Weekly Green Tau

Counting on … 86

7th September 

A different aspect of resilience is maintaining good mental health. 

I know I can get over stressed by worrying about the various existential crises that we face – climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, injustice etc – and I can get into a frame of mind that says that anything I do will not be enough, that anything I do will not make a difference, and I can’t work out what to do. It becomes overwhelming and I can’t escape. 

But what do I know is that there are some things that I can do that will unwind the anxiety. One is  exercise and I do this regularly with a set pattern such that on Tuesdays for example, I will book a swim for 7.30am, then use the gym and then have breakfast in the cafe. The other is to simply go out and pay attention to the natural world – often this is sitting by the Thames, watching the river, the wildlife, the changing tides and seasons, and even just watching the people who are also enjoying the river. 

You could say that I count on nature to keep me sane!

The Feast of Creation in Christ

6th September 2026

Reflection with readings below

Feasts are times for celebration and rejoicing. Therefore the Feast of Creation in Christ should be a day for celebrating the integral relationship between creation and Christ, rejoicing in all the wonder and bounty of which we are beneficiaries.

The Feast of Creation in Christ marks the beginning of the season of Creation which ends 4th October with the feast of St Francis. Creation-tide is, I think, a time to practice a generous and respectful approach to creation. It is to be mindful that it is here in creation that we can encounter God on a daily basis. It is also a time to remember that we are part of and not above creation; that we are partners with all that lives as members of a an intricate set of ecosystems. It is by remembering our co-dependency that we will learn to live within the Earth’s planetary boundaries and in so doing, fulfil our vocation to tend and cherish the Earth.

The reading from Isaiah is rightly full of praise and joy. Yet note, it is not humans who are doing the celebrating but the landscape and the vegetation. Throughout the Bible there are many other examples of non-human beings praising and worshipping God. When we praise and worship God, we do so not alone but in union with the rest of creation. Deborah Colvin, who led last Wednesday’s Green Christian talk on living waters, encouraged us to simply listen to the sounds from creation and in silence join our prayers with them. It is so easy for us to slip into attitudes that ignore creation. Spending time in nature whether that be sitting in a garden, walking under trees, standing by a river, staring up at the clouds, and simply paying attention to what is around us, is a way of joining in the worship of God. Such attentiveness will likely also make us aware of where and how we are mistreating creation and causing God to grieve.

These sentiments are re-echoed in today’s psalm.

Both New Testament readings explore the relationship between Jesus and creation. Here we hear that Jesus being both fully God and a distinct facet of God, was integrally part of the totality of the divine will that created all that exists. Here we also hear that Jesus in becoming fully human, has become the head of the body – the community – of the people of God – also known as the Church. And is the first born raised from the dead, and the first to lead us by the way of the cross, unfolding for us the gift of salvation.

We often talk of being one in Christ when talking about baptism, or belonging to church, or taking communion. I don’t think we so often say this when we’re gardening, feeding the cat, walking in the park etc. Yet if “all things have been created through him and for him … and in him all things hold together” then all things are ‘in Christ’. This should once again reinforce for us the need to see ourselves as one with the rest of creation and not superior to any part thereof, to be willing to join with the rest of creation in worshipping God, and being eager to care for creation as both our love of neighbour and as our love of God.

Realising a new our relationship with creation and therefore with God through Christ is a time for celebration and feasting!

Isaiah 55.12−end

You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper,

    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

    for an everlasting sign,

    that will endure forever.”

Psalm 96

Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvellous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendour and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come into his courts.

Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
    The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Colossians 1.15−20

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

John 1.1−14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Rejoice in the living waters!

5th September 2026

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3

You Lord, our the source of all wisdom:

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 Ezekiel 47: 1, 8-12

The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east).

He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

Praise God and rejoice,

for the living water of creation 

will make fresh our stagnant water, 

And God’s Spirit  will make fresh 

our stagnant lives.

Praise God and rejoice, 

for wherever the living water flows, 

it will restore the life of our rivers, 

bringing back fish and birds, 

mammals and insects.

