Welcome to St Swithins Church

By The Rev Matt earwicker

Villages - November 2025

What is waste?

Cutting down on waste is an interesting theme because it is central to both capital-ism and environmentalism, which aren’t often comfortable bedfellows.

Capitalism from its beginnings was about not letting capital go to waste by simply having it stuck in a corner, but putting it to work to make more money. And from there it’s not a long step to the idea of efficiency; of getting the greatest amount of product from the least amount of resources, thereby generating the maximum pos-sible profit.

This year’s Nobel prize for economics went to three experts in economic growth. Economic growth is basically the idea that we become better off over time; not simply having more money, but able to live more comfortably, with better health and a better standard of living. And much of that growth comes from improve-ments in efficiency.

Environmentalism has a very different viewpoint, often positioning itself as the opposite of capitalism, but it too has a goal of efficiency. More efficient cars mean less pollution or use of fuel, more efficient fridges need less electricity to run, and we are all encouraged not to waste so much food.

If two such opposite views both consider waste to be a serious problem, that sug-gests it must be key to our thriving as a species. And I am partly persuaded. I don’t like waste: I want to be as efficient with my time and money as I can be, and am constantly trying to work out which purchases provide best value for money, espe-cially over the lifetime of the purchase. We also try our best not to throw away any food, and I’ve spent far too long researching ways to make something other than gin out of the thousands of sloes we walk past every day rather than watching them rot on the bushes (if you have any ideas, do let me know for next year). I think there is much that can be improved in our world by reducing waste.

However, where both views can cause problems is when human beings are con-cerned. People are evaluated on the basis of how much they contribute to society. But how do we calculate such value? Some of the lowest-paid members of our economy are those who look after people - carers, nurses, etc. And I talked last month about the many unsung heroes, doing wonderful work that is usually un-paid.

But rather than working out a new algorithm to take such factors into account, I want to turn the question on its head. The teaching of Jesus is that everyone has immense value. That’s the starting point, not the conclusion. And that value is be-cause God made each of us and loves us. What higher value could you put on any-thing than that? I recently listened to a sermon about the thief who was crucified next to Jesus, the one to whom Jesus said “Today you will be with me in paradise.” When he arrived at the pearly gates, can you imagine the confusion: “So, why should we let you in? Can you explain to us the important truths of religion?” “Errr… no!” “Oh, ok, so you’re here because you have spent your life helping other people?” “What do YOU think? I’m a thief!” “So why should we let you in?” “Well, the man on the middle cross invited me, so here I am.” To Jesus, we all have so much value that he would have died for any one of us; he didn’t decide first if we were worth it.

Efficiency is good, not because it makes us better people, but because it creates a world that is better for people, and hopefully for the rest of creation as well. And yes, it would be better if we all could play our part. But let’s not lose sight of the goal: the flourishing of all, not just some.

Good morning all,

September then is always a month of change, and because of this it can be unsettling. We reflect on or maybe grieve for that which is drawing to a close, and can feel a mixture of anticipation about what is new or next. It is likely that we feel this even more acutely this September, living in a world which feels increasingly insecure from the perspective of fast-changing global politics and conflicts around the world that show no sign of abating. All is changing; all feels very fragile and deeply uncertain.

One of this country’s much-loved hymns is ‘Abide with Me’, famous for being sung at every FA Cup Final since 1927. The words are based on Luke 24: 29 and were written by the Reverend Henry Francis Lyte, with one of the stories about this suggesting that he wrote them in September 1847 – just after he had conducted his final church service and when very ill with tuberculosis. He died two months later.

Putting aside questions of when Lyte wrote these words, the fact remains that they capture the constancy of God’s presence and love, even as the seasons change, our lives change, our world changes; in life and in death:

Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

This then is a beautiful reminder that even though we, and indeed our world, pass through times of change and can feel unsettled as a result, God goes with us. God in Christ abides with us, his presence and love unchanging in our ever-changing world:

“Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. (Luke 24: 29)

Bishop Stephen