Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Sustainability and creation care for busy people

Wouldn’t it be great if we could make Christmas greener, less wasteful, less stressful, more enjoyable, and with more space to focus on what it’s really all about? Written for families to work through, Dreaming of a Green Christmas is an essential companion as you prepare for the festive season. With 111 practical eco-tips to select from, you’ll find inspiration and encouragement too, with pauses in the busyness for moments of biblical reflection that speak of God’s love for his creation – people and planet.

'I’ve just offered to host family K-B Christmas this year and am already dipping into ‘Green Christmas’ for some top tips on how to be a good steward of all that God has given us. With 111 ideas, there’s something that every Messy Church can try to encourage a more sustainable festive period.' Aike Kennett-Brown, Messy Church lead

‘This is the perfect book to help us all celebrate and enjoy Christmas in ways that also take care of the world Jesus entered into. No need to feel guilty or stressed – Olivia guides us lightly through the maze. So get reading and get on with it!’

Dr Ruth Valerio, environmentalist, theologian, social activist and author

‘Grounded in biblical wisdom and filled with practical ideas, this book serves as a catalyst for conversations about creating a slower approach to Christmas with more time for what truly matters. So when the shops start to fill with stuff we don’t need, the true cost of which we can’t see, dare to dream that there is another, greener way. Make a cuppa and start here…’

Helen Stephens, church relations manager, A Rocha UK

‘Have you ever longed to do Christmas differently but not been sure how to make the change? If so, this wonderful book is just for you. Olivia will help you to declutter your Christmas of unsustainable (and often stressful) features, to fill it with more simplicity, joy and laughter.’ The Revd Margot R. Hodson, director of theology and education, The John Ray Initiative

‘Packed full of practical suggestions, and rooted in biblical wisdom, Olivia has managed to help us think about greening our Christmases without lots of handwringing or guilt. This is a highly accessible guide, especially for busy households, which will give you the confidence to take action. As she says, we can’t do everything. But we can do THIS.’

Sarah Edwards, executive director, JustMoney Movement (justmoney.org.uk)

‘This book is brimming with inspiration and tips to help you reduce your impact on the planet at Christmas, while having fun and pausing to reflect on the “reason for the season”. Highly recommended!’

Caroline Pomeroy, director, Climate Stewards

‘This book is for life, not just for Christmas! Packed with ideas about how to give a gift to the world, and rooted in scripture, this easy-to-read book has something for everyone, from eco- warriors to those just starting a green journey. Perfect for families, individuals, Eco Churches and groups.’

Debbie, David and Jamie Hawker, authors of Changing the Climate (BRF Ministries, 2021)

‘Olivia’s book offers a rare and wonderful moment when love of God, his word and his world all come together. Her reflections are thought-provoking and her advice accessible. I would recommend to anyone wanting to worship God afresh, through practical acts of love for his good creation at Christmas.’

Hannah Mann, environment programme manager, diocese of Oxford

‘Awide-ranging, realistic and compassionate guide that includes reflective sections to feed your soul, and doesn’t assume a one-size-fits-all solution. There’s plenty here to get the eco-curious started, as well as ideas for those a bit further along in their sustainability journey. Many of the ideas can be taken forward into the rest of the year.’

Ruth Bancewicz, church engagement director, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge

‘Olivia’s book helps us to think beyond a “White Christmas” and take steps towards a green, sustainable one. Full of hints to help you build new Christmas traditions that celebrate God’s gift of life in Jesus and share it not only with family and friends but the whole planet. Don’t just dream of a “Green Christmas” – begin to live it!’

Revd Dr Dave Gregory, Baptist minister and Missioner for Science and Environment

Premier Christianity online 15.12.25. Reviewed by Estelle Uba

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 book doesn’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.

Reviewed by Estelle Uba for Premier Christianity online.