Uncategorized – The Green Tau

Lament for lost biodiversity

17th October 2026

My eyes grow dim with weeping. Each day I beg your help; O Lord, I reach my pleading hands to you for mercy. Soon it will be too late! Psalm 89:9, 10a

You Lord, are the source of all good things:

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation:

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives:

May we live together in peace.

A reading from Luke 18: 9-14 (The Message)

He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ‘Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’ “Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ‘God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’” Jesus commented, “This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”

Response:-

Suffering God,

Full of grief, I pour out my sorrows;

Full of mourning, I bewail my loss:

Bluebells that cannot keep pace with climate change,

Ash, elm and chestnut trees felled by disease,

Frogspawn that succumbs to unseasonal cold,

Butterflies deceived by unseasonal warmth/ rain.*

Suffering God,

Full of grief, I pour out my sorrows;

Full of mourning, I bewail my loss:

Wetlands that are no longer wet,

Curlews that have nowhere to feed,

Streams overwhelmed by fertilisers,

Rivers polluted by sewage.

Suffering God,

Full of grief, I pour out my sorrows;

Full of mourning, I bewail my loss:

Glaciers receding up mountains,

Alpine plants pushed over the edge,

Mountain hares with nowhere to go,

Moorlands and tundra burnt to a cinder.

Suffering God,

Full of grief, I pour out my sorrows;

Full of mourning, I bewail my loss:

Oceans with no whales,

Savannahs with no elephants

Coral reefs with no coral,

Icecaps with no ice.

Merciful God,

Forgive us our greed and our complacency,

Our folly and selfishness.

Forgive us when we have failed to see our errors,

have chosen to overlook our faults.

Forgive us when we have not listened to the facts,

preferring to believe our own stories.

Forgive us when we have ignored the plight of others,

caring only for number one.

Restore in us a right mind and a right spirit.

Strengthen our hands and our hearts to care for your world.

Embolden our will to love our neighbours as ourselves.

Free up our grasp on wealth and resources

that all may benefit from your bounty.

Release us from our pride and self assurance

that we can truly worship you,

our creator, redeemer and sustainer.

Amen.

The Grace

Each year has different extremes of weather

Counting on … day 106

16th October 2026

Having established that the world can produce enough food to feed our current and expected increased population – in 2011 the World Bank, Institute calculated that globally we grew enough food to feed 14 billion people – the real problem is how that food is distributed and whether what is produced is the healthiest option. Goulson puts forward the interesting suggestion that rather than choosing to grow what is good for us, we end up eating what someone else chooses to grow.

“About 300,000 different edible plants are known …. [yet] 50% of our calories come from just three crops: rice, wheat and maize. Together with soya beans, these crops comprise 50% of all arable farmland. And these four crops, plus potatoes, oil palm, cane sugar, beet sugar and cassava make up two thirds of all the food we consume. Carbs and oil. The food industry takes these cheap ingredients and formulates them into ultra processed foods (UPFs) which are highly palatable, highly calorific and of low nutritional value…. Regional cuisines and cooking with fresh ingredients have been displaced by fast foods, sugary drinks and ready meals.” (P19-20 Eat the Planet Well Dave Goulson)

Why not try buying and using different grains? Buckwheat, rye, barley, oats, millet? You might also try using flours made from dried peas, beans and – but more expensive – chestnuts.

Counting on … day 105

15th October 2026

Over the next few weeks, I shall share thoughts from Dave Goulson’s book ‘Eat the Planet Well’.

In his introduction he flags up issues such as the drive to produce cheap food which at the same time degrades the environment and degrades the lives of both domestic and wild animals; issues such as the simultaneous growth in ultra processed foods and obesity; issues around global food waste which is growing and equally shocking levels of starvation; issues around the growth of pesticides, herbicides and forever chemicals and the lobbying power of both chemical and food industries.