And God will renew our love for them.

Praise God and rejoice, 

for wherever the living water flows, 

it will restore the life of our lands, 

bringing back birds and creatures,

plants and insects.

And God will renew our love for them.

Praise God and rejoice, 

for wherever the living water flows, 

it will restore the life of our towns and villages, 

bringing back places for leisure and opportunities for work, 

places for contemplation and opportunities for healing.

And God will renew our love for each other.

Amen. 

Counting on … day 85

4th September 2026

Resilience* – readiness to cope with small emergencies – might also include a small collection of tool kit such as  and  screw drivers and hammers, a craft knife, screws and nails, string, gaffer tape and glue. Equally useful would be a sewing kit, and in both instances some knowledge about to use either kit. 

This would allow you to carry out small repairs in a temporary basis. 

  • This continues a theme I was exploring on August

Resilience 

How would – how will  – we cope with an emergency? 

The increasing scale of the climate and biodiversity – and the crisis in social injustice – means we may well be faced with any number of different and probably overlapping emergencies.

This series will help explore how we as individuals and as communities can cope with emergency situations – ie how we can become more resilient.

Potential Emergency Scenarios

  • Burst pipes, power cuts, internet failures etc due to faults in infrastructure.
  • Flooding that effects us and our homes directly. 
  • Flooding that interrupts the services we rely upon – sewage disposal, clean drinking water, electricity, transport, access to shops, schools, medical centres, etc. We might not need to vacate our homes but we might have to cope with lack of fresh water, no shops or food deliveries, power cuts etc.
  • Storms that damage our homes directly.
  • Storms which bring down trees blocking roads, cut off power supplies and telephone cables, preventing access to shops, schools, medical centres etc. 

NB Storms are not limited to the winter months, and in summer months trees in full leave may catch more wind and be at a greater risk of falling. Hot, dry spells can put trees under stress equally increasing the likelihood that they may fall or loose branches. Whilst many parts of the UK now receive less rain than previously, it can more often come in a very intense rainfall where a significant amount of rain falls within a short time frame, and so trigger flooding.

  • Freezing temperatures that burst pipes and cut of water supplies.
  • Snow storms and freezing temperatures that disrupt services including electricity, transport, access to schools, shops, medical centres etc. Plus the risk of flooding when the snow melts.
  • Snow and ice may deter some people from going out to the shops etc for fear of falling. Equally in very hot weather some people may avoid going out.  
  • Heat waves that disrupt transport and food supplies, and which may also lead to burst water pipes because of movement in the ground as it dries out.  
  • Extremes of heat – hot and cold – that make it difficult to maintain comfortable/ safe temperatures in our homes. 
  • Wild fires
  • Pandemic outbreaks which are an increasing threat as global temperatures rise. Having experienced Covid we know how such an outbreak can create nationwide difficulties.
  • Cyber attacks that disable systems that control water and electrical supplies, transport and communication networks.

All these are situations when our normal patterns of daily life may be disrupted such that we need to make adaptations. The better we are prepared, the more resilient we will be.

Some of these scenarios may affect just our own household or may affect our community to a greater or lesser extent, or may affected our whole country. As individuals if we can be more resilient we will reduce the pressure on the wider community, and rather be better able to help others in our community. If we as a community can be more resilient, then we will reduce the pressure on the nation, and if as a nation we can be more resilient, then we can be better able to help others in our nations. 

Resilience can be developed at the level of the individual/ household, the community, the region and the nation.

Warnings of potential emergencies – how will we know?

Weather emergencies are to a degree predictable and we can sign up for alerts or simply keep an eye on the news.

Other emergencies such as transport incidents, power cuts, cyber attacks, etc are not readily predictable.

  1.  Keeping a check on weather forecasts is a practical starting point eg – https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/forecast/gcpvj0v07#?date=2026-09-15
  2. Ditto tides if near the sea/ tidal river – https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast-and-sea/tide-tables
  3. Sign up for weather alerts from the Met Office – https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/alerts/ or https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKMETOFFICE/subscriber/new
  4. Sign up for flood warnings – https://www.gov.uk/get-flood-warnings
  5. For major emergencies everyone with a mobile phone will receive an alert.

