Rachel Mash

#Fast4earth  Plant a memorial! The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations Rev 22:2 “I hope you never have to stay home , while your loved one  is being cremated without any relative to say goodbye or pay respects”; “His body came in a closed bag, he wasn’t buried in a coffin” : “It is the saddest thing in the world to lose a child and not be able to go to his burial, not being able to do anything. It is really, really, really difficult. It is unbearable “” Everyone there was wearing masks, the gravediggers were wearing PPEs, it even seemed like Chernobyl. We had only 20 minutes” COVID19 has brought many losses, and one of the most painful has been around funerals. We have not been able to attend funerals of loved ones. Instead of bringing comfort, often COVID funerals have brought more trauma as we are not allowed to hug the grieving, or open the coffin to say goodbye. Even singing has been taken away from us. Psychology has long recognised the important emotional role of funeral rituals in all cultures. It is a time to say goodbye, to support those who are mourning and an important step along the long and difficult path to healing.   A lack of rituals makes it difficult to accept that the person has gone. There is no time to say goodbye, there is no closure. The dominating feeling is that a cycle was opened but not closed:. The process of mourning the dead, of gathering the family and friends to get comfort and solidarity has been  interrupted. Funerals are often rushed with no space for tributes, and sanitized  with funeral staff in PPE.  There is a danger that people may experience complicated grief, for they were unable to say goodbye, or experience community support. Complicated grief is psychological distress that tends to go on indefinitely, without leading to closure.  Such grief can lead to physical symptoms, depression, self-blame and difficulty in imagining a meaningful future without the loved one. We need rites of passage, we need places to mourn. The planting of a memorial tree can help to create a space where family members can come together and share memories and prayers. As the tree is planted an informal prayer service can be held. The tree  also provides a physical place where family members can gather from time to time, and as they water and care for the tree, it can bring healing of the pain of loss.   The effect of suppressing funeral rituals during the COVID-19 pandemic on bereaved families * https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7478881/

MARCH 4 Potplants The leaves of the trees are for  the healing of the nations Rev 22:2 Pot plants are the gift that keeps on giving! This year why not buy people pot plants instead of other items for presents. Bless your office or family with a pot plant. Apart from looking beautiful, they have other benefits Indoor plants may help reduce stress levels- Studies show that plants in your home or office can make you feel more comfortable and relaxed. A real plant my help you concentrate better!   A fascinating study put students in a classroom with either a fake plant , a real plant, a photo of a plant or no plant at all. Brain scans of the students with the real plant showed they were more able to concentrate! Plants may boost your productivity – Multiple studies have found that plants in the workspace increase both productivity and creativity. One frequently cited study from 1996 found that students in a campus computer lab worked 12 percent faster and were less stressed when plants were placed nearby. In a 2004 study, researchers challenged people to make creative word associations. They performed better when a plant was in the room with them. And a 2007 study showed that people with more plants in their workspace took fewer sick days and were more productive on the job.  Plants may improve your morale! Researchers interviewed over 440 Amazon employees in India and the United States. They found that those whose office environment included natural elements like indoor plants felt greater job satisfaction and more commitment to the organization than those who didn’t work around natural elements. Plants may improve the quality of indoor air A study by NASA in the 1980s was looking for ways to improve air quality in a sealed spacecraft, and concluded that the roots and soil of houseplants significantly reduced air pollution (VOCs).Bamboos and spider plants seem to be a good choice! Here are some more websites to look at! https://happydiyhome.com/best-indoor-plants/ https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-home-guide/benefits-of-indoor-plants

#FAST4EARTH Read an environmental book   “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Job 19:23′   Here are some books for download, either for free or at a very low cost   Pope Francis Laudato Si – on Care for our common home.(free download) This a must read, wonderful theology and very inspiring. It is easy to read and use as a devotional book. http://www.vatican.va/…/papa-francesco_20150524…   Rachel Carson, Silent Spring (free download) This is a classic documenting the detrimental effects of pesticide aerial spraying on the environment and the long-term effects on animal and human health. Its publication led to a U.S. ban on DDT and inspired an environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20151002   Al Gore, six drivers of climate change (free download) https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-future-six-drivers-of-global…   Flight behaviour Barbara Kingsolver (Free download) University professor Ovid Byron arrives to study the monarch butterflies, and warns that although they are beautiful, they are a disturbing symptom of global climate change, displaced from their established winter habitat in Mexico, and that they may not survive the harsh Tennessee winter. https://www.pdfdrive.com/flight-behavior-e196004733.html   THE LORAX A wonderful children’s book about combatting tree cutting https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-lorax-e53185154.html   Grove Books has a wonderful collection of Green Titles (about 3 pounds/ ZAR70 ) JRI has kindly listed them here: https://jri.org.uk/resources/green-grove/     E 198 COVID-19: Environment, Justice and the Future by Ruth Valerio, Martin J. Hodson, Margot R. Hodson & Timothy Howles. E 196 The Book of Job and Environmental Ethics: The Message from the Whirlwind by John J. Bimson E 194 The Plant-based Diet: A Christian Option? by Mia Smith E 192 Responding Faithfully to the Environmental Crisis: Christianity at the Time of the Anthropocene by Timothy Howles. E 184 An Introduction to Environmental Ethics by Martin J. Hodson & Margot R. Hodson. E 177 The Ethics of Climatic Scepticism by Martin J. Hodson & Margot R. Hodson E 169 Urban Eco-mission: Healing the Land in the Post-industrial City by Paul Ede E 165 Hope for the Ocean: Marine Conservation, Poverty Alleviation and Blessing the Nations by Robert D. Sluka E 161 Uncovering Isaiah’s Environmental Ethics by Margot R. Hodson E 151 Animal Rights, Human Responsibilities? by David Williams E 149 Caring for Creation: Part of our Gospel Calling? by Stella Simiyu & Peter Harris E 148 Tenants in God’s Land: Earth-keeping and People-keeping in the Old Testament by Iain Provan E 114 Genetic Engineering for a New Earth: Theology and Ethics of the New Biology by Celia Deane-Drummond B 50 The Earth is the Lord’s: A Biblical Response to Environmental Issues by Hilary Marlow ED 24 Changing the Climate by Adrian Brown. MEv 127 Forest Church: Earthed Perspectives on the Gospel by Cate Williams S 136 Into the Garden: Cultivation as a Tool for Spiritual Formation and Community Renewal by Rachel Woods W 238 How to Celebrate Creation by Ian Tarrant W 137 Making Creation Visible: God’s Earth in Christian Worship by Andrew Pearson Y 42 Creation—Steps to Sustainability: Tackling Environmental Issues with Young People by Wayne Talbot With thanks to John Ray Initiative for this great list of books.       0 People reached 0 Engagements Boost Post     Like       Comment     Share    

