This year during Lent the parishes in our Benefice are all using the Church of England’s excellent #LiveLent – Care for God’s Creation booklet as our focus.

It’s a 40-day challenge to help us think about our responsibilities for the amazing world that God created – its elements, the skies, seas, lands and the great variety of life – animal and human – that makes up our environment.

In the introduction to the #LiveLent booklet, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York write: “God has entrusted us to look after his wonderful creation. We are called to care for and honour God’s creation as a way of delighting in its Creator. We are also called to care for our brothers and sisters all over the world who face having their families uprooted and their livelihoods destroyed by the effects of climate change. As part of our discipleship to Jesus Christ every single one of us has a responsibility to live a life of stewardship.”

Six volunteers will each be taking one of the #LiveLent themes – one for each week of Lent, with the first key theme of LIGHT & ENERGY appearing next week – 2 March – so that each weekly email bulletin will also include a link to the blog post.

Subsequent themes are WATER, LAND & PLANTS, STARS & SEASONS, CREATURES OF SEA & SKY, HUMANS & OTHER ANIMALS. The blog will of course end with a reflection for EASTER itself – REST & RESTORATION.

Christopher thanks the lay volunteers from around our parishes; we all look forward to reading their thoughts!

If you do not already have one, copies of the little booklet are available from your own church ‘bookseller’ at the modest cost of £1.99. There is a topic of reflection for each day in Lent, relevant bible verses to read and suggestions for prayer.