ONE of the "in things" at the moment, is the perceived war of the plastic carrier bags. Some businesses saying that they will only give you one if you ask for it, others saying they will charge for them. But will any of this make a real difference?

Well, I am trying to take a few of my "bags for life" with me for my main weekly shop, and keep one in my car just in case I run out of anything and need to pop into the local shop.

However, there are still times when I forget and it's not until I come out with the purchase in a plastic bag that I remember!

As I write this Pause for Thought, we are at the end of Lent and approaching Holy Week and Easter. During Lent, members of many of the churches in Kidderminster have been meeting each week and taking part in a Lent course called Living the Life.

One of the sessions was Care for the Earth where we thought about the wonder and beauty of God's world and the environmental crisis that seems to be, in many places, damaging or even destroying parts of it.

Towards the end of this particular session we were asked to think about "what small thing can I do to help to care for the earth?" Well perhaps the use, or non-use of carrier bags could be a start, the decision is ours.

Easter is the time when our Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. A time of great rejoicing for Christians all over the world. It is also celebrated at the time of the year when new life and new growth is happening all around us, a time of new beginnings.

An Easter prayer for us all - God help us receive your new life; in ourselves, in relating to others, in our communities, in our world. Amen.

REV ROSE LAWLEY Vicar, Kidderminster Team Ministry and Industrial Chaplain, Kidderminster