Discover the joy of a simpler, more sustainable Christmas

Olivia Warburton’s Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Sustainability and creation care for busy people (The Bible Reading Fellowship) walks readers through every part of the festive season, from decorations and gift-giving to travel and family traditions, while reminding us that caring for the planet is an act of faith as much as it is an act of stewardship.

This is a rare combination of ecological wisdom and theological depth. The bookdoesn’t just tell readers how to reduce waste; it calls them to reconnect with the heart of the Christmas story, one that celebrates humility, simplicity and generosity.

In a chapter on decluttering, Warburton draws a striking parallel between material clutter and spiritual attachment. She quotes Matthew 6:19–21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven […] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Clearing physical space can also clear spiritual space. The author’s reflections transform ordinary acts like tidying or recycling into moments of worship, opportunities to loosen our grip on possessions and refocus our hearts on God.

Although resolute, Warburton’s approach is refreshingly gentle. Rather than guilt-tripping readers for their choices, she writes with compassion, encouraging small but meaningful changes: renting a Christmas tree instead of buying one, making homemade decorations, choosing recycled wrapping paper, and even reconsidering how we travel during the holidays. Her tone is not moralising but mindful, inviting us to think deeply about what we treasure and why.

In one reflection, she reminds us not to condemn others for indulging in luxuries, stating that: “Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into top-quality wine at a wedding” and that “he commended a woman who anointed him liberally with expensive perfume, an action which others saw as wasteful and mis-directed”. She continues: “In all our careful stewardship of resources, let’s try not to judge others or become legalistic and anxious. Let’s live as lightly on this planet as we can. But where we need to invest resources to bless others, let’s do so freely and joyfully, as the Messiah did.”

Readers are invited to pause, reflect, and even write their thoughts directly onto its pages. Warburton includes questions and journaling prompts alongside a ‘Resources and Links’ section, pointing to sustainable brands, pre-loved marketplaces and organisations working to combat climate injustice. It’s a creative way of making environmental responsibility feel both achievable and communal.

Where the book shines most is in its honesty about our resistance to change. Warburton challenges readers to confront familiar excuses such as: “Any lifestyle changes I make won’t make a difference” or: “Environmentalism distracts from more important issues.” These candid admissions hold a mirror to the reader, exposing how easy it is for privilege and apathy to make us neglect our collective duty to protect the planet.

It’s not a call to perfection but to participation, to see stewardship as worship and to rediscover joy in simplicity.

Even readers who don’t consider themselves particularly “eco-conscious” will find wisdom here, from the suggestion to use reusable decorations to the call to declutter both home and heart.

Warburton’s vision of a ‘green Christmas’ is, ultimately, one of hope. It’s about returning to the essence of the incarnation, God’s choice to enter creation rather than escape it. In doing so, she gently reminds us that to care for the earth is to care for the creator’s handiwork, and to honour the one whose birth we celebrate.

Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Sustainability and creation care for busy people (The Bible Reading Fellowship) by Olivia Warburton is out now.