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Ken Gray, Canada “In Western Canada where I live and work, we experience all four seasons. I love to take pictures as I explore and enjoy nature, which calms, excites, and inspires me. Nature speaks to me, and in photography, I respond.” Capture your joy in creation. Start a daily or weekly journal or photography project to reflect on how creation strengthens your spirit, how you see it changing, and how you will protect it. BLOG Making art inspired by creation can be a meditation on the gifts of the creator. Whether you make it to share or keep it private, your art is a way to reflect on your place in our common home. No expertise is necessary to pray with the fruits of your hands. For inspiration, please see what others have done: Photography blog Poem about creation Songs about creation

Catherine Ngangira, Zimbabwe “Creation is a gentle friend, ever present to listen and share in my joy and sorrows. It’s not judgemental but instead gives freely its freshness and prosperity. It refreshes my inner being to share the joy that only nature can provide.” Meditate on the gift of creation. Take a walk outdoors, contemplate the plants in your home, or simply close your eyes and focus on the feeling of sun and wind on your skin. BLOG Take a few minutes away from your usual routine to focus on your connection to the Creator. Here are a few ideas: Start by identifying a place where you can hear, see, and feel the natural world. Take deep breaths and clear your mind. Allow the presence of God to fill your spirit. At the conclusion of your meditation, commit to finding 5–10 minutes a day to silently pray with creation for the remainder of Lent and beyond. Seal your commitment with this prayer: O heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sheila Chauhan, London “Long-term compassion for all within our ecosystem must replace the short-term lust to acquire more. ” Celebrate the new way. For the Easter holidays, plan an outing in nature to rejoice in creation rather than consumption. BLOG While you make plans for the Easter holiday, consider celebrating by spending time in nature with loved ones. As Easter brings us new beginnings after the season of Lent, we embark on a more sustainable relationship with creation. Here are some ideas for a sustainable Easter celebration: Visit a park for a picnic or walk. Plant flowers or a tree with young children. Sit outside with a grandparent or an elderly neighbor. Christ risen means gladness and joy. As you make your plans now to celebrate with your loved ones, look ahead in joy to Christ’s resurrection: Let all then enter the joy of Our Lord! Both the first and the last, and those who come after, enjoy your reward! Rich and poor, dance with one another, sober and slothful, celebrate the day. Those who have kept the fast and those who have not, rejoice today, for the table is richly spread.

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all humankind. (Job 12: 7-10)

Sheila- Ann Bennett, South Africa “Cape Town is facing an extreme water shortage. It is predicted that our water will run out by May, and we will have to drink recycled wastewater. We are all under rationing. With 3 kids and 10 people total living in my household, I must come up with creative ways to stick to the limit of 87 litres a day. I need to do washing once a week, and with that water I fill buckets to flush the toilet, water the garden, and clean floors and windows. Water is used for everything: cooking, cleaning, drinking. It is not easy.” Lower the flow. Most sink taps and shower nozzles allow much more water to pass through the pipe than is needed for the task at hand. Install low-flow fittings to limit your water use without sacrificing function. BLOG Many specially constructed taps conserve water without affecting the user’s experience of the appliance. They are readily available and easy to install. Tap standards vary by country, but the water savings are, by and large, significant. Low-flow showerheads can save 20% of the water used. Low-flow sink aerators can reduce 30% of the water used. Low-flush toilets can eliminate 20% of the water used. Because much of the water used in sink and shower is heated, these taps also save energy and decrease the contribution to climate change. Installing a low-flow tap protects the good gift of creation. As you work with your household or parish to install a tap that stewards our water, say thisprayer: Upon the seas and waters send a blessing, O Lord. Teach us to cherish the water of the earth, and to conserve the seas, lakes and rivers. We ask in faith: we ask you to hear us, good Lord.

Paulo Ueti, Brazil “In the Amazon, it is estimated that almost 70 percent of the region is affected by the changing climate. When there is a drought, rivers disappear and communities become isolated , making communication and travel impossible. It is predicted that these dry periods will become more frequent. We are committed by faith to agro-ecology that helps to protect the environment.” Practice agro-ecology in water use. Water your garden in the evening or early morning, when the water evaporates less. Use a drip hose instead of a large nozzle. Install landscaping that suits the natural rainfall in your area. BLOG Tending a garden is a wonderful way to connect with the gift of creation. Irrigating your garden wisely ensures that the water you use goes to the plants you grow and is not wasted. Use a rain barrel instead of the tap. Water in the evening or just before dawn, when water will not evaporate as quickly. Lay a sprinkler hose along your garden rows instead of spraying. Provide a cover of mulch to prevent evaporation and shade roots. Reuse “gray” water from the shower or dish basin.