27th April
Thinking more about greenwashing, in my twenties I used to subscribe to magazines such a Good Housekeeping and Country Living. After some years I realised that they were selling me an unachievable and unsustainable lifestyle. I stopped subscribing and was no longer sucked into the consumerist trap they represented.
I now subscribe to the Ethical Consumer!
26th April 2026
Reflection with readings below
Today’s gospel story feels like a story about a version of green washing. Jesus is warning his followers to be aware of those who appear to be people who will look after you, care for you, have your best interests at heart, but are in reality charlatans.
How would the story sound if rather than shepherds it was about the CEOs of water companies? Or the CEO of a gas or oil company? Or maybe the owner of an industrial chicken farm – who only wants to ensure you have cheap chicken to eat and brushes over the pollution that is caused in its production? In so many aspects of life we are offered the ideal product, the exclusive deal, or the cheapest price, whilst the true cost of the product, the true cost of its impact on our environment and our lives is glossed over. Once the sale has been and the profit sequestered, then your well-being is not longer of interest.
Jesus challenges us to see beyond the immediate gratification, to do a bit of probing, a bit of research. Is what we’re offered beneficial for us, for our neighbours, four our environment? Is what we’re being offered in tune with God’s wishes, does it honour God?
It then maybe come a challenge that asks us to make difficult choices, that asks us to make a sacrifice that shows love for our neighbour, that shows our love for God. Isn’t that what the Letter of Peter is describing? Following Jesus is not always easy. We will be asked not just to talk about the right thing, but asked to do the right thing.
To walk the talk!
But we do not walk alone. Jesus is our good shepherd. Jesus will walk with us, will refresh us, and will comfort us – comfort meaning with strength- when things get tough.
Acts 2:42-47
Those who had been baptised devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
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.
1 Peter 2:19-25
It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
John 10:1-10
Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
25th April 2026
Trust in the Lord and be doing good; dwell in the land and be nourished with truth. Let your delight be in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desire. Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him, and he will bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:3-5)
You Lord are the bread of life;
feed us with your wisdom.
Our meat is to do the Father’s will.
guide us in all we do.
Whenever we eat or drink
Let it be to the glory of God.
A reading from Micah 4:3-4
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
A canticle based on Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
Year by year, the earth produces fresh food,
enough to feed 10 billion people.
He leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
River waters flow through all the earth’s continents –
volumes of fresh water but unequally apportioned.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Your word shows us where truth lies,
your wisdom guides us.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
Rather amongst business leaders and politicians,
autocrats and diktats do I tremble.
but you are with me;
your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
As you comfort and protect us, so may we
comfort and protect all who live in fear.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
May we be peace makers,
generously sharing the abundance we have.
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
May we bring health and well being
to all our brother and sisters in creation.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
May we all dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of our lives.
The Grace .
24th April
Yesterday I spotted the first new small leaves on our grape vine. A sign of hope – what looks like a dead branch is alive and in due course will produce the fruit that we and the birds and insects will enjoy this autumn.
Like walking in green spaces, so there is a growing mass of research that says that growing plants, whether that is flowers, wild plants or vegetables, is good for our wellbeing, the wellbeing of nature – and may even produce something tasty to eat.
Ours is semi wild garden with uncut lawns and wild plants growing alongside fruit trees, herbs and salad crops. The vine provides shelter for al fresco meals in the summer, fruit in the autumn, and a habitat for various small creatures.
Today’s CAAC reflection is very apt: https://cac.org/daily-meditations/hospitality-on-our-earth-home/
22nd April
Today is Earth Day. Here in the UK the issues we and the Earth face were well articulated by last year’s National Emergency Briefing. This information has now been brought together in film entitled the People’s Emergency Briefing, which is being screened by local groups and organisations across the country. To find a screening near you see https://www.nebriefing.org/screening-map
And you can watch a trailer here – https://drive.google.com/file/d/16wsd6ac_HjpnIfFbrgJSyaProf5TmDVO/view?usp=drivesdk
22nd April 2026
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1
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 8 (The Message )
God, brilliant Lord,
yours is a household name.
Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
and silence atheist babble.
I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
Why take a second look our way?
Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us stewards of sheep and cattle,
even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
whales singing in the ocean deeps.
God, brilliant Lord,
your name echoes around the world.
Today is Earth Day – a globally recognised event calling on everyone to focus on the needs of the earth.
“This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihoods… together, we must Invest In Our Planet.” https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/
And as Paul writes, ‘As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,“In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.’ 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Glory to God,
Let the earth be glad, and the sea resound:
Let all that is in it rejoice.
We praise you!
Glory to God,
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
We praise you!
The law of the Lord is perfect,
making wise the simple.
Yet we have done our own thing and despoiled the environment.
Lord have mercy.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
Yet we have hidden your ways under the cloak of greed, making life dark for our fellow beings.
Now is the time!
Teach us once more to seek your wisdom for the earth.
Now is the time!
Teach us once more how to live in harmony with creation.
Now is the time!
Teach us to be mindful in what we use and generous in what we give.
Merciful God,
forgive us and heals us,
restore our world to its former glory.
Amen.
The Grace
21st April
Tomorrow is Earth Day. Dating back to 1970, this is a globally observed day to celebrate planet Earth. It intention was both to honour the importance of the Earth and to prompt teaching about the importance of the Earth in our lives.
In 2016 it was the date chosen to sign the Paris Agreement tackling climate change.
20th April
Four years ago I paid £75 for a 150 litre box from MyGroup. The purpose was to fill the box with all such plastics as I could not recycle. Then, when full, it would be collected by MyGroup so that the contents could be remade into an equivalent of chipboard or MDF.
Today that box is full and ready for collection!
Mindful Sauntering
It is widely accepted that walking – especially in green or blue spaces – is good for our mental and physical wellbeing. It is also widely accepted that mindful activities where we slow down and allow ourselves to be more focused on the present moment are also good for our wellbeing.
And yet, we can still need a purpose or a stimulus to get us into such activities.
A few years ago I organised a series of what I called ‘mindful sauntering’. In essence this was a gentle walk early in the morning out in the beauty of Richmond Park. The walk began with the reading of a poem or a prayer to provide food for thought, after which we walked in silence. Returning, we then shared thoughts that had come to us we had walked. The whole finished with coffee and pastries in a local cafe.
I used the word ‘sauntering’ because there is the suggestion* that a saunterer was a person walking to the Holy Land – sainte terre in French. From this it seems a small step to view sauntering as a form of holy or blessed walking.
These mindful saunters were not much more than an hour in length and usually less to allow time for coffee. In a sense a mini pilgrimage.
See as an example – https://greentau.org/2026/04/20/mindful-sauntering-high-as-the-heavens/
The following material is as an aid to reflection whilst gently walking in a green space.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your loving kindness is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Psalm 57:9,10
High Flight by JOHN GILLESPIE MAGEE JR.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air ….
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.
1 John 3:1a
The Green Tau 