Prayer
Living God, you call us to be good stewards of this earthly home, strengthen us to care for your creation; forgive us when, through our greed and indifference we abuse its beauty and damage its potential.
Empower us, through your Spirit to so nurture and love the world, that all creation sings to your glory. Amen
Prayer from the Church of England
Knowledge
How did I come up with this week’s YLBG theme? I’ll let you try to guess.
Let’s talk about how to have a party that is still kind to the earth. Often, when I attend celebrations and events, I help with the post-party clean-up. It usually leaves me sad and quite ill. I watch the plastic plates and cutlery tossed into the trash. I watch the plastic table covers and water bottles tossed into the trash. I watch the decorations tossed into the trash. Multiple bags of garbage filled with items only used once. “But it is SO convenient.” Convenience seems to have become the number one cause of damage to the earth.
There are alternatives to all that waste, but the commitment to caring for the earth must include a willingness to accept a little inconvenience. Cloth table coverings and reusable tableware, including cups over bottled water, are very easy ways to cut party waste. There are even people who rent “Party Kits” in their local communities. These kits are filled with earth-friendly party decorations and tableware. Some even allow users to return everything unwashed, so the need for convenience is met.
Next time you say Happy Birthday, do it with a little love for our good God’s creation.
Action
Here are 22 ways to celebrate without the waste.
Gift wrapping is also a problem. Look for sustainable gift-wrapping supplies. I like the ones at Wrappily. They are recyclable and compostable. Simply use white craft paper and decorate it.
It's not just birthdays! There are sustainable ways to celebrate holidays all year long. I bought fabric Easter eggs from a local crafter. They are adorable and infinitely reusable, unlike plastic Easter eggs.