30th October 2026

Slovenia’s Triglav glacier lost 93% of its surface area between 1983 and 2003, shrinking to cover less than a hectare of rock.  The last five years, have seen Europe’s three hottest years on record.  The remaining ice has consequently melted to a handful of isolated pockets, with the final remnant of the main body measuring just a few metres by the end of summer.  The once mighty glacier is no more.  Swiss glaciologists found that nearly a fifth of the country’s ice had disappeared in the last five years, with a 5.5% drop in volume in 2026.  In the USA, high tides have caused along the California coast this week, have caused seawater to surged into low-lying communities from San Diego to the San Francisco Bay Area. Streets, homes, and businesses have all been flooded, and transportation routes disrupted.  In Marin county, north of San Francisco, several people were rescued from floating cars on Monday and Tuesday this week.  Cyclists found themselves waist-deep in water. Further south, in cities such as Newport Beach, water seeped through emergency flood defences set up to keep out the rising sea.  Water poured through berms, seawalls and sandbag blockades along the shoreline. Los Angeles has already experienced 12 days of coastal flooding this year, exceeding every  year in the past 50. 

Loving God, you are the creator of all that is and remain present in the universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of the universe, Forgive us that we are destroying all that you have made.   Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may treasure the earth and cherish all living creatures. Help us to grasp the emormity of melting glaciers and rising sealevels. May we protect the world and not prey on it.  May we sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.  May we not simply take mitigating actions but work colaboratively and co-opertively to address the climate crisis. In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

In Western Australia the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board's (MCB) Surgical Metals Recycling Program respectfully recycles surgical metals recovered following cremations. The materials are processed by OrthoMetals, a Netherlands-based company with extensive experience in the collection and recycling of special metals from crematoria around the world. The money raised from this recycling scheme has  provided more than $4.35 million in charitable donations since the service began in 2013 and has delivered lasting benefits to the Western Australian community. The latest shipment of recyclable surgical metals has resulted in $867,000 being donated to: Cancer Council WA, Lifeline WA; and Ronald McDonald House Charities WA. The initiative demonstrates how environmentally responsible practices can deliver meaningful social outcomes, transforming recovered materials into practical support for community-based organisations. 

A prayer based on Psalm 103

Praise the Lord, my soul!

With all my being, I praise your holy name!

Praise the Lord, my soul,

 and do not let me forget how kind you are.

You forgive all my sins

 and you heal all my diseases.

You bless me with love and mercy

and fill my life with good things.

Lord God, you are merciful and loving,

slow to become angry and full of constant love.

You do not keep on rebuking.

You are not angry forever.

As high as the sky is above the earth,

so great is your love for us.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far do you remove our sins from us.

Lord God your throne is in heaven;

You are king over all.

Praise the Lord, you strong and mighty angels,

Praise the Lord, all you heavenly powers,

you servants of his, who do his will!

Praise the Lord, all his creatures

in all the places he rules.

Praise the Lord, my soul!

Amen