Page 2 - Moravian Messenger May 2019

Editorial
My Lent discipline this year was to shop without buying unnecessary plastics. This was in response to the proposal passed at our last Synod that our congregations reduce the use of single use plastics in all areas of church life. It was so hard and drove me to distraction. I failed in almost every way and trips to the supermarket became even more fraught than usual. Of course, supermarkets operate in a very competitive market and this means that single use plastics in packaging has increased dramatically over recent years as they seek to outperform their rivals. The produce is in clear plastic cartons and then covered in clear plastic wrappers. Everything in the stores is for convenience, easy to handle packs of fruit, veg, biscuits etc so they can be easily swiped through the self service tills or hand held scanners. The more people they can get to use these tills then the fewer people they need to employ on check out tills and the fewer people employed means lower costs, but that is another matter.
What I discovered on my personal journey into plastic free shopping is that it can't be on impulse - there has to be more planning beforehand; temptation has to be resisted, home made food must take precedence over ready meals; and over packaged treats avoided in preference to those sold with less packaging. In the supermarket I have bought more from the fresh fish, meat and deli counters where you can get served in plastic bags and they will serve you food in your own tubs if you remember to take them in.
But these counters are under threat as one large supermarket is planning to close them. I have also bought more from our local butcher but the great little greengrocer near us where you could buy veg in brown paper bags sadly closed three years ago through lack of support.
In addition, you can ask the shops to keep the excess packaging around other goods. I have had some success with this, but it takes a bit of brass neck and time to unwrap the produce and to then ask the shop assistants to put the packaging into the company's recycling system. The key to this is to be very polite to the staff but it is very effective as the company then has to pay to dispose of what is after all their own rubbish.
Shopping Without Plastics
Why does this matter? Because if we say we believe that 'The earth is the LORD'S and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein;' Psalm 24 then surely we have to show it by our actions.
So, what can and should we do that is practical, to begin to change the way we shop and reduce plastics in the food chain and impact on the supermarkets that produce so much of the single use plastics?
Please let us know what you are doing, what reactions you have had and good ideas you can pass on for individuals, families and Churches.
Sr Sarah Groves Editorial Team
SUMMER CAMP 2019
W hen: 3-10th August 2019 Where: Dovedale House, Ilam
For: Young people aged 10-17 with links to the Moravian Church
Cost: £340
More information and booking forms can be obtained from
your minister or Joy Raynor at: youth@moravian.org.uk
Information about the venue can be found at www.dovedalehouse.org
Booking before 31st May is recommended as we need to have a minimum number for camp to happen.
Can you help Summer Camp?
We want to share your expertise with the young people at camp so if you have a skill you would be able to share and teach, whether it is origami, hockey, dance, music or building Lego models, please get in touch with me if you are willing to come along to camp. Meals provided and we can give you a bed for the night if you need it. Email youth@moravian.org.uk or phone Joy on 01753 553549.
We are also looking for your financial support for camp. The fees only cover the basics and in order to make camp the best ever we need additional funds to pay for outing, materials and equipment. Please donate either by cheque payable to Moravian Union Inc or by BACS payment to CAF BANK Ltd, The Moravian Union, Account 00023436, Sort code 40 52 40, and labelled 'SC Donation'. It is helpful if you let Joy know you have made a donation. Examples of the expenses you could contribute to are; an activity, £18 for an hour and a half per person, a day ticket to the theme park £22, coach fees for the week £800, pack of sparklers £12.95, bag of marshmallows £1. Many thanks.
Joy Raynor
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