The Communion Forest - An Act of Hope

In this third week in the Season of Creation we are given Jeremiah – the weeping prophet. He is overcome with grief at what is happening in Judah, and he can see where it leading to the inevitable destruction of his home. As we read Jeremiah, we are reminded that, as UN General Secretary says, “Humanity is waging war on nature. This is senseless and suicidal. The consequences of our recklessness are already apparent in human suffering, towering economic losses and the accelerating erosion of life of Earth.” Today we are invited to weep with Jeremiah.

Jesus’ story of the shrewd manager from Luke 16: 1-13 is unsettling. Is Jesus advocating dishonesty? He finishes with “You cannot serve God and wealth” (Luke 16:13). The word “serve” can also be translated as “be a slave to”, or “to be bound to”. It invites us to ask to what we are slaves to. Are we bound to God’s desire that all life might thrive, or slaves to something else.
The story also asks us how shrewd we are in the use of our wealth and resources. For what purpose do we accumulate and spend? 

At the Lambeth Bishops Conference this year the “CommunionForest” was launched as a practical, spiritual and symbolic response to the environmental crisis, and an act of Christian hope for the well-being of humanity and all God’s creation. We are all asked to join together by celebrating occasions and services by planting trees or providing trees for others to plant and care for. And we are asked to join others in protecting and restoring forest and other habitats as we “strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”. (5th Mark of Mission). Around the communion forests will include grasslands, wetlands, or coastal habitats. All actions are part of the Communion Forest.

Jeremiah was also a prophet of hope. Archbishop Justin Welby describes the Communion Forest as a symbolic act of hope, something we can do together as God’s church for God’s world. He says that to plant is to hope, to protect is to love, and to restore is to heal – to share in God’s reconciling work in all creation.

How do we respond to this idea? 

In what ways are you already involved in planting, protecting, and restoring? 

How might we as a parish join this global act of hope.

For the sermon this week we will be listening to a reflection from one of the bishops present at the launch. You can watch it here. And then we will have a conversation around those questions