The theme of this newsletter is Simple Living, with a focus on how our lifestyle choices affect the rest of the created order. Or as Mahatma Gandhi said, we should "live simply so that others may simply live."

A Gen Z Reflection on Simple Living

by Elyssa Bende

I’m a generally anxious person, and I worry about a lot of things. One of those things is the health of our planet. I know that my personal changes don’t make a huge difference, but I’ve always felt inspired by Margaret Mead’s quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” So, in order to feel like I’m doing my part, I’ve decided to make a few changes - to live more simply.

Living simply can mean a lot of different things. For me, it’s about being mindful of my consumer habits - like making a grocery list and sticking to it to prevent food waste, trading out paper towels for washable rags, or using cloth bags when shopping. It means being intentional about the everyday products I use - I recently made the switch to all plastic free products in my shower! It’s also about buying things locally, even if that means they cost a little bit more, so I’m supporting small businesses instead of big corporations.

To me, living simply means not having a 10-step skincare routine or feeling the need to keep up with the latest fashion trends. Instead, I opt for a simple face wash and moisturizer twice a day and a closet filled with staple pieces that never go out of style. Sometimes it means taking the time to gather up the stuffing my dog has torn out of a toy and sewing it back in rather than buying a new one because, well, she’s just going to do it again.

Being mindful of my impact on the environment and choosing to live with less has made me realize I don’t need much to be happy. It’s helped me appreciate what I already have and extended that mindfulness into other parts of my life - like taking a break from my phone (not checking it as soon as I wake up, not bringing it on my morning walk with my dog, and deleting my social media apps for a week or two to give myself a mental break from the world). It’s allowed me to focus on being more present - like lying on my couch with my cat on my chest and my dog by my side, no TV on in the background, just being quiet and appreciating their companionship. One of my favorite things to do now is to sit at the park and take in my surroundings - paying attention to all the little things that are easy to miss, like the light shining through the leaves, the squirrels chasing each other up a tree, or even the tiny spider crawling across the picnic table in front of me.

Because of all these little changes, I’ve become a happier, more fulfilled, and less anxious person. I’ve realized that material goods don’t mean nearly as much to me as experiences and time with the people and pets I love.

Elyssa Bende, age 27, formerly attended the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Dothan and St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Andalusia. She is a graduate of Kinston High School and the University of Alabama at Birmingham and now lives and works as a canine behaviorist in Birmingham.

How can we live more simply to care for creation during Advent? Check out (and share!) these 12 suggestions for this season of preparation for the birth of Our Lord, a time where "simplicity" is rarely the driving theme!

The following ideas are excerpted from "Our Father's World": https://ourfathersworld.sg/blog/caring-for-creation-during-advent/.



1. Gift experiences, not material gifts

Try gifting experiences instead of physical presents this year. Support our local attractions by buying vouchers or entry passes for your friends and family.

2. Shop locally

If you’re more traditional when it comes to gifts, try buying locally-made gifts. Not only are you supporting local businesses, but this also reduces the heavy carbon footprint that comes with air and sea transportation.

3. Try plantable cards

Like to write letters to your friends during this season? Try getting plantable cards this time around – zero-waste, they can be planted by your friend and grown into a plant if they wish.

4. Don’t buy live gifts for others

A pet (or plant) is a long-term commitment. Unless you’re sure that they really want and can commit to providing for a pet or plant, don’t make that choice for them.

5. Reuse spare paper as wrapping paper

Rather than purchasing new wrapping paper (that is single-use), why not reuse spare paper that you have for wrapping gifts? It reduces the paper we use and will probably be the most uniquely-wrapped gift your friends will get.

6. Use LED Christmas lights

Get energy-saving LED Christmas lights instead of incandescent ones to reduce your electricity consumption, and turn them off when you leave the house or go to sleep.

7. Get sustainable Christmas decorations

Purchase decor that you can reuse annually, or consider upcycling spare materials lying around to DIY your own decor.

8. Eat less meat this season

Meat is really unsustainable, and the meat industry has not had the best track record for animal welfare. Give an animal a new lease of life by committing to consuming less meat this season and beyond!

9. Cook or eat out instead of ordering in

Tis’ the season for feasts with friends and family! If you can, cook or dine out instead of ordering in to save on disposable waste.

10. Watch out for over-ordering

While we might want to over-order to make sure there is enough food to go around, the best way to prevent food wastage is to order appropriate amounts of food. If you feel unsure about ordering less than usual, remember that you can always order additional food later on if need be. Another solution to reduce food wastage is to bring out your own containers to take the leftovers home.

11. Donate to charities that do the work of caring for creation

Consider giving to charities locally and around the world that do the work of caring for creation – both people and nature.

12. Share why you care for creation

As you meet your friends and family this creation, share with them why you care for creation. Share why Jesus’s coming is important, and how He will come to restore all of creation to its full glory.

Province IV and V Monthly Gathering

Monday, November 10 at 12:00 pm CT

Teilhard: Visionary Scientist 

A Conversation on Science and Faith

This month we will engage a group conversation about the life and vocation of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a French priest who was opposed, tracked, and even exiled for his desire to reconcile his work as a paleontologist, the evidence of evolution, and his Roman Catholic faith. This session will explore his contributions as a priest, paleontologist, and visionary, addressing the challenges he faced from the Jesuit order for advocating evolutionary theory.

The faith challenges he faced are still very much with us today. We will examine his journey of personal awakening, scientific exploration, conflicts with authority, and pursuit of meaning. How do we too reconcile our love of the earth, experience of life, and the Christian story?

You can prepare for this conversation by watching a PBS documentary about Teilhard. But the gathered conversation will be such that those who did not watch the film can still fully participate. The link to the PBS documentary is here: MPT Presents | Teilhard: Visionary Scientist | PBS

You are welcome to participate in the discussion, whether or not you have seen the movie.

Facilitators are Commission member Sonja Crawford, and fellow Episcopalian, Lisa Ihns. Sonja and Lisa are both trained spiritual directors and hold a Certificate in Contemplation and Care for Creation through Sewanee’s School for Religion and the Environment. The Retreat Day offers two spacious times for contemplation on your own, with group sharing as you feel comfortable, with lunch in between.

Post-Thanksgiving Hike—Perdido River

Sponsored by Mobile Bay Group of the Sierra Club Outings

Friday, November 28 at 9:00 a.m.

The Mobile Bay group of the Sierra Club Outings is leading a 4-mile hike on a beautiful section of the Perdido River Trail. Moderate difficulty. Meet at the Oasis Center on I-65 at 9:00 a.m. and carpool to the site. Adults only. Pets allowed on leash. Numbers are limited, so you must register to attend. Details will be sent to registered participants. Email Vaughn Millner using the button below to register.

A long article on abundance from Walter Brueggemann in Christian Century magazine: "The Liturgy of Abundance, the Myth of Scarcity."

A short article reflection on Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of simple living: "Live a Simple Life So Others Can Simply Live - A Lesson from Gandhi."

From Episcopal New Service

• "East Tennessee Diocese Install Solar Panels on Headquarters"
• Episcopal Church holds climate action webinar ahead of COP30. Register for the COP30 follow-up webinar here.

“Tis a Gift to be Simple,” a sermon by the Rev. Marek P. Zabriskie, Rector of Christ Church, Greenwich, CT.

“To be simple is to fix one’s eye solely on the simple truth of God at a time when all concepts are being confused, distorted, and turned upside down.”

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)