TREASURING CREATION
The Fifth Mark of Mission: To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
God’s creation is a gift entrusted to our care. As Christians, caring for the earth is part of our discipleship and our calling to love God, our neighbours and the generations who come after us.
At St Andrew’s, we want to grow in the way we care for the natural world, use our resources responsibly and recognise creation care as part of our shared Christian mission.
Caring for God’s Creation
Creation care begins with recognising that the world belongs to God.
The Bible speaks of creation as something God has made and delights in, and of humanity’s responsibility to care for it wisely. Treasuring creation is therefore not separate from our faith: it is one way in which we live out our love for God and our neighbour.
Through worship, prayer and practical action, we seek to become increasingly thoughtful about the impact we have on the world around us.
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
Our Churchyard – A Place of Remembrance and Reflection
The historic churchyard surrounding St Andrew’s has been a place of burial and remembrance for generations and remains closely connected with the life and history of our church.
The churchyard is now maintained by Enfield Council and is closed to new burials, although the interment of ashes continues. It is also recognised locally as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, making this historic space significant for both people and wildlife.
At the heart of Enfield Town, it remains a place for remembrance, reflection and quiet, surrounded by the natural world.
Creation Care in Church Life
Caring for creation also means thinking carefully about the everyday choices we make as a church.
We are continuing to consider how we can reduce waste, recycle responsibly and make more sustainable choices in the way we use our church buildings and resources.
This includes thinking about areas such as:
- reducing unnecessary waste;
- recycling where possible;
- using water and energy responsibly;
- considering the resources and materials we use;
- making thoughtful purchasing choices;
- considering environmental impact as our buildings are maintained and developed.
We recognise that this is an area in which we can continue to learn and improve.
Creation in Worship, Prayer and Teaching
Creation care is also part of the worshipping life of the Church.
Through Scripture, prayer and teaching, we are reminded to give thanks for the world God has made and to reflect on our responsibility to care for it.
Throughout the Church year, occasions such as Harvest provide particular opportunities to celebrate God’s provision, reflect on our dependence upon creation and consider our responsibility towards the world around us.
Small Steps We Can All Take
Treasuring creation is something we can all take part in.
Small everyday choices can help us use the world’s resources more thoughtfully and care for the places and communities around us.
You might consider:
- reducing, reusing and recycling where possible;
- saving water and energy and avoiding unnecessary waste;
- walking, cycling or using public transport where practical;
- caring for local wildlife and green spaces;
- making thoughtful choices about what we buy and use, and remembering God’s creation in our prayers.
Looking to the Future
Creation care is an area in which we want to continue growing.
We will keep exploring practical ways in which St Andrew’s can care well for God’s creation through our church life, buildings, use of resources and wider community.
Future possibilities might include further work around biodiversity, reducing waste and energy use, environmental auditing, and finding ways to involve children, young people and our wider community in creation care, while learning from wider Church of England initiatives.
Our Environmental Policy
Our formal Environmental Policy sets out St Andrew’s commitments to environmental responsibility.
Get Involved
Could You Help Us Treasure Creation?
Creation care is something we can develop together.
If you have an interest in the environment, our churchyard, sustainability or practical ways in which St Andrew’s could care better for creation, we would be pleased to hear from you.