The Bright Uniting Church is observing Lent with suggested daily actions and prayers to reduce carbon emissions, help protect the environment and help protect people affected right now from climate change. Not everyone will be able to do every action, and that’s ok (some you already do!) – do what you can; every bit will make a difference.
Whether you are of the Christian Faith or not, join the Carbon Fast this Lent to act justly in the face of climate change: fast from carbon, pray and cry out for climate justice globally.
Here is the calendar to remind yourself of the everyday actions that you can do:
- Day 1 – Wednesday 2nd March: (Ash Wednesday) Remove one light bulb and live without it for the next 40 days.
- Day 2 – Thursday 3rd March: Reflect on your lifestyle and its impact on the planet. Ask God to help you during Lent to focus on what God wants you to do to restore/improve your relationship with the world and your neighbours.
- Day 3 – Friday 4th March: (World day of Prayer) Grace Maglasey and her husband Andrew struggle to grow enough food because their village in Malawi is caught in a cycle of floods and drought. Join in with Grace’s prayer today – “We pray that those of us who farm should harvest a lot of food so that his year we will not have hunger. In the name of Jesus, Amen”.
- Day 4 – Saturday 5th March: Are you recycling everything possible? Really – everything? Look in to it today.
- Day 5 – Sunday 6th March: Find the most environmentally friendly way to get to church (walk, bike, car share).
- Day 6 – Monday 7th March: Meat free Monday. Eat less meat to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Day 7 – Tuesday 8th March: Say goodbye to standby. Check that all electrical equipment is switched off when not in use. The TV alone could save a hefty 20 kg of carbon dioxide per year. Have you the most efficient appliances? There are $1,000 Victorian Grants to upgrade your air conditioner.
- Day 8 – Wednesday 9th March: Make do and mend. Do you have clothes you could wear longer if you gave them a little TLC. Spend some time doing old-fashioned mending.
- Day 9 – Thursday 10th March: Sustainable furnishings. When you next need to buy furniture, choose recycled, second- hand or sustainable furniture items to reduce the energy used when products are manufactured and transported.
- Day 10 – Friday 11th March: Switch off lights as you leave the room.
- Day 11 – Saturday 12th March: Keep your shower to 4 minutes and limit baths; you’ll heat and use less water. Have you considered a heat exchange water tank? They use 75% less electricity. Do your research before purchasing.
- Day 12 – Sunday 13th March: Observe the Sabbath by unplugging your electronics and yourself. Relish simple pleasures!
- Day 13 – Monday 14th March: Meat free Monday. Be a part- time vegetarian. Plan to eat at least two vegetarian meals this week.
- Day 14 – Tuesday 15th March: Contact your electricity supplier and ask them if they have a green plan. Make the switch. Do you have solar? With Victorian Grants, etc it pays for itself very quickly.
- Day 15 – Wednesday 16th March: Only fill your kettle/jug with as much water as you need. Lime scale reduces efficiency. Fill the kettle with 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water, boil, soak overnight. Rinse, fill with fresh water, boil, discard the water. Anyone for tea?
- Day 16 – Thursday 17th March: Cut the air miles. Cut down on food you know has been imported by plane (apart from Fair-trade products).
- Day 17 – Friday 18th March: Compost. Put the nutrients from food waste back into the soil – not into a methane-emitting landfill. Composting worms are a big help – add some.
- Day 18 – Saturday 19th March: Buy local. Wander down to the Bright Market and support local growers.
- Day 19 – Sunday 20th March: Think about how we are using up our resources at an unsustainable rate. Reflect on, and pray about, the inequitable distribution of resources in our world.
- Day 20 – Monday 21st March: Meat free Monday Plan your veggie garden for spring. Share seeds/seedlings with friends and neighbours.
- Day 21 – Tuesday 22nd March: When heating water on the stove top, use a saucepan with the lid on and use only as much water as you need.
- Day 22 – Wednesday 23rd March: Find one way to save paper today: re-use an old envelope, print double-sided or ad some newspaper to your compost heap.
- Day 23 – Thursday 24th March: Only run your washing machine when you have a full load. Hang your washing in the sun to dry and next time you need new pegs – consider stainless steel.
- Day 24 – Friday 25th March: Find a new fact about the impact of climate change today. Amaze your friends.
- Day 25 – Saturday 26th March: Earth Hour Celebrate Earth Hour today! Join people around the globe by turning your lights off between 8.30 & 9.30pm.
- Day 26 – Sunday 27th March: How about another unplugged Sabbath? Take a walk and enjoy God’s creation.
- Day 27 – Monday 28th March: Meat free Monday Make and share your favorite vegetarian recipe.
- Day 28 – Tuesday 29th March: Check your house for ventilation. Learn about when to close up the house to keep the heat in and when to open windows to allow for ventilation and lessen the need for air conditioning.
- Day 29 – Wednesday 30th March: Check the tyre pressure on your own car or encourage someone else to check the tyre pressure on theirs. Low tyre pressure means higher fuel consumption.
- Day 30 – Thursday 31st March: Prepare for winter by checking you have insulation in your ceiling, your heater is working efficiently and there are no draughts coming from around windows and doors.
- Day 31 – Friday 1st April: Avoid fruit and vegetables in thin plastic – take your own small bags (some for sale at the church!).
- Day 32 – Saturday 2nd April: Look at your food use for the week and evaluate where you can cut down on waste.
- Day 33 – Sunday 3rd April: “Love does no harm to its neighbour” Romans 13:10 But while our lifestyles consume more and more energy, our poorer neighbours are suffering. Reflect on ways to love our neighbours in our increasingly connected world.
- Day 34 – Monday 4th April: Meat free Monday If you are struggling with cutting back on meat then consider this: The livestock industry currently contributes around 18 % of global emissions. Pork and chicken have lower carbon footprints than lamb or beef. kangaroo and fish are even lower (check if fish are from sustainable sources).
- Day 35 – Tuesday 5th April: Close your curtains of blinds to keep your home warm or cool as required.
- Day 36 – Wednesday 6th April: Buy some native plants/succulents and grow them to give as presents.
- Day 37 – Thursday 7th April: Put a “no junk mail” sign on your letterbox to save paper and the energy required to print it.
- Day 38 – Friday 8th April: Is it recyclable or biodegradable? Check the packaging before buying.
- Day 39 – Saturday 9th April: Close your curtains of blinds to keep your home warm or cool as required.
- Day 40 – Sunday 10th April: Could our church be greener? Let’s talk about it!