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God's Creation Needs your Vote

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 15:33:03 GMT

The Eco Group's General Election Guide

As Christians we must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).

Participating in the democratic process is a good work and helping people do this is a form of service. We hope that by electing good representatives, who will work to address the harms of climate change and loss of nature, will benefit the common good.

The political decisions that will be taken by the next government will be critical for the future of planet and people.

We are called to love God and our neighbour (Mark 12:31) and we are called to seek justice (Isaiah 1:17). We pray as Jesus taught us “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). If we take this seriously, we must do what we can to have a government that acts for the common good and to safeguard our common home - our faith must be accompanied by action (James 2:17).

Our involvement in political processes, including elections, are an expression of our faithfully seeking God’s kingdom on earth. By participating in the political process, we bring a vision rooted in Godly values to a world which desperately needs this wisdom as it grapples with these crises.

The following resources are available:

1. From the Green Christian and Operation Noah organisations at this link

https://greenchristian.org.uk/general-election-pack-for-churches/

2. From the Bishops of the Church of England an invitation to prayer and participation in the life of our nation and communities, both as voters and as citizens (#PrayYourPart)

https://www.churchofengland.org/about/topics/pray-your-part-general-election-2024

3. Wildlife Trusts election information including an online hustings event (recorded 18-Jun)

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/general-election-2024

How sharing what we have but do not use can help protect Creation and foster Community?

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 01:57:34 GMT

How sharing what we have but do not use can help protect Creation and foster Community?

by Akos Csernus, CCVW

I often use TED Talks as a source of inspiration as I sip my morning coffee or munch on my lunch. A few weeks ago, I listened to the story of Tessa Clarke, founder of the community sharing initiative and the Olio App. What caught my attention was how this came about and evolved into a serious campaign.

Tessa grew up on a farm where wasting food was unheard of - something which resonates with my own rural upbringing - when she later embarked on a house move, she couldn’t bring herself to bin the surplus food she couldn’t take with her. She decided to message nearby friends to offer the food for free. What started as a WhatsApp Group lead to an App in 2015 and has since evolved into a community of 6 million people globally who have shared 66 million portions of food, along with millions of other non-food items. Why is this significant?

It is significant, because approximately 65% of greenhouse gas emissions are generated as a direct result of household consumption. Food consumption is a significant portion of this, one third of which goes to waste every year globally. The environmental impact of this is huge. If food-waste was a country, it would be the 3rd largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the US. Half of this food-waste is created in households. While this is shocking it also presents us with a big opportunity. We can do something about this ourselves now.

This is where the Olio App helps to connect those who have surplus food, household items and unused tools etc, with those who are in need to feed their family or would like to borrow an item for a job around the house. This is a good example of what the sharing economy looks like, where food and other goods are not accumulated and partially wasted in the service of an individual but shared across the community as needed.

Does this sound familiar to us as followers of Christ? John the Baptist in Luke chapter 3 responds to the question – “What shall we do then?” by saying “Anyone who has two shirts should share it with the one who has none, and who has food should do the same.” The Early Church according to Acts chapter 2, practiced sharing with those in need, which was a hallmark of this new community.

According to testimonials from the Olio sharing community, an unexpected benefit for many of them was the social impact and the joy of connecting with others in their neighbourhood both in giving and receiving food and other goods as the need arose.

There is a growing realization that ‘Green’ energy, technology, materials, and recycling on their own cannot lead us to a sustainable lifestyle without a significant change in our consumption habits. Reducing waste and sharing more of what we already have is an excellent start on this journey that may connect us with our local communities; sharing more of our lives, love, and hope with each other.

If you are interested in the Olio story, you can find Tessa Clarke’s TED Talk here:

Tessa Clarke's Olio Story

If you want to give this a try and experience the joy of sharing you can check-out the Olio App here: www.olioapp.com

General Synod votes for action on Biodiversity

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 12:49:41 GMT

General Synod votes for action on Biodiversity

In an important step forward the General Synod of the Church of England unanimously passed a ‘Land and Nature’ motion which recognises the importance of the biodiversity crisis alongside climate change.

