In this week’s Stewardship Reflection, I felt moved to focus on one of the upcoming Season of Creation themes,  that of turning debt into hope.

The 2025 Season of Creation Guide reminds us that we are witness to the worst global debt crisis in a generation, which is preventing the world’s most impoverished countries from meeting the basic needs of their citizens. In the poorest and most vulnerable countries, interest payments on external debt have quadrupled since 2013, to an all-time high of US$34.6 billion in 2023. This, combined with the unfair debt repayment conditions set by creditors, natural disasters, the impacts of global climate change and the effects of widespread conflict, make the repayment of debt for our brothers and sisters in these countries less and less attainable..

The Season of Creation Guide highlights the devastating impact of this cycle of debt for all citizens of the world:

“The debt crisis and the climate crisis are closely related and mutually reinforcing. The debt crisis forces countries to reduce public spending, including spending on proactive climate action, leaving poorer nations unable to prepare for the new reality of rising seas, flooding, growing deserts, and stronger storms. Countries need to borrow more money to rebuild after extreme weather events, leading to even greater debt. So instead of developing resilience to the climate crisis, poorer nations are trapped in endless cycles of debt to the richer countries that have caused the crisis. Many are turning to intensified extraction of natural resources – including fossil fuels - to service these debts. To make things worse, 70 percent of the climate finance provided by rich countries until today has been provided in the form of loans, further adding to unsustainable debt burdens.” (See page 34 of The Season of Creation Guide)

We may be wondering what we can possibly do in the face of such a huge, complex set of issues? The  Jubilee Debt campaign has been launched by Caritas International, with a global petition for governments and decision-makers to enact systemic changes and provide relief around such debt. The concept of Jubilee appears in Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 15, where God commanded that every 50th year would be a Jubilee Year, when land would be permitted to rest, slaves would be freed, and debts would be cancelled. In the Gospel of Luke (4:16-21) Jesus quotes from the book of Isaiah, proclaiming “to let the oppressed go free” and “a year of the Lord’s favour,” or a Jubilee Year. The specific calls of this Jubilee Debt campaign are:

1. Debt relief for low-income countries, without economic conditions.
2. A fairer global debt system in which the build-up of unsustainable sovereign debt in the global South is prevented in the first place.
3. Adequate climate finance accessible to vulnerable communities, and as grants not loans.

The Turning Debt into Hope campaign outlines practical ways we can support this initiative. We can individually sign the petition: Turn Debt into Hope Petition - Turn debt into hope.  We can also share the petition through a social media post, write a letters to a policy makers about debt relief. dedicate prayer and meditation time to this issue, learn and raise awareness about debt and climate change.

How do you think we, as individuals and a community, might further explore and help turn debt into hope?

Readings for next Sunday include:

ISAIAH 5:1-7; PSALM 80:1-2, 8-18; HEBREWS 11:29-12:2; LUKE 12:49-56

Here is the link to the readings for Sunday

In partnership with the Richmond School Board, we are collecting backpacks and school supplies for students in Richmond.

If you are able to donate a new backpack or new school supplies to be used by children and youth in our city this school year, please drop them off at the office on Sundays when you come to church or during office hours Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursdays from 8:30am - 1:30pm.

The last day to donate is Sunday, August 31

We will be celebrating the Season of Creation again this year in the month of September.

The theme this year is Peace in Creation, and we hope to have a number of opportunities to participate in the season over the course of the month.

If you are interested in helping to plan this season or help with the organization of one of the events, Marnie will be hosting a meeting after church on Sunday. August 17.

If you would like to know more about the Season of Creation, you can watch this short video

The newest Forward Day by Day is available outside the office for $2.00

This little book is a great way to support a daily practice of reading scripture and personal reflection.