Tuesday 7 to Monday 13 October 2008    Living sustainably can sound a bit naff.  Naff, until you see people actually giving it a go.  People doing weird but when you think about it really fundamental things.  Have a great E-day  and all the best for a great week. 

Reflect with Suzanne Aubert, who might just turn out to be New Zealand's first saint

Tuesday - we do not dare to say openly that we are free from defects, and that our enemies have no good qualities, but in practice we are not far from believing it

Wednesday - let nothing disconcert us in our work, in our employment; let us always act conscientiously under the eyes of God, leaving the result in his hands

Thursday - truth does not do as much good in the world as the appearance of it does evil

Friday - let us be careful to banish from our heart every kind of trouble.  Let us watch over all its movements

Saturday - it is in the crucible of tribulation and temptation that the true friends of God are purified by their patience

Sunday - when we travel on horseback or in a carriage, let us think of Jesus and Mary who had only a little donkey

Monday - the first thoughts of the day should be reserved for God, and afterwards let us do all for God in the service of his suffering and abandoned members

Email twidle.bj@xtra.co.nz to subscribe to daily reflections based on these quotes

Before you go... an item from www.presbyterian.org.nz 

Sustainability Resources

The Interchurch Bioethics Council (ICBC), with scientist Kevin Tate of St David’s, Palmerston North, has produced a study for churches that explains what individuals, congregations and communities can do to reduce climate change.

Titled Real Urgent and Personal: A Christian approach to global climate change, the study looks at the theology underpinning the need for Christians to be actively involved in caring for Creation.

According to the Christian tradition, there is an intrinsic value in Creation and all creatures. All Creation is good; all Creation belongs to God; all Creation praises God; Creation reveals the eternal power and divine nature of God; Christ demonstrates how imago Dei is most perfectly fulfilled – caring for all through loving, sacrificial service.

The study explores environmental ethics and focuses on what we should do regarding caring for nature. As Christians we recognise a responsibility both to present generations and those to come, and towards non-human creation. For these reasons, global climate change is an environmental, theological and social issue.

A challenging, interactive section of the report questions whether we are people living lifestyles of consumerism or stewardship. Christians need to support measures that will reduce the effects of climate change, despite the fact that in some instances there will be financial costs as well as benefits. Christians, say the ICBC, have a responsibility to put ethical values first.

Real Urgent and Personal: A Christian approach to global climate change can be downloaded from Interchurch Bioethics Council Resources on the Presbyterian Church website www.presbyterian.org.nz/4599.0.html

ICBC was set up in 2000 by the Presbyterian, Anglican and Methodist churches. Members of the ICBC have expertise in ethics, theology, philosophy, science, medicine and cultural issues and are available for presentations to church and community groups.

To discuss their availability, contact chairperson Dr Audrey Jarvis, jarvis.ab(at)xtra.co.nz