Give It Up for the Earth

Lent is a time of reflection, renewal, and purposeful sacrifice. Traditionally, many Christians "give up" a habit during these 40 days leading up to Easter to create space for spiritual growth and deepen their connection to God. This year, our newly formed Climate Action Team invites you to focus your Lenten fast on caring for God’s creation.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, affecting the environment, economies, and the most vulnerable among us. As people of faith, we are called to respond. Pope Francis reminds us: “Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political, and for the distribution of goods; it represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day.”

At James Bay United, we invite you to participate in our Lenten “Give It Up for the Earth” campaign through the Do One Thing (DOT) Challenge. Each week during Lent, choose one action that supports the planet—whether it’s going meatless on Tuesdays, refusing single-use plastics, buying local products, carpooling to church, or reducing home energy use.

Visually show your commitment by adding a DOT under the pledge you’ve chosen on the bulletin board provided in the hall after the service. These small, individual steps can spark larger conversations about how we, as a church, can collectively care for creation.

As Christians, we are called to uphold the dignity of every person and care for God’s creation. This includes protecting future generations’ right to a healthy and secure world. Our economy, ecology, and society are deeply interconnected, and our actions today will shape the legacy we leave behind.

While personal choices matter, the scale of the climate crisis demands collective advocacy. We must raise our voices as citizens to push for systemic changes that safeguard our planet and its people.

This Lent, let’s reflect on our role as stewards of creation and take meaningful action. Together, we can help heal the Earth.

Thank you for your commitment to Give It Up for the Earth!

By: Helen Boyd, Climate Action Team