Eco-Congregation Ireland encourages you to choose Lenten resources with an environmental theme. There are plenty to choose from – for group study and individual use!
The Anglican Communion has recently produced a Lenten booklet called And It Was Good – Responding to God’s Gift of Creation, which offers an opportunity to engage with different parts of the Bible so that we might better understand our call to care for God’s creation. See http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/9/6/ACNS4936.
The Biblical Association of the Church of Ireland last year prepared a Biblical reflective programme for Lent on the theme of Creation, which can be downloaded for free from www.bibliahibernica.wordpress.com.
The Irish Catholic Bishop’s pastoral reflection, Cry of the Earth, provides an excellent starting point for a series of discussions. It invites individuals and parish communities to reflect on the challenge of climate change and the actions we can take to help construct a more sustainable environment. Also, to reflect on the covenant between human beings and the environment “which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying”. See www.catholicbishops.ie/features.
The Diocese of Bath and Wells’ Lenten course, Love for the Future (which includes DVD, notes, worship resources and music), is inspiring and uplifting – a much-needed resource at this time of financial and economic uncertainty. As we recognise the interconnections of the economic and environmental crises, this study – for personal or group use – with its haunting music, encourages us to look beyond despair to the gospel values of respect, compassion, justice, simplicity, repentance and hope. See www.bathandwells.org.uk/go/loveforthefuture.
Also recommended is Operation Noah’s Between the Flood and the Rainbow (www.operationnoah.org), the Methodist Relief and Development Fund’s Lenten Bible study pack, What does the Bible say about Climate Change? (www.mrdf.org.uk), the Church in Society Environmental Advisory Group’s Environmental Bible Study – Five Studies on God’s Works in Creation and Redemption (www.churchinsociety.org) and Christian Ecology Link’s Ecocell (www.christian-ecology.org.uk), which aims to deepen conviction, impel people to action and provide the motivational ‘sparks’ that inspire a passion for Christ and all life on Earth.
For individual reflection, Quantum Grace: Lenten Reflections on Creation and Connectedness and Quantum Grace: The Sunday Readings by Judy Cannato (Ave Maria Press) are both highly recommended.
For many people nowadays, Lent is not a time for giving up, but for taking up. Love Life Live Lent is a delightful book filled with suggestions for both children and adults to undertake during Lent – small and fun actions that can inspire and transform one’s family, community and the wider world. See www.livelent.net.
Also, check out Trócaire’s Lent 2012 resources (www.trocaire.org), Christian Aid’s Count Your Blessings resources (www.christianaid.ie) and Tearfund’s Carbon Fast (www.tearfund.org).
Finally, the Ecumenical Water Network’s Seven Weeks for Water resources are highly recommended (oikoumene.org/7-weeks-for-water). This year’s weekly meditations are on the theme ‘Water, Conflict and Just Peace’ and examine the links between access to water, struggles over this precious resource, and building just peace. Each week there is a short biblical meditation along with ideas for actions and campaigning.
Wishing you an eco-aware Lent!