Proper 17, 13th Sunday after Trinity

30th August 2026

Reflection with readings below.

The overarching theme of today’s readings is that life is not free suffering – even for those who give their allegiance to God. Creation is still a work in progress?

I am reading Eat the Planet Well by Dave Goulson, a scientist who has specialised in bumblebees. He writes about adapting gardens and farmland to restore the lost habitats as a way of boosting the much depleted bumblebee population. He then writes about research he carried out on the effects of neonicotinoids on bees. His findings were clear and stark as to their highly detrimental affect.

But what surprised him more was the reaction of the pesticide industry, which threw vast sums of money at belittling his research – asserting it wasn’t truthful – lobbying politicians about the necessity of pesticides and the need to avoid legislation, bamboozling farmers about the multiple benefits of pesticides. Goulson records that the industry using the same game plan as the tobacco industry did in the 50s and 60s, as the fossil fuel industry has since at least the 1970s, and which both the meat and the plastics industries are also pursuing, falsely validating their product to ensure continued and increasing sales.

These are all industries that generate large profits for their shareholders, which use their size and financial clout to press governments across the world to protect their industries; which exploit the media to promote their product as good for society – Shell claims that they are key operators in ensuring energy security across the globe; which also use the media and think tanks to disabuse other viewpoints; and which have no regard for the damage their industries are causing. And indeed they are never asked to pay for the damage they cause.

Against these, campaigners and activists can feel overwhelmed. Will signing a petition, writing to my MP, joining a march, voting at AGMs, make any impact against mega sized corporations? Yet against the odds, they do continue to campaign.

Some campaigners conversely opt to undertake increasingly extreme actions to try and both raise public awareness and press governments to take action for the common good. Just Stop Oil took many nonviolent actions, such as closing down motorways, which did raise public awareness about the oil versus climate change issue but which also resulted in activists being imprisoned.

Such activists could echo the plaintive cry of Jeremiah. Why, he asks, does he suffer abuse and suffering from those who oppose God’s word? Why does he end up missing the parties and the good times because he is overwhelmed by the dire warnings of God’s? Is he in fact suffering pointlessly as he tries to adhere to God’s will?

God urges him to stay strong and to remain true to his calling, speaking truthfully God’s word and withstanding the forces of those who oppose God’s will. God will be with Jeremiah, God will provide him with resilience, and ensure his deliverance

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples not to turn away from the challenges and potential suffering that can result from following him. It is only by facing these challenges that they will experience life in all its richness.  Whilst Paul in his letter to the Romans reminds us how we should live – loving and honouring others, being hospitable and generous – and how we should not fall into the trap of behaving like those who oppose God’s word. We should not revile or hate our opponents, nor repay evil with evil. 

This is message for activists too. Our actions must bear the hallmark of what we stand for: they must reflect our beliefs. Equally we should not get sucked into responding to those who oppose us with words and actions that mirror theirs. We should continue to respect and be polite and honest in our actions and protests. Indeed we should bear in mind Paul’s words that we should go beyond the tit for tat, and actually minister positively towards those who oppose us when they are in need.

I also think part of the work of the activist, as it was for the prophet Jeremiah, is to bear witness to what is happening in the world around us, highlighting both what is going wrong and what is going aright. The horrendous tragedy unfolding in Nepal and Tibet is, in large part, the consequence of years of ignoring the damage caused by burning fossil fuels. We will not serve well current and future generations if we do not urgently address this issue – and here the ‘we’ has to be us as individuals, us as governments and us as businesses. Action will involve changing the way we live, consuming less, radically redistributing wealth. And so yes it will require us, if not to suffer, then at least to forgo what we see as pleasures and comforts – flying less, eating less meat and dairy, buying fewer electrical and fashion items, switching from gas boilers to electrical heating etc. But we may find life simpler and more enjoyable, and we will be doing all we can to avert further catastrophes that impact the lives of so many.

