’s creation in a responsible and respectful way. Our house group set ourselves a challenge each, for a period of 2 weeks – one that was achievable but that required effort. Mine was to use reusable nappies for our son (a tricky one for me!) but others included walking to work, buying loose vegetables to cut down on packaging and minimising water use around the home.

Could you set yourself a challenge too? It’s World Environment Day on 5 June, and while we will be doing something to mark the occasion, could that be the catalyst to spur you into action? I’m sure we would love to hear about your efforts in future issues of Yours!