This article looks at the agreed actions from this vote and what we as a church are doing about it. At the bottom are links to further information on this historic vote from the church of England website, our mission partner Arocha and the BBC.

Some of the key elements of the motion are:

Recognise the need to respond urgently to the ecological crisis.
Dioceses to create an action plan to achieve eco Church silver for the ‘land section’.
Parishes are to:
create a simple land management plan (referencing Caring for God’s Acre)
work towards increasing levels of eco church especially for land
record the biodiversity of their green spaces, (Churches Count On Nature)
Request the Church Commissioners to report back within 3 years on progress.

Using our churchyard for nature is part of being an Eco Church and it links perfectly with the work of our mission partner ARocha UK.

At Christchurch the maintenance of the churchyard is a joint responsibility between the Eco team and Buildings team, with great assistance from a group of great volunteers.

In the last 18 months we have kept a record of the species found in the churchyard and have planted hedges and wildflowers. We have also made new homes for wildlife and are clearing invasive plant species. You may be aware we write a regular monthly article in the Virginia Water magazine called Nature in the Churchyard.

We will take part in The Churches Count on Nature in June 2024. Please come along and see the work that continues to look after our churchyard for nature.

Links

Arocha - arocha.org.uk/the-motion-passes-what-happened-at-the-church-of-englands-general-synod/

Church of England - churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/general-synod-backs-action-tackle-biodiversity-crisis

BBC - bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-68462679

Go Green for Lent

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 01:42:28 GMT

Go Green for Lent - ARocha suggestions for Lent commitment

Lent is an opportunity to sacrifice something we have, do, or eat to commemorate the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. In the weeks leading up to Easter, it gives us the opportunity to reflect on the practice of fasting and commit to giving up something that brings a real benefit to nature and the climate.

The Arocha resource Go Green (er) for Lent points us to several practical changes you could make that will help the environment. Take time to pray, reflect and consider steps that are new to you – pick one or two to do this Lent and pray for God’s to help you get started and stick with it.

Anne Martin has chosen her top two:

Switch off from digital. Explore technology-free times or areas of the house, switching to ‘airplane mode’ for the first hour in the morning and the last hour at night, ‘switch off Sundays’, reaching for your Bible over your device(s) and writing a list of outdoor things that you enjoy.

Spend more time in nature. With weekly themes, these ‘Get Outside in Lent’ outdoor resources profiled in our Eco Church resources will help you connect with God as Creator and celebrate his creation in different ways over the Lenten period.

Clive Edgar’s top two are:

Buy less or second hand. Read here how mum of 2, Nic started with small changes: using Facebook marketplace and ebay more to invest in second hand clothing and toys.

Move your money. Could you divest from fossil fuels and support a bank which invests in renewables? ‘Good with Money’ recommends some ethical choices here or for pension investments that help achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN in 2015 there’s ‘ Make my Money Matter’ .

Climate Change: Dealing with disagreement

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 13:11:37 GMT

Climate Change: Dealing with disagreement

Today we are more aware of climate change, rising global temperatures but also the resistance to the policies and actions needed to take care of the environment. This includes pushback on the science and scientists that explain climate change.

We recommend to you a webinar on Tuesday 6 February at 7.45pm when Katherine Hayhoe will be speaking on

Climate Change: Dealing with disagreement

Katharine is an atmospheric scientist whose research focuses on understanding the impacts of climate change on people and the planet. She is the Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a Horn Distinguished Professor and Endowed Professor of Public Policy and Public Law at Texas Tech University.

She is the author of the best-selling book ‘Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World’, and the World Evangelical Alliance’s Climate Ambassador.

