John-Paul Roberts

“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’” – John 6:12 Lent is a season of intentional living. It invites us to slow down, to reflect, and to realign our daily habits with the values of the Kingdom of God. In the story of the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus performs a miracle of abundance — yet he commands the disciples to gather the leftovers so that nothing is wasted. Even in abundance, waste has no place in God’s economy. Today, food waste is a global crisis. Vast amounts of edible food are discarded while millions go hungry. Wasted food also wastes water, energy, land, and labour. When food ends up in landfill, it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Reducing food waste is therefore both an act of compassion and an act of environmental stewardship. A Lenten “Food Pledge” can become a meaningful spiritual discipline. It might begin with planning meals carefully, buying only what is needed, and storing food properly. It could include cooking smaller portions, creatively using leftovers, sharing surplus with neighbours, or composting food scraps. These simple practices honour the resources God has provided. Lent traditionally calls us to fasting, prayer, and generosity. Reducing food waste connects all three. We fast from excess consumption. We pray with gratitude for daily bread. We give by ensuring that food is shared rather than discarded. Making a food pledge during Lent reminds us that every meal is sacred. Each loaf, fruit, and grain carries the gift of God’s provision and the labour of many hands. This season, let us hear Jesus’ words afresh: “Let nothing be wasted.” In caring for food, we care for people — and for the earth that sustains us.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” – Psalm 24:1 Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal. It is a time when Christians examine their lives and consider how they are living in relationship with God, with one another, and with creation. Psalm 24 reminds us that the earth does not belong to us — it belongs to God. We are caretakers, not owners. Reducing our use of plastic during Lent can therefore become a meaningful spiritual practice. Plastic pollution is one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time. Single-use plastics clog rivers, pollute oceans, harm wildlife, and break down into microplastics that enter our food and water. The convenience we enjoy for a few minutes can damage ecosystems for hundreds of years. When we reflect on Christ’s call to love our neighbour, we must include those most affected by pollution — often poorer communities living near landfills or polluted waterways. Lent traditionally involves giving something up, not as punishment, but as a way of creating space for deeper faithfulness. Choosing to reduce plastic — by refusing single-use bags and bottles, carrying reusable containers, avoiding over-packaged goods, and recycling responsibly — becomes a practical act of discipleship. It trains us in mindfulness and self-restraint, virtues at the heart of the Lenten journey. Reducing plastic also aligns with the spirit of simplicity that Lent encourages. It invites us to question our patterns of consumption and to live more gently on the earth. Small daily choices, repeated over forty days, can form new habits that last long after Easter. Look at the areas of your life where you are using too much plastic and see what you can do to reduce This Lent, let us honour the Creator by caring for creation. In reducing plastic, we bear witness to a faith that is not only prayed — but lived.

From Soil You Come, to Soil You Will Return ~ Genesis 3:19 (adapted) In a time of climate crisis, this biblical truth speaks with renewed urgency. If we come from soil, then the degradation of land, erosion, pollution, and extractive practices are not just environmental issues — they are spiritual ones. When soil is poisoned or stripped of life, something sacred is harmed. The ground that feeds us, holds water, and sustains ecosystems is a gift entrusted to our care. Each year on Ash Wednesday, Christians hear the solemn words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These words echo Genesis 3:19 and remind us of a profound truth: we are earth creatures. We come from the soil, and to the soil we will return. This is not a message of despair, but of belonging. In Genesis 2:7, God forms humanity from the dust of the ground and breathes life into it. We are both earth and breath — matter and spirit woven together. The soil is not separate from us; it is part of our story, our bodies, and our future. To remember that we return to soil is also to embrace humility. We are not masters of the earth, but participants in its cycles. Our lives are brief, but the earth endures. The soil receives kings and labourers alike, reminding us of our shared fragility and equality. Yet soil is also a place of hope. Seeds are buried in darkness and rise in new life. The Christian story proclaims resurrection — that death is not the final word. Even in returning to the earth, we trust in God’s renewing power. “From soil you come, to soil you will return” calls us to live gently, gratefully, and justly — honouring the earth from which we were formed and to which we belong.