Care for our World

CONNECT - for mid-week/Home League groups

Education Session - Special Days

05 June: World Environment Day.

Summary

Find out how a local environmental group is working to save our planet
Explore World Environment Day resources
A call to be good stewards of our natural resources

Ask someone from a local environmental organisation, for example a Wildlife Trust, the council’s environmental department or the police environmental crime unit to talk to the group about their role and their organisation’s priorities.
Prepare to show the video of the song ‘Come into our world’ for the reflection time
Prepare to use the online ‘Environment Quiz’
Select World Environment Day (WED) resources like stories, a quiz or videos

Online groups

Ask your visitor to join your virtual group. If this is not possible, share a video from a local environmental organisation or select a video from the UN Environment Programme.
Email in advance web links to quizzes and resources.

World Environment Day is an opportunity to highlight issues that we need to address urgently. Every year, on 5 June, it is hosted by a different country with events and resources around a central theme.

‘The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable all come from nature. Did you know, each year, marine plants produce more than a half of our atmosphere's oxygen, and a mature tree cleans our air, absorbing 22 kilos of carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen in exchange. Despite all the benefits that nature gives us, we still mistreat it. That is why we need to think about this issue. That is why it’s a good idea to observe the UN’s World Environment Day on 5 June.’

www.sustainablelearning.com/event/world-environment-day-3

When you look around your community, your town or village, what do you see? Perhaps over the past years you have noticed that the world we live in is changing. Maybe when you look outside your window you can see evidence of these changes. Many TV programmes and news articles have highlighted the devastating rate that changes are taking place in our world.

In response, many of us are trying to do what they can to protect the world every day. For example: people are recycling more; becoming vegetarians or vegans; using natural products; using reusable water bottles and even ethical toilet paper!

Sadly, it is unlikely we will be able to bring back the beautiful world God created, but we can try and reduce the speed at which creation is being destroyed.

TALK

Find out from your visitor how a local environmental group is working to save our planet.

QUIZ

Try this short quiz on the theme of ‘Do you know how to “Go Green”’.

ONLINE GROUPS

Send the link to members to complete individually or use share screen to do as a group.

World Environment Day

Share this year’s theme and use the resources – stories/quiz/videos – to expand on the issues.

DISCUSS

So how can we, as individuals, save the planet?

Here are ten things we can all do.

Use your voice
Be informed
Be political
Travel responsibly
Eat sustainably
Reduce your waste
Watch what you buy
Find ways to donate
Make a pledge
Volunteer for your world

www.wwf.org.uk/thingsyoucando

Discuss with your group imaginative ways that they could do these planet-saving ideas.

Do you enjoy watching programmes about the natural world? There have been quite a few recently – One Planet: Seven Worlds; Perfect Planet and Saving Planet Earth, to name just a few. From Chris Packham to David Attenborough, there are many people, conservationists, who are enthused and excited by nature and wildlife, and want to share their passion with us and encourage us to care for our world.

There have been other TV programmes set closer to home like Hugh’s War on Waste hosted by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Hugh is a campaigner on food and environment issues, and it is because of him we can buy ‘wonky veg’ at the supermarket!

We are not all famous conservationists, but we are all called to take care of our world. Genesis chapter 1 tells us that God created the world for us to enjoy and, most importantly, to look after! God charges us with being stewards of our world. TV programmes show us how deforestation, pollution and global warming is damaging our world and we can do our part to make things better.

We can buy organic and fairly traded products
We can support local businesses and buy local produce
We can buy ethically made clothing or recycle, upcycle what we have

You may think: ‘I am just one person. If I do something, will that really make a difference or change the world?’ But as Christians we are called to obey God and his call to be stewards of his world. It is part of our spiritual journey. We take it step by step, looking to him for guidance as we go.

Genesis 1:31 (NLT) says:

‘Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!’

As Scripture tells us, it was very good! We were created to be stewards of the world he created. It is our responsibility to protect it.

Sir Alister Hardy, a marine biologist, once said:

‘Just occasionally … I became so overcome by glory of the natural scene that, for a moment or two, I fell on my knees in prayer.’

Alister Hardy - Common Ground

Let’s finish by listening to the song ‘Come into our world’ by Joy Webb. As we listen, take some time to reflect on the words and to pray that God will not only come into our world, but also come into our hearts and prompt us to care for his creation.