The session opens with a reflection from Michael Frost from Edge Kingsland, Auckland, inviting us to consider how the incarnation deepens our understanding of why caring for God’s Creation matters at Christmas. Following Michael’s kōrero, we hear from various speakers sharing stories about community initiatives from simple to large-scale events — showing how churches across Aotearoa can lead by example in sustainable celebration:

• Sarah Wilson from Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland about their nativity project;

• Mo Morgan formerly of St James, Whanganui;

• Fiona Strachan from Lower Hutt Anglicans; and

• James Beck from The River Ōpāwaho, Christchurch.

Watch the video to explore meaningful ways to honour both the Creator and Creation this Advent season — embracing small, intentional changes that make a lasting difference while celebrating the hope and joy of Christ’s coming.

Ideas for a more sustainable Christmas

Christmas tree

• Use a pot plant for a Christmas tree.

• Buy a tree from a nursery and make that your Christmas tree - then plant it after Christmas.

• Make a nativity set the focus instead of the Christmas tree.

• Make your own Christmas tree ideas - using driftwood, using fairy lights on a wall, using sticks / dowels, books, etc.

Christmas decorations

• Make your own decorations.

• Use things from nature - shells, driftwood, pine cones, stones, leaves, flowers, twigs etc.

• Use things from op shop.

• Reuse decorations.

• Make Christmas cookies as decorations.

• Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.

• Do away with Christmas crackers - or choose DIY / reusable / zero waste / eco-friendly options:

  • https://wastefreecelebrations.co.nz/collections/christmas-crackers

  • https://www.hopper.nz/christmas

• Use LED Christmas lights. Use timers or switch off Christmas lights overnight.

Christmas cards

• Make your own Christmas card.

• Use items from nature - write messages on shells and driftwood.

• Purchase cards that support a cause.

• Send e-cards.

• Write a Christmas letter / email instead.

Christmas gifts

• Give gifts of experiences and memories instead of physical gifts.

• Give gifts of time or skills.

• Give donations to a good cause as a gift.

• Give gifts of trees, plants and seedlings.

• Give gifts of food that can nourish and feed, rather than more gadgets.

• Gift subscriptions, or lessons, or membership, or tickets.

• Put in place an op shop only / second hand only gift giving policy.

• When buying gifts, consider sustainable long lasting gifts.

• Homemade gifts. Upcycled gifts.

• Make and gift Christmas cookies.

• Limit the number of gifts - e.g. by pulling a name out of a hat, or limiting to just children.

Gift wrapping

• Reuse wrapping paper.

• Use items from the op shop as gift wrappers - fabric cut-offs, scarves, bags, baskets, jars, kete, tins, even clothes that can then be worn!

• Explore the art of Furoshiki - Japanese fabric wrapping.

• Newspaper or magazine pages wrapping.

• Reusable gift bags.

• Decorate wrapping with leaves and flowers.

Christmas food and feasting

• Consciously consider the food we’re serving - how to be celebratory without being polarising. Plan your meal early!

• Read our resource page on Food.

• Lean into our church traditions of fasting and feasting. The feast of Christmas becomes more significant after tracking through a period of waiting, of fasting, of Advent.

• Incorporate storytelling, thanksgiving as part of feasting within community to make it meaningful, and different from over-consumption, over-indulgence, over-spending and excess.

• Take only what you will eat. Model this and teach this to children too!

• Consider plant-based feasts.

• Eat leftovers! Freeze leftovers!

• Compost food scraps.

• Don’t use disposable wares. Borrow if more is needed. Maybe even BYO wares.

Christmas travel

• Offset your travels.

• Carpool or take public transport to events.

• Some regions offer free public transport on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and on New Year’s Eve.

• People tend to generate more waste when they travel - plan ahead and be prepared! Pack water bottle, coffee cup, lunch containers, utensils, snacks for the road, food scraps container, recycling bags to separate recycling etc.

  • Look for community recycling bins to drop off recycling.

  • Look up transfer stations and resource recovery centres. Also look up local council websites for more locations.

  • Look up ShareWaste for nearby composting bins, worm farm or chickens.

  • Look up your nearest soft plastics recycling collection bin.

With your whānau

• Reflect on how we can be more present during this busy time of the year.

• Be gentle about changing things and traditions. Work through and make decisions together. It’s not just about doing without - we still want to celebrate the abundance and generosity of God.

• Get out into nature.

With your church

• Publish sustainable Christmas tips in the church newsletter. Crowdsource for more ideas.

• Celebrate sustainable Christmas ideas at church.

• Re-use Christmas supplies such as decorations, costumes etc.

• When getting new Christmas supplies - opt for sustainable options.

• Consider using decorations or symbolisms that work for our context e.g. an Advent koru.

• Consider a travelling nativity set - we know of a church that has a beautiful nativity set that moves from household to household in the church whānau - with a liturgy that is read as the nativity set is handed over from household to household. Use this as a chance to connect with people in your church living close to you.

• If your church give gifts to the children or the local community - consider seedlings or seeds.

• Consider organising a Blue Christmas service - a service of lament and hope. Blue Christmas is about acknowledging that for some people, there are pain, sadness, and sorrows that accompany this time of the year. Here’s a blog post about a Blue Christmas service.

With your community

• Remember the stragglers - the ones left behind - the ones without family nearby.

• Remember the introverts - don’t make this the season of dread!

• Organise something for the community - or participate / volunteer at events organised for the community. For example, volunteer at community venues that are offering free Christmas meals.

Advent social media tiles for sharing

With thanks to Lois Baldwin who created this resource for the Eco Church project.

Download all the images below as a zipped file here.