Changing behaviour this Lent with Earth-focused app

Posted Feb 27, 2019 in Faith,Culture,Leadership

With Ash Wednesday only a week away, Lent is drawing near. There are several Lent resources available in book stores and on the web, but few claim to be solely focused on the environment or as readily available on your smartphone as the newly launched Just Earth Lenten Bible app.

Just Earth was launched on Thursday, 14 February, at Christ Church Uniting in Wayville. It is a free app and the work of the Environmental Action Group, which is hosted at Christ Church Uniting. At the launch the new app was presented by Uniting Church in Australia President, Dr Deidre Palmer, with guest speaker Dr Ingo Weber of Doctors for the Environment Australia.

The Just Earth app offers a 40 day journey for those who care for all aspects of Creation and its beauty and wonders. For each day there is a short Biblical text followed by a reflection on the passage, a variety of quotes closely related to the passage (wisdom from many traditions and ages), a ‘to do’ suggestion that includes a practical action, and prayers appropriate to the section.

The ‘action’ suggestions include, for instance, letting your favourite charities or businesses know that you don’t want paper copies of their appeals or statements; or to take a pair of scissors with you to the shops so that you can cut of the plastic packaging and leave the shop to deal with it at the check-out.

Given that the Uniting Church in South Australia has recently resolved to intentionally phase out the use of all non-essential single-use plastics and to review the waste management policies and procedures at our events and properties, the app is timely too.

According to the Environmental Action Group, this app aims to link science, justice and care of the earth with our spirituality and rich tradition as expressed in the Scriptures and the writings of wise women and men over the centuries. “Instead of giving up something for Lent, we hope this app might encourage us all to take on some new attitudes or actions that make a positive contribution to the sustainability of planet earth, justice for all people, and environmental reparation.”

Various churches and institutions have donated funds for the construction and promotion of the app and special mention should be made of the contributors of reflections, including Dr Colin Cargill, Rev Brian Polkinghorne, Jeff Telfer, Rev Brian Philips, Rev Sarah Williamson, Prof David McKirdy, John Carrol and Rev Dr Norman Habel.

Just Earth is available free for download for Android and Apple devices.

Comments

Write comment