St James’ Christmas Tree 2024
The decorations on this tree (apart from the lights) are all made from plastic packaging
(mostly crisp packets) destined for recycling* or landfill. With thanks to members of the
congregation, staff and parents of Edzell Nursery, staff and pupils at Edinburgh Montessori
Arts School, and friends for collecting crisp packets.
The only additional materials used were string for hanging, wooden beads, and a small
amount of Sellotape. Very little was thrown away, as torn pieces and off cuts were turned
into the tinsel.
Everyone now knows how dangerous plastic can be to animal life, particularly in our
oceans, and that we are producing too much of it. However, plastic has many essential
uses in modern life, especially in medicine and the food industry. It was developed for
good reasons, including as an alternative to ivory, but our over-reliance on it as a cheap
and therefore disposable product has undervalued it.
The aim of this project was to give new life to a waste product and show that even waste
plastic can have value.
At this time of year, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and God’s love for each and every one
of us. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16, NIV). ‘Indeed, the very hairs of
your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows’
(Luke 12:7 NIV). May we know that we are valued, and may we learn to truly value the
finite resources of the earth that we share.
Happy Christmas from all at St James’.
*Crisp packets cannot currently be processed through our kerbside recycling bins. They
can be taken, with other plastic film to collection points at larger supermarkets, but only a
small proportion of such material is eventually recycled. Most is burned to produce
electricity.
Pause for a moment…
Step into our peace garden and take some time out in your day. Our garden symbolises hope and healing, and is intended to be a place where you can rest, in nature’s embrace.
Our Peace Pole is one of many thousands around the world. Following the horrors of World War Two, and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a Japanese man, Masahisa Goi began erecting monuments with the words ‘May peace prevail on Earth’, as a means of bringing together people of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds.
Please feel free to sit here and enjoy this garden.