28th July 2026

As western Europe burns eastern Afghanistan drowns. In eastern Afghanistan it has rained non-stop for 10 days and nights.  Poor homes made from mud and and stone are demolished by the incessant rain which also destroys roads and washes away crops. Last week torrential rains and flash floods left at least 31 people dead and hundreds missing. It’s been a similar picture in neighbouring countries, as the monsoon rains create chaos across the region.  On the south-eastern coast of Bangladesh, Chattogram, a record 412.3mm of rainfall fell in just in 24 hours earlier in the month resulting in flash floods. Residents had to gather their most valuable items as they saw their houses collapse, their  poultry die, their paddy fields flooded, and their children’s books, school bags, toys, clothes, kitchen items – ruined.  One mother told reporters that she carried her six children through chest-deep water to her mother’s house. There they stayed in the crowded conditions for over a week until the water receded. “We have lost everything,” she said.  In south west China in the city of Chongqing, torrential rain has caused a huge landslide taking the lives of at least 11 people and left 50 missing. Separately, a flash flood at a scenic camping spot in the north-central province of Gansu left 10 people dead and injured 23 others. The most recent report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said rising temperatures raise the threat of “floods in monsoon regions in south, south-east and east Asia, and glacier melting in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region”. 

Loving God, our hearts go out to all who are struggling with the impact of torrntial and prolonged rainfall, those suffering landslides and losing everything they have. Help us all to support these people and help them to recover their livelihoods and re-establish their homws.  Grant them strength and resiliance.  We also remember before you those who mounr and grieve the loss of loved ones, friends and neighbours, homes and who communities.  We remember before you all unable to deal with the trauma, peope elderly, those with mobility challenges, people ill and in constsnt need of medical care, and young infants. Guide the leaders of the nations to understand what is happening to the natural world and to act urgently to move us all away from dependency of fossil fuels.  May they protect our carbon sinks, the great forests of the world, and champion all who seek to rewikd and conserve the natural world. Help us to treasure your creation and care for it.    In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire in the UK took over an 377-acre (152-hectare) site  of Strawberry Hill in 2024 to preserve its natural habitats.  Scientists and volunteers dug six new ponds and built dams. Grazing cattle, including Highland cows, to help keep the scrub at an "optimum level" for bird species like warblers and turtle doves. Chantelle Warriner, reserves officer, said: "Every visit seems to throw up new species and the more we can learn, the better we can plan the future management to ensure it stays rich in biodiversity." Wildlife found on the site included: 27 species of butterfly and 148 species of moth, 978 invertebrate species, 50 bird species and 30 pairs of nightingales and also a number of owls and orchids.

Almighty God we give you praise

that like a mother you gather your children to you.

Like a mother you give us life,

you nourish us and teach us to walk the journey of life.

You are tender like a mother and strong as a father.

You comfort us in our sorrows

and bind up our wounds that hurt,

in sickness you nurse us

and with pure spiritual milk you nourish us.

Above all we praise you for your love for us.

Eternal God, we praise you

for you never leave your children,

your never turn away from us

but seek us out when we are lost

and teach us new and better ways to live. 

You not only forgive us our sinfulness

but do not even remember our wrong doing.

Praise be to you.

In your love and tenderness,

you remake us,

you fill us with your Holy Spirit

to guide us, teach us, renew us and to nurture our faith. 

You enable us to grow closer to you

and all your faithful people day by day. Amen.