Young people care for creation at youth camp
Reproduced with permission.
Written by Robyn Hocking, 14 Jan 2021 in St Barnabas Connect, Fri. 22 January, 2021
Photo credit: Mark Chamberlain
Last weekend fourteen members of the St. Barnabas Youth Group exercised their faith and kaitiakitanga as they helped eradicate wilding pines.
The camp took place at Glenroy Lodge near Hororata last weekend, with a Caring for Creation theme. The young people rolled up their sleeves and got involved in removing wilding pines from an area near Porters Ski Field entrance.
Youth Leader Robyn Hocking said...
"The aim was to leave a part of our fragile environment better than how we found it. We also wanted to acknowledge the blessings we see in God’s Creation, plus how we can help to preserve its ongoing sustainability."
Vicar Mark came out to camp on the Friday night to speak to the young people about why, as Christians, we should care for our world.
He explained...
As Christians we believe that the world is God's good creation and so possesses intrinsic value and importance. We have also been called to be guardians or kaitiaki of creation which means we have a sacred duty to look after, develop and protect the environment.
Canon Mark opened up Genesis 1-2, Psalm 19:1-4 and Psalm 8:3-9 to the young people. He also referenced a number of songs including 'Broken' by Bob Dylan, 'If a Tree Falls' by Bruce Cockburn, 'Warmer Every Day' by Joel Mabus and 'Whose Garden Was This?' by Tom Paxton. The group also watched part of Greta Thunberg's famous address to the UN about climate change.
The group also got involved in a whole lot of other activities including cardboard sliding, spotlight, table tennis and giant jenga.