Jeremiah 15:15-21

O Lord, you know;
remember me and visit me,
and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.

In your forbearance do not take me away;
know that on your account I suffer insult.

Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart;

for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.

I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,
nor did I rejoice;

under the weight of your hand I sat alone,
for you had filled me with indignation.

Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?

Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail.

Therefore, thus says the Lord:

If you turn back, I will take you back,
and you shall stand before me.

If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall serve as my mouth.

It is they who will turn to you,
not you who will turn to them.

And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,

for I am with you
to save you and deliver you,

says the Lord.

I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless. 

Psalm 26:1-8 

1 Give judgment for me, O Lord,
for I have lived with integrity; *
I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

2 Test me, O Lord, and try me; *
examine my heart and my mind.

3 For your love is before my eyes; *
I have walked faithfully with you.

4 I have not sat with the worthless, *
nor do I consort with the deceitful.

5 I have hated the company of evildoers; *
I will not sit down with the wicked.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, *
that I may go in procession round your altar,

7 Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving *
and recounting all your wonderful deeds.

8 Lord, I love the house in which you dwell *
and the place where your glory abides.

Romans 12:9-21

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Matthew 16:21-28

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 

“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Emergency planning 

Local authorities will have emergency plans in place. To find out what your local authority has in place you can use this link although the information is aimed at local authority departments –  https://www.gov.uk/local-planning-emergency-major-incident 

However it may be more helpful to use a web search to see what is your local authority’s advice for households. Here, for example, is the link for Richmond Borough – https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/environment/emergency_planning/public_resilience

Most local authorities will suggest that each household prepares an emergency plan.

What would an emergency plan include?

i) What are the specific risks and difficulties that you might face? 

ii) What is the best escape route from your home? 

iii) Do you know where to turn off the water/ electricity/ gas supplies in your home? 

iv) Who should you phone in an emergency?

v)If you get separated from other household members, where will you meet up? 

vi) Are there two different places where you know you could be offered temporary accommodation? (And can you offer the same in reverse?) 

viii) Do you have a first aid kit, emergency supplies, a Grab and Go bag? 

ix) Are there neighbours you should look out for? 

x) Is there a community hub that would be a place to seek refuge?

Here are a couple of other examples from different local areas.

https://hiowprepared.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/LRF-Household-Emergency-Plan.pdf

https://www.westberks.gov.uk/preparing-for-emergencies

Emergency planning will likely need to cover three different scenarios.

  1. Having to stay put in the home with no access to outside support. This might be the scenario if there were a heavy fall of snow or a period of very cold/ very hot weather, or the outbreak of a pandemic.
  1. Having to evacuate one’s home with little or no notice. This might be the scenario if there were a flash flood, a wild fire or a chemical leak.
  1. Not being able to get back home ( eg for those at work, at school, visiting friends etc) because transport has been disrupted by weather events or power outages etc.

The first scenario of staying put has given rise to the advice – given both here in the UK (low key) and across Europe (more loudly) – that households should maintain a stock of supplies that would meet their needs for 72 hours – three days. In some countries this recommendation has been increased to 7 days – consider that in the event of a flood or power outage it might take a week for services to be restored and shops restocked.

The second scenario of having to leave in a rush, has given rise to the advice of preparing a Grab and Go bag.

The third scenario of not being able to get home is less often considered, but would probably give rise to something similar to the preparation of a Grab and Go bag – but who would want to carry that around? For those who regularly use a car, keeping a Grab and Go bag there would be a more convenient option. Maybe this option should be the Have to Hand kit?

72 Hour stay-put supplies – what might this include?

Food – this needs to be food with a long shelf life – dried and tinned as opposed to frozen (freezers don’t work during power cuts). If there were a power cut, it would also be sensible to ensure that much of the food is such that can be eaten with little or no cooking. Most tinned food can be eaten cold although some options may be more palatable than others. Oats can be eaten raw or after soaking. Dried fruit would be excellent as would biscuits, crackers and oat cakes, plus jam, yeast extract, nut butters etc. Of you have a camping stove you would be able to make hot drinks and cook simple foods such as pasta, millet and quinoa. But do have regard to all necessary precautions when using a camping stove. 

