When I look at the sky, which you have made,
    at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places—
what are human beings, that you think of them;
    mere mortals, that you care for them?

Yet you made them inferior only to yourself;
    you crowned them with glory and honour.
You appointed them rulers over everything you made;
    you placed them over all creation:
sheep and cattle, and the wild animals too;
the birds and the fish
    and the creatures in the seas.

Psalm 8: 3-8 (The Good News Bible)

Surely I can’t be the only one who was glued to ‘Springwatch’ recently?! The knowledge I gained – back in the mists of time – as a junior member of the RSPB has all but disappeared. However, in 2014 we visited the Rutland Osprey Project and had the privilege of watching through binoculars as one of these fabulous birds returned to her British nest after a flight of thousands of miles. That year she laid four eggs which all hatched and all four chicks fledged. Since then, from about the middle of March onwards I keep an eye on the live stream* to see how that little family are getting on. This year it’s 4/4 again!

According to this version of the Bible, the Psalmist writes that God has made us ‘rulers’ over creation. It’s a strange choice of words and, throughout most of human history, has been interpreted as meaning that we can do anything we like. The natural world is there is be used and to serve us. Yet, we’ve recently begun to see the dangers of this sort of thinking. We cannot have power without responsibility, and it is not enough to say ‘It’s ours to do with as we see fit’. One hundred years ago the prevalence of egg collectors led to ospreys being declared extinct in the UK. In 1967 two breeding pairs were known to have returned to the north of Scotland, but it took careful and respectful intervention to grow the number to the 300 pairs known to be around today. That and the passing of a law banning egg collecting.

Our actions and behaviours have implications beyond ourselves, not just now but in the future. This is why the Methodist Church is so committed to reducing its carbon footprint, why the coffee in the kitchen now comes in large tubs rather than jars, and why we’re being even more careful about putting items in the correct bins.

Have you seen the wildflower patch by the Romilly Road entrance?! If you were at the General Church Meeting you will know that plans are afoot for some activity mornings in August, focussing on the theme of ‘butterflies’ and hopefully based in the garden as much as possible.

Why not come and join in? There will be activities for everyone.

Love and blessings,

Laura