Our Green Journey
Our Green Journey
The beginning of Our Green Journey
Our Green Journey
The beginning of Our Green Journey
The beginning of our green journey
St Mary’s signed up to be an Eco Church with A Rocha in 2020. A Rocha UK (ARUK) is a Christian charity working for the protection and restoration of the natural world and committed to equipping Christians and churches in the UK to care for the environment. Underlying all they do is their biblical faith in the living God, who made the world, loves it and entrusts it to the care of human society.
In Spring 2022, a new Life Group began at St Mary’s exploring Christianity and Climate Change. It consisted of ten members of St Mary’s who felt concerned by changes in our climate and the impact of global warming on the environment, our world and the poor. We engaged with some Climate Change resources from Tear Fund, read the Bible and prayed for guidance on the way forward.
“What does the Lord require of you?
To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8
During the eight weeks of the Life Group, we set about implementing small changes and new initiatives that enabled us to gain the A Rocha Eco Church Bronze award.
As Christians we believe that God is the Creator. He created the world so that we might enjoy it, but we are also stewards and have responsibility to look after God’s world.
The new St Mary’s Eco Action Group has now been formed and meet regularly to plan appropriate changes and strategies to address the climate crisis and engage with both the congregation and the wider community in doing this.
We have a long way to go but together we can make a difference!
Even small changes can make a big impact!!
We publish an Eco Tip every week in the church newssheet and are thinking about how to make our grounds more environmentally friendly.
Watch this space ……………………………………………
Useful links and information
The Eco Church Scheme at A Rocha UK
https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/
Why not work out your households carbon footprint?
Use this simple to use survey from Creation Care- watch the video here.
https://creationcare.org.uk/about/
Tear Fund has been supporting and campaigning for those who are marginalised or in poverty for over 50 years.
Find out about them here:
https://www.tearfund.org/campaigns
The Fairtrade Foundation
https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/resources-library/fairtrade-and-the-climate-crisis/
Information gathered by the Eco team on ethical investment can be found here: Promoting ethical investment
COP31
How can I pray for COP31?
Pray for the voices of smallholder farmers, people in poverty, and communities experiencing the most brutal impacts of climate change to be heard loud and clear, and that urgent action is taken in response.
Pray for wealthy nations to step up in delivering the vitally needed climate finance to support communities to adapt to a crisis they didn’t cause.
Pray for Australia and Türkiye as they co-host COP31, that they would lead with integrity, ambition and urgency.
Pray for faith leaders, and Christian NGOs and activists to speak the truth in love, and to act with courage on behalf of our global neighbours and God’s beautiful creation.
Smallholder farmers produce a third of the world’s food, but climate shocks and unjust food systems are cropping them out. Crops are failing, climate disasters are becoming more severe and more frequent, and the very people trying to grow food are at risk of extreme hunger themselves.
COP31, this year’s annual UN climate conference, gives us a vital opportunity to stand up for smallholder farmers, speak up for our global neighbours, and put our care for God’s creation into action.
As Christians, we are called not only to love and care for God’s creation and our global neighbours, but also to use our voice and influence to speak up against injustices like the climate crisis.
COP31, the UN’s annual climate conference, is a vital opportunity for us to stand with smallholder farmers around the world. We must use it to speak out on issues like climate finance that can make a fundamental difference to people living in poverty and improve food security for all of us.
What, when and where is COP31?
From 9 to 20 November 2026, the city of Antalya in Türkiye will host COP31.
During this year’s annual climate conference, government leaders and representatives from around the world will gather on the turquoise coast to discuss the progress we’ve made as a global community on tackling the climate crisis and what more we still need to do.
While based in Türkiye, this year’s COP will be co-hosted by both Australia and Türkiye. Attendees will include government officials, faith leaders, activists and NGOs like Tearfund.
This will be Türkiye’s first time hosting COP31, but while they will hold the official COP31 Presidency and host the event, Australia will lead the formal negotiation process under a unique cooperative arrangement.
(With thanks to Tearfund for their content)
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