UHT milk and fruit juice, and tetrapacs of tofu and cream would be another addition. Pickles and saurkraut have a long shelf life, and you could also store bottled fruits and vegetables – maybe jars of olives? Dried food is another option – provided you have enough water. And a couple of bars of chocolate may be very welcome in an emergency!

To buy everything you need in one go might be too expensive but you could build up your stores over time. When you finish something you regularly use, replace it with two then you will have one to use and a spare in hand. To ensure everything is in date, do use and replace what you have in your store cupboard on a regular basis. 

Hopefully even if you have to rely on your 72 hour supplies, there won’t be a power cut, and it would be sensible then to keep in your stores things you regularly use and enjoy. You might make sure you always have enough onions, root vegetables, apples and bananas to hand, packets of tea and coffee etc. If you do a big shop every week try and make sure that even on the day before you do that shop, you still have enough food to last 72 hours. Think of this as keeping a well maintained pantry! 

If you have pets, include in your stores enough food for them too.

Water – a minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day is recommended by the World Health Organisation. You may also want to store extra water for washing etc – say 10 litres per person. You may have a cold water tank in your house that feeds the bathroom and toilets – if you don’t use the shower/ bath and only use waste water to flush the toilet (eg washing up water) you may well have enough water there for hand and dish washing to last three days. But for drinking water you would need to store bottled water (make sure you keep checking it is  in date). Rather than buying bottled water, might refill clean demijohns with sufficient water for three days, and rotate and refill these on a daily basis. 

Another item you might add to your supplies would water sterilising tablets in case there is a risk that your tap water is temporarily tainted.

Medication – make you sure you always have at least three more day’s worth of any medication you take regularly. At the same time make sure you keep an up to date first aid kit, plus supplies of whatever painkillers, antihistamines, indigestion tablets, sore throat medications etc that you would normally use. As well as keeping an up to date first aid kit, add in a first aid manual and if you can, undertake some first aid training.

Torches and radio – in the event of a power cut, having fully charged torches and a radio will be useful and either spare batteries or opt for a windup torch/ radio. A fully charged power bank for recharging mobile phones would  also be useful. You might consider a solar powered power bank.

 Clothes etc –  you might want to stock up on extra layers so that in case of a power cut and/ or cold snap, you can keep warm – fleeces, woollen hats, extra thick socks, blankets and sleeping bags,  thermal underwear etc. Equally you may already have enough in your cupboards. Assuming you not coping with a power cut, but cold weather, hot water bottles are good for warming beds and making people feel cosy.

Wellington boots would be good and maybe a snow shovel.

In the summer, wet towels to hang over the windows can help cool your home – as can closing both curtains and windows in the morning before it gets hot and opening them in the evening to allow in cool air. Maybe some traditional paper fans would also be useful.

Hygiene – make sure you have a sufficiency of toilet paper, hygiene products, toothpaste etc to last three days – which perhaps really means don’t leave replenishing your normal stocks until the last minute. A bucket would be useful for collecting waste water from any washing of hands or plates, or for rainwater which can be used to flush toilets if the is an outage/ shortage of water. Another addition for your stores, would be hand wipes and sanitiser – again do check their dates and use and replace them as necessary. 

Entertainment – maintaining mental as well as physical health is important. Being stressed is wearing and doesn’t always help us to make good decisions. If we are housebound for three days we may also get bored. Books, playing cards, jigsaws are all self sufficient when it comes to electricity. Telling stories, playing words games, charades etc are also good options. And maybe pencils and paper for more games, doodles etc.

Grab and Go bag – what might that contain? The following suggestions come from West Berkshire Council. (See above)

Ideally they should fit into an easy to carry rucksack and be kept where they can easily be picked up.

