In 2024, the Parish of Bay Roberts Coley’s Point adopted renewing our baptismal covenant each month as one of our Set Sail strategic goals. We are asked, “Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain, and renew the life of the Earth?” This is an important promise in light of the current climate crises. I asked Kelsey Fifield, a member of our congregation, youth band, and choir, if she would speak to the congregation on April 21st, the day before Earth Day. Below is Kelsey’s message to our parish which she has given permission to share with you. – Archdeacon Christine Lynch
So recently I’m sure you’ve all heard talk of Earth Day, when this wonderful planet that we are living on gets celebrated once a year. The earth took six days to become what it is; we all know the story of creation. God created light on day 1; the sky on day 2; the earth, seas, and vegetation on day 3; the sun and moon on day 4; animals of the air and sea on day 5; and land animals and humans on day 6. As it says in Genesis 2:15 “the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work and take care of it.” And for many years we did in many ways, and earth was healthy—there was no pollution and there were bountiful resources. But then came overhunting and overfishing; then the industrial era with fossil fuels, and wars with bombs, polluting our atmosphere with greenhouse gases, and starting global warming. Now, what happened to caring for God’s creation?
Some people’s opinions are that if God is so good, then he can fix global warming and just make it disappear. But we must remember this is the same God that gave his son so freely to die for our sins. When Jesus was being taken to die on the cross, God didn’t stop it, because he had a plan, he had a plan for Jesus’ resurrection to demonstrate the power of God. God has a plan for everything, and I believe that he wants us to realize what we are doing to this beautiful world he gave us and know we can turn it around if we try.
So now you might say, “How can I help with glaciers melting, water levels rising and warming, and the earth heating up rapidly? What can I do?” I know you’ve heard everything already, cause so have I. The number of presentations I’ve had as a high school student on climate change is mind blowing. Make sure you recycle, and turn off lights, don’t leave the tap running, or don’t let your car idle, and I’m sure we’ve all been told not to litter. But how many of us really do it? Because I know for a fact that I leave the tap running until the water is just the right temperature. I like a good long shower at the end of the day, and I do forget every now and then to turn off the lights when I leave a room. I know it can be hard to keep everything in mind all the time, but even if you just pick one thing a year to try to help, or even by picking up litter on Earth Day: every bit counts.
So throughout the year, try adding some wildflowers to your garden, or plant a tree in your backyard. There are treaties that you can sign against plastics. This year a group called “Youth vs Plastics” has a treaty that is asking for a 60% reduction in plastics by the year 2040. The usage of plastic has been cut down drastically but it’s still not where it needs to be. Using things like Tupperware containers instead of plastic bags cuts down on plastic usage, and all these things work toward a healthier planet and us taking care of God’s creation. So on the 22nd of this month, tomorrow, we celebrate Earth Day, but today we are celebrating the baptism of Beau and in these baptismal vows there are many important questions that ask of faith and character but more specifically there is a question that asks: “Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect sustain and renew the life of the earth?” Then the response is: “I will with God’s help.” How true, we do everything with God’s help. God is truly our backbone.
Recently I joined a group at my school called Alpha, and at Alpha we talk about faith and watch videos based on certain topics. Recently we watched one about prayer, and it says that when you feel alone, you are not because God is there, ready and waiting to listen to your prayers and he truly does. Upon taking this vow of stewardship with God’s help, you are promising him that you will be a steward of his land, because that was God’s intention for us. As I said earlier, in Genesis 2:15 it says, “the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work and take care of it.” God wants us to take care of this earth, the beautiful place that we live, so by cutting down on emissions and plastic waste we can slow down climate change and eventually bring it to a stop. That’s what we all want: we want to answer God’s call to look after the beautiful earth where we live, not only for him but for future generations. I want my children to experience the earth in its beauty. I want them to know what polar bears are and not because they are extinct. Some people may think we are too far gone, but I think that is the farthest from the truth. If we all dedicate ourselves, with God’s help, to the way he wants us to treat the earth all will be well.
To finish off, I’d like you all to join me in a prayer that I saw recently, from the Anglican Diocese of Australia. Let us pray.
Holy God, earth and air and water are your creation, and every living thing belongs to you: have mercy on us as climate change confronts us. Give us the will and the courage to simplify the way we live, to reduce the energy we use, to share the resources you provide, and to bear the cost of change. Forgive our past mistakes and send us your Spirit, with wisdom in present controversies and vision for the future to which you call us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