This webinar is put on by the John Ray Initiative, an educational charity bringing together scientific and Christian understandings of the environment to enable communication leading to action. There is a charge of £5 for a ticket to offset their costs in engaging such a distinguished speaker. Use the link below to register.

JRI 25th Anniversary Celebration with Katharine Hayhoe – The John Ray Initiative

Eco News Jun 23: Count on Nature

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:26:36 GMT

Count on Nature

On Sunday 18th June we held a nature event as part of the wider Churches Count on Nature programme sponsored by the Church of England.

We had pictures of flowers and checklists to help people find species in the churchyard. The idea being that they may also see new things that hadn’t been spotted. Some were sidetracked by interesting graves, but that didn’t matter. Those that attended were positive about the churchyard and the work we were doing to attract nature and attract people to explore God’s creation.

We did meet a garden snail, a mouse-ear hawkweed and a grasshopper on the Sunday event, but we also discovered more species in preparing for the event, such as the Chinese photinia bush that is a favourite with bees. It is an Asian plant that must have accidentally been seeded from a local garden somewhere in the community.

We have been identifying and counting nature species for the last year to establish a baseline of species. In future years we hope to see a greater diversity of species as we take actions to encourage them to visit and forage in the churchyard e.g. more wildflowers, log piles, etc. Clink this link to see the full list of species.

So overall a success even though a small number of the congregation got involved this time. We look forward to doing similar events in the years ahead including extending invitations to the Virginia Water community to help us too. List of species recorded at CCVW

Thanks to all those who took part and gave us encouragement for the work we are doing.

CCVW Eco Team

Eco News Apr 23: Worship in the Woods

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 18:44:39 GMT

Worship in the Woods

This month we have been celebrating our creator God in an outdoor service with a particular focus on the wonderful gift of trees.

Worship in the Woods this month was one of the three services we hold outside during the year in spring, summer, and autumn. It gives us the opportunity to experience creation and to praise God for what he has made. We had all the elements of a church service but gathered outside. As part of the service we listened to God’s word, explored the woodland and reflected on His creation and our role in caring for it.

We listened to the gentle rustling of the trees in the breeze, the beautiful birdsong and the occasional jarring sound of aircraft overhead! But in the peaceful moments there was a real sense of connection to God and the huge diversity of the animals, insects and plants that He has created.

In addition to our worship, the May edition of the Virginia Water magazine features an article about the trees in our churchyard. You can pick up a copy in the church foyer or read it online at thevirginiawatermagazine.com May edition (page 53)

Eco News Mar 23: Earth Hour

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 12:32:27 GMT

Earth Hour 2023 - This Saturday 25th March

Earth Hour is an annual secular event to encourage people to turn off their lights for 60 minutes to raise awareness of environmental issues. With over 185 countries and millions of people taking part it shows the power of collective action for the future of the planet, and for us as Christians it is making a statement about caring for God’s creation.

This year, Earth Hour is happening on Saturday 25th March, 2023 at 8.30pm .

So how can you take part?

The most basic step is to switch off the lights in your house for an hour as this is a visible sign to your neighbours that you are taking part and you care. But you can do more in your home to switch-off your phones, your TVs, computers and domestic appliances. You could meet friends for meal by candlelight, you could go outside and marvel at the planets and stars, you could go for a walk.

The first Earth Hour event was held in March 2007. WWF-Australia inspired people in Sydney to show their support for climate action. More than 2.2 million individuals and 2,000 businesses turned their lights out for one hour. Now the initiative is organised by WWF internationally and it inspires local events and climate-saving actions. It is held on the last Saturday of March every year as this coincides with the Spring and Autumn equinoxes in each hemisphere and therefore creates the biggest visual impact.

Earth Hour aims to be an unmissable global reminder of the importance of our planet and the need to protect it.