  • essential/prescribed medication, plus asthma and respiratory aids
  • hearing aids
  • glasses/contact lenses
  • useful phone numbers – have these as a paper copy in case your phone runs out of battery 
  • mobile phone and charger
  • house and car keys
  • money and credit cards
  • first aid kit
  • basic toiletries (for example: toothbrush and toothpaste, sanitary towels)

Other essential items (this will vary according to your needs and the weather):

  • supplies for babies and small children
  • food, milk formula, drinks you use, food bowls, sterile bottles, sterilising tablets
  • change of clothing
  • nappies and wipes
  • toys, books and activities
  • food and water (canned or dried food, snacks, bottled drinking water)
  • special food needs
  • clothing and equipment
  • warm, wind and rainproof clothing
  • strong shoes for outdoors
  • waterproof torch and spare batteries (check regularly)
  • radio and spare batteries (check regularly) (perhaps you could consider getting wind-up torches and radios)

Other items to consider:

  • copies of insurance documents
  • anti-bacterial hand wipes/gel
  • blankets and sleeping bags
  • sun hats and sunscreen
  • rubbish bags
  • thermos flask

The  Red Cross also suggests a whistle and pencil and paper. Another useful item might be a high viz vest. 

If you have a pet, prepare a grab and go pack for them too, including for example

  • food and water bowl
  • Any medication 
  • Pet carrier and blanket
  • Litter for cats, poo bags for dog
  • Collar, lead etc 
  • Documentation such as vaccination records, any current prescriptions, vet’s contact details, microchip details and a photo of your pet in case you get separated.

Some of these items I would keep permanently in handy bag – and check and replace items on a regular basis – but I’m not sure I would be able to justify keeping a separate set of waterproofs, clothes, phone charger etc there too. Maybe I could store my phone charger in my ‘Have to Hand kit’ (see below). Maybe I could waterproofs, spare blankets, sleeping bags etc alongside my Grab and Go bag. 

Have to Hand kit – this sounds like it would be a subset of the Grab and Go bag, and might therefore contain some of the following.

  • essential/prescribed medication, plus asthma and respiratory aids
  • hearing aids, glasses/contact lenses 
  • useful phone numbers – I will put these into my diary which I always take when going out
  • mobile phone and charger – these I do routinely carry when going out
  • house and – for me – bike  keys
  • money and credit cards 
  • first aid kit – this I think would be more than I want to carry daily. When I am out and about in London I feel I can rely on there being first aid kits in shops, offices, stations etc.
  • basic toiletries (for example: toothbrush and toothpaste, sanitary towels) – 
  • Waterproofs if rain is forecast, and/or sunhat and sunscreen in summer
  • torch rechargeable/ spare batteries (check regularly)
  • Snack and refillable bottle of water – plus the reuse cup I carry for coffee.
  • Pen and paper

The changing seasons

29th August 2026

Note: It seems as if Autumn is coming early this year. The extreme temperatures and lack of rain have desiccated many plants and are causing the early fall of leaves. There has also be a deeply sad sparsity of swallows and swifts. I first wrote these prayers 2 years ago when that seemed less acute. These prayers may therefore also represent something of the progress of climate change itself.

And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years – Genesis 1:14

A reading from Isaiah 55: 9-11

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
    and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Change Happens

A drop of water

falls.

Drip.

Another.

Drip.

Drip, drop – more fall. 

The drip becomes a trickle;

Drip, drip, drop -.

the trickle a stream.

The stream becomes a river,

a down pour, a torrent –

surge, rush, roar.


A flood begins with just a drip. 


Snow.

Sun on snow. 

A little warmth,

a little melting.

A moment of easing,

    loosening, 

         a shifting of weight.

                 gathering momentum –

 And whoosh! 

A million tonnes of speeding snow.


An avalanche begins with just one flake.


A swallow

perched on the telephone wire,

testers slightly. 

Now or later?

One swallow, two.

Another, three. Sway.

Now or later?

Four, six; 

Eight, ten. Now?

Gather, check, sense the air.

Now? Now!

Up, and away, 

wings beat, compass set,  

off – 

fare well.


Where one or two are gathered, 

change begins.

May God bless our endeavours.

Amen.