“At the heart of it all is food. Everybody eats, everybody needs bees*, everybody is a stake holder. If we want to save the planet, save the bees and save ourselves, then we need to pay more attention to what we eat…” (page 11)

*Dave Goulson is Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex and his specialism is bumblebees.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/469614/eat-the-planet-well-by-goulson-dave/9781787335622

Counting on … day 104

14th October 2026

People often feel that there is nothing they can easily do to address the climate and biodiversity crisis. Which is probably twofold. Firstly that so much that needs to change is beyond individual control and needs government input – eg upgrading the national grid to allow more renewable energy projects to proceed, providing training and funds to develop green industries, providing grants to upgrade insulation in homes, providing funds to ensure schools and hospitals can cope with extreme temperatures, licensing or not licensing oil and gas fields, taxing or not the profits of polluters, using frequent flyer taxes to reduce the number of air flights etc.

Secondly we can be reluctant to make significant lifestyle changes.

One area where we can make a significant impact as individuals and where it involves easy to make changes, is with our diet. Here we can make changes that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve biodiversity AND improve our health!

Responding to Nationalism: reconciliation or resistance?

14th October 2026

The growth of right wing politics and in particular of Christian Nationalism is deeply concerning. It works against the Christian gospel of loving our neighbour whoever and where they are. It works against care for creation. And it works against social justice. I was therefore glad to attend this year’s Green Christian Conference:-

Responding to nationalism: reconciliation or resistance?

The following is my summary/ recollections of all that we heard and discussed at this conference – 10th October 2026. The key speaker was Dr Jonathan Chaplin of Wesley House, Cambridge – a political theologian working on issues of democracy and environmental theology.

Jonathan Chaplin started by identifying the things we have all seen this year – radical political rhetoric, protests and marches from right wing groups and political parties – from announcements by both the Reform and Restore parties, the Unite the Kingdom movement and the Patriotic Platform. In particular we have seen and heard their “co-option’ of the name and symbols of Christianity. One might even call it ‘identity theft’ for its questionable to what extent those using this identity also follow to the message of the Christian gospel. (This has been boring out by recent research by the Theos think tank – https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/11/christian-nationalism-uk-far-right-people-rarely-go-to-church-report?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Their message ignores the inclusivity of the gospel, the calling to welcome the stranger and to care for one’s neighbours, whoever they are and where ever they come from. Their message also derides ‘woke’ issues including net zero and other policies that address the climate and biodiversity crises. Rather they promote an agenda that purports to return to traditional values, to restore Britain to a ‘golden era’ of the past – and yet which at the same time encourages patriarchy and xenophobia and the removal of social care.

However Chaplin promoted us to consider that there were many issues of change in our world today that do make people feel threatened, and about which we should seek an empathetic understanding:-

Post industrial white working classes do feel disadvantaged and do experience exclusion
There has been a growth of mass migration (often caused by climate and economic and political turmoil elsewhere in the world)
Changing gender roles can feel disempowering for some (although whilst right wing rhetoric promotes patriarchy in the UK it opposes patriarchal practices in other cultures such as in Islam)
Loss of traditional culture such as pubs.

Chaplin then invited us to consider that nation and state are different things, the former being cultural and the latter political.

Nation

Cultural community

Something to which we may be partial

An environment rather than a thing

Always changing and pluralistic

May have recognisable traits but no fixed character

State

Has definite legal boarders and its own legal regulations

It is a thing that has the power to act (NB nations can become states when they establish legal boundaries, regulations and become a body that can act)

Boarders may be established by conflict and conquest. They may not always coincide with where nations reside. A nation may exist across multiple states or a state may rule over multiple nations.

States can shape their nations – for good or ill

States may use ‘national myths’ to shape the nation

They may favour a majority national viewpoint in determining rules, policies etc

States can be arbitrary in their rule

How then does faith relate to nation and state?