#FAST4EARTH  FOLLOW A CREATION BIBLE STUDY ONLINE   Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalm 119:105   There are a wealth of resources on line this Lent! PLANTING SEEDS OF HOPE 40 Lenten reflections in honour of Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya https://www.greenanglicans.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/lenten-devotionalfinal.pdf FOR THE LOVE OF GOD’S CREATURES ”Empowers Christians to champion the cause of animals and live peacefully with all of God’s creatures.” Also available as an app. For the love of God’s creatures 40 Days With God’s Creatures THE CRY OF THE POOR, THE CRY OF THE EARTH Daily emails which will explore how, at a time of pain globally, we find strength in our faith to hear – and respond to – the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.   The cry of the poor, the cry of the earth FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS A wonderful study course from USPG with a global focus For such a time as this TENANTS OF THE KING A four part series from Operation Noah. There is a downloadable pdf and videos Tenants of the King ALL THINGS A Bible study for young people from Young Evangelicals for Climate Action All things GOD, US AND THE EARTH WE STAND ON Bible Studies from the Christian Aid Collective  God, us and the Earth we stand on   For a very extensive list of more wonderful resources please visit Christian Concern for One World Bible Studies, Courses, and Reflection Series  

March 1 Find or create a natural spot to pray or meditate Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. Jonah 4:6 Today try to find or create a natural spot to pray or meditate, during your Lenten journey. Studies have shown that adding just a little bit of nature into your life can help relieve stress. So whether it be growing a plant in your back yard in a tyre or pot, or creating a corner in your bedroom with an indoor pot plant and some light from the window, combining nature and prayer is a good practice. Try to get away from your desk and create a more meditative environment Spending even a few minutes a day in prayer or meditation can restore your calm and inner peace. When life is hectic we are often tempted to drop our daily prayers because we are rushing too much. That should actually be the time when we prioritise our daily prayers as it will help us to cope better with a busy, stressed day. Before you start your prayers (talking to God) make time for silence (listening to God). Some people find that sacred music helps to concentrate. A growing body of scientists support the health benefits of a time of meditation and prayer, to reduce anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, tension headache and sleep problems. So, firstly remove yourself from distractions such as cell phone, TV, laptop etc. Create a space where you can relax, either outside  where there is a tree or plants for shade, or bring a plant into your room.  You might like to place a candle, icon, sacred picture there too. Focus your attention on your breathing, or the candle, or repeat a verse of Scripture over and over. Listening to sacred music such as Taize chants is also helpful.   Spend some time just in breathing deeply, feeling the presence of God, breathing out the stresses of the day and breathing in the healing presence of God.  Then turn to your prayers and Scripture reading as normal. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858 https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/even-a-tiny-patch-of-nature-in-a-front-garden-reduces-stress-and-makes-people-happier/

#Fast4earth Volunteer in a community garden Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both. – Ecclesiastes 11:6 It was during hard lockdown in South Africa  that the seeds of a boom in urban gardening were born. Many people were left without jobs and desperate for a way to survive. Coming from rural areas, many had the skills to grow their own food.  For other people, being stuck at home gave them a chance to realise a dream to get their vegetable garden going, and others started one as there wasn’t a lot else to do! Churches and NGOs began to add seeds and seedlings to food parcels that they were handing out. Across South Africa the CANS (community action networks) linked under-resourced communities with more well off ones, and were able to help local communities start dozens of community gardens on waste land.  Often this was hard work, as the waste land had become a dumping area for rubble and rubbish, full of glass and plastic.  It is a tribute to the hard work of community members to see these  gardens coming alive From backyard veggie gardens to communal gardens, people are rediscovering the skills and joy of growing your own food.  People are turning verges into food gardens and digging up wasteful grass lawns so that they can feed their families and give away to those in need. It is happening all over the world! Atlanta has created  the nation’s largest free food forest  to address food insecurity, with 50 volunteers helping out. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/22/us/atlanta-free-food-forest-trnd/index.html The Episcopal church has the wonderful  “good news gardens” programme https://www.episcopalchurch.org/good-news-gardens/ There are so many ways to help, get involved with clearing and digging – dig up your verge and plant some seeds for a free harvest by passers-by. Sponsor compost or gardening equipment for a community garden…. Plant a fruit tree on a public space and water it for two years….