Saturday, 9 February 2019, Several community groups, with Fr. Andrew Manning (Also called Mantis by the Scouts) the Rector for the Parishes of St Mary’s, Kingsburgh and The Church of the Good Shepherd, in conjunction with the Toti Conservancy, 1st Umbogintwini Scout Group and 1st Amanzimtoti Scout Group, helped clean up the river at Hutchinson Park. The Scouts worked on the banks, with pitch forks and other weapons to remove the Hyacinth, from the river bank. There is a lot more that will still be done around Illanda Wilds, to make it a pleasant and safe place to experience our beautiful reserve.
Community service is one of the major requirements of the new Scout program. Fr. Andrew would like us to invest in the local community by doing our projects on the Amanzimtoti River, in what is commonly known as Illanda Wilds. The opportunity to do a number of different types of projects, from mini sass monitoring, to public awareness campaigns, to alien invasive clearing or development of a new walking trail, all exist.
As Stewards of the Earth and everything on it, it is our Christian duty to look after this earth, while we live here. Look out for future notices about clean-ups, alien plant eradication and much, much more. And think about how you would like to help out.
To look after the Earth, and thus God’s dominion, is the responsibility of the Christian steward. A useful quote explaining stewardship can be found in Psalm 24:1: “The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it”.
A Prayer for the Conservation of Natural Resources
Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth. You made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence, so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them and that generations yet to come, may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.