Here there is a spectrum of possible responses:-

Faith-based cultural influence
Pluralistic faith-based politics
Soft Christian privilege
Hard Christian privilege
Christian ethno-nationalism

Faith-based (in this instance thinking particularly of Christianity) cultural influence is where individuals or groups seek to shape the nation via evangelism – so that more people embrace their faith values; by being a Christian presence in the workplace/ school/ community seeking to influence the shape of these establishments. There is no expectation that the State should implement rules or practices that would mirror Christian faith.
Pluralistic faith-based politics is where one’s faith is a driver of political engagement, and political avenues are used to to try and shape law and policy to accord with one’s faith. But this position nevertheless accepts that other faith groups can and may use similar political avenues to promote their viewpoints. Democracy and debate are seems as the forum in which to resolve differences and determine outcomes.
Soft Christian privilege is where a faith institution (in the UK, the C of E) has certain privileges such as seats in the House of Lords, involvement in leading and shaping ceremonial events for the state (eg coronations, prayers in Parliament, Remembrance Day commemorations, religiously based bank holidays etc). Other privileges include state-funded C of E schools, chaplaincies in schools, prisons, hospitals etc. NB the C of E can be seen as a ‘hospitable establishment’ – a symbolic but beneficial state body.
Hard Christian privilege is where the privilege shifts from benign to exclusionary. This view point seeks to make the nation into an officially Christian nation, authorised by the State. Here Christianity should be constitutionally privileged to the exclusion of other faiths. Christian public prayer and worship would be promoted, whilst the public prayer and worship by other faiths would be prohibited. Supporters of this view point are often critical of church leaders who do not espouse the same viewpoint.
Christian ethno-nationalism follows a similar approach to hard Christian privilege, but further limited privilege to those only of certain ethnic group – eg white British. It is not expected that this Christianity is underpinned by any theological understanding but rather by ethnic culture beliefs.

These represent a spectrum of views of which only the last two should be understood as Christian Nationalism. The first three can be seen as legitimate democratic view points, but the last two are clearly undemocratic and risk undermining democracy within the UK. As Green Christians – ie with a particular concern for the wellbeing of God’s Earth – we should challenge these latter two view points not just because they work against the gospel, but because they oppose the green agenda here in the UK and oppose global cooperation on green issues to the detriment of all our neighbours.

What would a Green Christian vision of the nation – of nation-hood – look like? Chaplin suggested it would be inclusive of everyone (ie regardless of faith, ethnicity or class etc), that it would be outward looking embracing the wider non Christian and non human communities, and would be caring of both humans and nature. A green nation would find its identity in working for justice and solidarity, be both outward and forward looking (ie not trapped in the past whether that memory is real or imagined). Such a nation would seek reconciliation between its citizens and explain and develop (including listening to others as well as challenging false and misinformation) a vision of eco-wholeness. It would highlight and enable the positive benefits of creating green jobs, green spaces, healthy and readily accessible diets, energy security through renewables, etc.

A standout word would be empathy. Not just being able to listen and understand, but demonstrating the importance of so doing. Being able to find a common ground from which to develop forward looking conversations. Being able to create neighbourly relationships around ecological issues – these might include community gardens, clean river swimming sites, play streets.

We also need to be concerned as to how we read the scriptures today. How do we sense what the Holy Spirit is asking of us? Do we need to challenge unhelpful, outdated, Christian traditions that are no longer acceptable?

Conference attendees then joined breakout groups to discuss and formulate ways of putting some of these ideas into practice.

Jesus welcomes everyone and embodies compassion. How do we follow Jesus in today’s social climate?
Who is my neighbour? Countering the idea that my neighbour is a ‘white English man’. Making disciples of all nations not a nation of all disciples.
In a world of nationalism and internationalism, how do we address the food crisis? Are ‘self-sufficiency’ and ‘buy British’ a product of nationalism or part of national resilience?
Choosing our allies: is it a good use of our time and resources to make common cause with other (non Christian) groups? If so which and how? How wide should our focus be? Just climate and biodiversity or also social justice, debt justice etc?
Different opinions? How do we counter narratives of othering, division and exclusion when we see them in our churches? How do we de-polarise conversations? How do we catalyse change? Are there resources that can help us with difficult conversations? How do we make the time – create opportunities – for these conversations?

