Bishop James has shared a message for the season of Lent (begining on 26 February).
In a video message to the Diocese, he encourages us to use this time to consider our shared responsibility to the environment.
Endorsing national church materials for Lent called, '#LiveLent - Care for God's Creation', - which focus on the Creation story in Genesis chapter one - Bishop James says:
"The Creation, which is so central to Christian thought, teaches us, not just about God's hand as it were in creation, but about our responsibility for the care and the nurture of creation.
A responsibility which we share with God."
He adds that, the challenges facing the environment can seem overwhelming, but this is not a reason not to act:
"I realise that every day, I fall short. I make mistakes, I do things which I perhaps don't have to do. I consume things that I don't have to consume. So, there's a repentance here as well as a determination to act in different ways.
Let's use this period of Lent to reflect on these matters."
Watch the Bishop's message in full here or read a transcript here.
Join us on the Care for God's Creation journey
Join the many parishes and individuals around the diocese, who will be taking up the #LiveLent challenge, and following the national materials.
You can still sign up for daily reflections and actions, via the Church of England website here
Watch our weekly films
We've also made a series of films highlighting local church environmental initiatives, that link to the Care for God's Creation materials.
From a water capturing project in Lamorbey, to an outdoor forest church in Southborough - be inspired and affirmed.
Look out for them on our Diocesan Facebook and Twitter feeds, as well as on Youtube and Vimeo at the start of each week.
Find more resources
If you would like more support with starting your church on an eco journey, you can find links to more resources on our new Diocesan environment page: www.rochester.anglican.org/diocese/environment/
For more information about becoming an Eco Church, visit: www.ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/