We urge you to do something this Earth Hour and even if the act of switching off a light seems a small token gesture, then just think of those parts of the world, where an electric light at night is a luxury they cannot afford. And after the hour is over there is more you can do…. See this link below

https://www.earthhour.org/take-part/beyond-the-hour

Eco News - Feb 2023: Fairtrade Fortnight

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 12:01:23 GMT

Fairtrade Fortnight: 27 February – 12 March

Can you imagine a world in which there were few bananas on the shelves? Or where chocolate and coffee is hard to come by. Climate change is making crops like these harder and harder to grow. Combined with deeply unfair trade, communities growing these crops are being pushed to the brink.

Smallholder farmers simply can’t foot the bill for adapting to economic and climate change on their current incomes. This fortnight and beyond, Fairtrade is asking shoppers to act now and choose Fairtrade to back the farmers behind some of our favourite products to ensure they are paid fairly and can keep farming through these extremely tough times.

A fair income for farmers and workers is vital now, not only so they can keep farming, but so they can afford to invest in making changes to adapt to the worsening climate and economic crises. It’s simply not fair to expect them to do both without our support. With help and training through Fairtrade, farmers are learning how to diversify and adapt to changing environment.

The concept of commercial fairly traded goods began in the 1940s and 1950s but it was only with the Fairtrade certification process in the early 1990s that sales really took off. Fairtrade is a global movement with a strong and active presence in the UK. Every year they organise a Fairtrade fortnight, to increase awareness. This year they are highlighting the urgent threat to the future of the foods we love and the livelihoods of the people who grow them, as they face the worst effects of the climate crisis.

I have been looking for Fairtrade produce in the major supermarkets. I found Fairtrade coffee in all of them, but limited supplies of chocolate other than Maltesers and Divine. Fairtrade tea and sugar can be found if you look carefully for the Fairtrade logo. You may have to pay a little more but you would be enabling poor farmers to survive and care for the planet. Let’s be a Fairtrade community. Loads of good resources at www.fairtrade.org.uk

Eco News - Jan 2023

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:23:36 GMT

(Photo Credited: Adam Sébire / Climate Visuals)

2022 Warmest Year on Record - Our plans for 2023

We have recently left 2022 behind which according to scientists was the warmest year on record in the UK and across Europe. Climate change is a fact and a long-term trend that will accompany us through 2023 and long beyond increasingly impacting every aspect of life including water and air quality, food security, extreme weather patterns & natural disasters, community & mental health and the wider economy.

As nature loving and concerned parishioners of CCVW we believe that caring for creation and adjusting our way of life in the process is a divine mandate for all of mankind that dates back to the Garden of Eden. David the king and psalmist affirms that all of Creation proclaims the glory of God in Psalm 19. As Christians, we were admonished by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans (Romans 1:20) that everyone can learn about the nature and laws of God from gazing at Creation. Several saints and mystics of the church (e.g. St. Francis of Assisi) have affirmed through history that Creation is indeed the incarnation of God’s Love and Spirit and we are invited to commune with God in the midst of it.

We would like to re-invigorate this sacred connection with nature and believe that valuing and protecting creation cannot sustainably stem from a sense of guilt or even duty but will authentically flow once we fall in love with the Creator in his Creation once again. This is our deepest desire for us as a faith community in 2023.

We are planning events and activities this season such as:

• A Fair-trade fortnight from late February to Mid-March

• Observing Earth Hour in late March

• A Forest Church service in late April

Together with pursuing our Gold level Eco Church credentials through the year, our hope is that we can all find a way to re-establish and deepen our connection with and love for nature.

If you would like to learn more about climate issues and constructive approaches to address the unfolding crisis, BBC Radio 4 is currently broadcasting a short series of discussions that you may find helpful. It is called Rethink Climate available on BBC Sounds .

As the new year chugs along with all its busyness and challenges, we are all invited to take out a bit of time and walk with our Maker in the garden in the cool of the eve. We will not be walking alone…

Enjoy the adventure,

CCVW Eco Group