Further resources

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland had produced notes for small groups discussions entities Kingdom over Nation – https://cte.org.uk/working-together/kingdom-over-nation/

For the full Theo’s report and other of their resources re Christian Nationalism – https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/christian-nationalism

A recording of the Moral Maze discussing empathy – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030c85

You can watch a recording of Jonathan Chaplin’s talk on Green Christian’s YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/c/GreenChristian/videos

Counting on … day 103

13th October 2026

Backtracking to building resilience, the Guardian had an apt item about ensuring that our homes are secure and ready for the likely wet and windy weather that El Niño will bring this autumn/ winter.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/oct/10/storm-proof-home-roof-garden-pipes-flooding-winter?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Counting on … day 102

12th October 2026

Droughts and river transport

Many countries – including the USA, European countries bordering the Rhine and those bordering rivers that flow into the Black Sea – rely on river transport for the movement of goods, as well as for tourism via cruises. When river levels are low, transport is disrupted. Ships may have to operate within a narrow central channel causing traffic jams, or goods may have to be transferred to shallower vessels. Locks which regulate the flow may be opened and closed less frequently delaying shipping. (1) Even the Panama Canal has been affected by low water levels disrupting international shipping.

The UK has a network of small canals which are equally adversely affected by drought. But they also play an important role in maintaining water levels in rivers, including transferring water between river basins. About 40% of Bristol’s drinking water comes via the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

( 3) https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/our-cause/threats-to-our-waterways/climate-change/nine-ways-canals-can-fight-climate-change/water-transfers

Proper 23, 19th Sunday after Trinity

11th October 2026

Reflection with readings below

Everyone enjoys a good party! And a feast is the opposite of a famine. So when God invites us to a feast we should expect a scenario where they will be plenty of food and plenty to drink, plenty of joy and happiness. If the feast is a wedding feast then we should know this as a celebration of a lifelong union, of an eternal covenant.

Last week’s readings had a focus on vineyards. In Isaiah the story focused on the vine and the failure of its fruit, whilst the gospel story focused on the tenants – those who were meant to tend and harvest the vine’s fruits, passing on what was due to the owner. Isaiah’s story focused on the fruitfulness of God’s people; the gospel on the honesty of those who were tasked with looking after the people of God.

Today’s gospel story may be a combination of both. The wedding feast reminds us of all that God has prepared for us to enjoy – the bounty and beauty of creation. God’s good earth is wonderfully productive and resourceful. Even with this century’s projected human population of ten billion, the Earth’s produce would more than satisfy their appetites. Surprisingly it is not a lack of food that underpins hunger and famine but a lack of equality and of a fair distribution of resources. Equally it is note lack of accommodation that causes homelessness, but a lack of equality and of fair distribution. (There are in the UK 309,000 long term empty houses against 290,000 people who are homeless!)

It is not the feast that is a problem. Rather it is the unwillingness of those invited to engage with the king. Those who are rich, those whose lives are self sufficient, those who feel no need to pay attention to anyone else, turn down the invitation. They do not want to waste their time and effort in a celebration that benefits others.

And is that not what we see with those in our world today who are rich, who are self satisfied, who have not concern for anyone else? They take all they want – and more! – and do nothing! ensure that the bounty of the Earth – the feast – is intended for everyone.

And so yes, as is told in the parable, surely we would love to see those who have been marginalised, those cast out by the rich and powerful, those who lack any fair share of resources, being invited to share the abundant bounty of the Earth’s harvest.

But hang on a moment! Are we not actually some of the rich and powerful -maybe not super rich but certain,y richer than most of the world’s population? Are we ready and willing to participate in this feast, are we ready and willing to ensure a just and fair distribution of food, of drink, of homes, of safety even if that means forgoing some of our pleasures and privileges, even if it means forgoing some of our wealth and incomes? Are we in danger of saying yes to the invitation but then failing to act accordingly? Are we in danger of wishing to benefit from the Earth’s bounty whilst pressing for a fairer share of the feast? Are we in danger of arriving at the feast underdressed?

There is still time to repent and make amends. Isaiah long knew that the people of God were easily distracted from their invitation to enjoy rich lives if they stuck to following God’s ways. He knew that these false ways would lead to eviction and deportation. But Isaiah also know that God would always quickly be ready to help those who turned thwir back on sin, those who were repentant and sought to live a better life following the way of God.

Jesus knew that many were caught up in systems, caught in the snare of wealth and high wages. He knew that they could repent and be welcomed I to God’s kingdom. He also knew that for some it would be a difficult choice to make because it would be sacrificial. But he also knew that individuals could make the right choices, and that if the band of disciples was growing in numbers, then more and more would respond to that message.

May God release us from the ties of wealth and privilege and give us the courage to invite and enable everyone to enjoy the feast that God’s Earth has to offer equally and fairly. Amen.

Isaiah 25:1-9

O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you, I will praise your name;

for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

For you have made the city a heap,
the fortified city a ruin;

the palace of aliens is a city no more,
it will never be rebuilt.

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

For you have been a refuge to the poor,
a refuge to the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.

When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,

you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
the song of the ruthless was stilled.

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.

And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.

Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.

It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.

3 He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.

6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Philippians 4:1-9

My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to the people in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Lamenting our shortcomings

11th October 2026

The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9

You Lord, are the source of all good things:

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation:

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives:

May we live together in peace.

A reading: Psalm 10:1-6, 12

Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.

For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart,
those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.
In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, ‘God will not seek it out’;
all their thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’

Their ways prosper at all times;
   your judgements are on high, out of their sight;
   as for their foes, they scoff at them.
They think in their heart, ‘We shall not be moved;
   throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.’

Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
do not forget the oppressed.

Response based on Daniel 9:4-10

Great and awesome God,

keeper of promises

and steadfast in love,

we have sinned and done wrong:

our greed has made paupers of those we should love,

our desire for more has taken away even the little they had,

we have despised and oppressed our brothers and sisters.

Great and awesome God,

keeper of promises

and steadfast in love,

we have acted wickedly and rebelled:

we have carved out our paths

and ignore the ways of your creation

leaving behind us a trail of devastation.

Great and awesome God,

keeper of promises

and steadfast in love,

we have turned aside from your commandments:

we over-grazed the land, over fished the seas,

we have decimated the forests and polluted the waterways,

we have taken more than we can restore.

Great and awesome God,

keeper of promises

and steadfast in love,

we have not listened to your prophets, who speak in your name:

we have ignored the wail of the sea birds,

the gasps of the rhino

and the disappearing drone of the insects.

Great and awesome God,

keeper of promises

and steadfast in love,

shame falls on us:

we let islands drown and ice sheets melt,

we let the tundra burn and rivers dry up,

we let cities flood and fields whither.

Lord our God,

to you belong mercy and forgiveness,

reform and redeem us,

renew a right spirit within us,

that all your creation may be treated

with love and care.

Amen.

The Grace

Counting on … day 101

8th October 2026

Droughts and energy supplies

The German language has a lovely word to describe those days when there is neither sunshine nor wind to power renewable energy – Dunkelflaute. We are probably less aware of the impact that drought can have on energy supplies.

Hydro power clearly is dependent on a sufficient fall or flow of water to drive the turbines. During periods of low river flow, less energy can be produced. (Tidal power is not affected but would I imagine be affected by storms which might overwhelm the system.)

Nuclear power relies on water for cooling. In the UK nuclear power stations are located by the coast and use sea water for cooling, but many nuclear power stations in Europe use river water for cooling. During droughts they are therefore adversely effected with low river levels, but equally when the river volume is low, it is not possible to return the cooling water to the river because the heat of this water cannot be sufficiently dissipated by the river water to ensure the wellbeing of river wildlife.

Gas and coal power stations steam water to drive the turbines – if there are several water shortages, this will impact their ability to produce electricity.

As consumers we can

support a range of renewable energy sources through utilising a green electricity tariff (a mix of solar, hydro and wind seems to be the ideal especially if combined with battery storage).
Aim to minimise the amount of energy we need to use, and by limiting our consumption of consumer goods – joy in enough (1) – to help curtail industrial demand for both water and energy.