Environment e-news   


  God's Green Fingers

Local Events
1 April Pray for the Climate
9-10am St Mark's Church Harrogate Details


8 April Regenerating Zimbabwe 
Environmental Architect 
More  Mike Pearce shares his out of the box approach 12-3pm 
Bradford City Chamber Hall Event details

Leeds Minster. How is climate change affecting our global brothers and sisters? Read more.  

9.30am-1pm
Nature and prayer walk, tour of Baildon Methodist Eco Church. Read more.

13 April "That Sugar Film" 
Holmfirth Transition Town 7.30pm More

7pm School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds. Read more. 


2 May Pray for the Climate
9-10am St Mark's Church Harrogate  Details

27 May Working with your MP for climate action. A morning of training. Leeds Diocesan Office. More details

28 May Print Workshop
11am-4pm Henshaws Knaresborough
To raise funds for St Stephen's "Warm the Heart". 

4 June UN World Environment Sunday
Special service 9.30am and 11am St Peter's Harrogate.
National Events
9.30am-4.30pm Lincoln
Keynote speaker Bishop Graham Cray. Read more.

10.30am-4.15pm
Coventry. Read more. 

3-11 June Cherishing Churchyards Week  More

5 June UN World Environment Day More

Ringsfield Hall, Suffolk.
Green Christian Conference. Read more.

25 June-1 July "Creation, Christian Faith and a Precious World"  Les Courmettes estate in the hills above Cannes, France.  A Rocha & The Faraday Institute 5 day course. Read more . 

1-9 July Climate Coalition Week of Action  to engage with your politicians. Read more and watch this video .

3-7 July No Planet B
Mid Wales.  Residential with workshops, talks and field trips. Read more . 
Next Issue
11th May

Please send your news stories, events, resources, book reviews and jokes to Jemima Parker  by the 4th May!
Comedy Corner
What's the difference between weather and climate?

You can't weather a tree but you can climate!
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To subscribe to this newsletter please email  Jemima Parker
April 2017 - Issue 11
Welcome to God's Green Fingers' the environment e-newsletter for the Diocese of Leeds. It's exciting to see the diverse ways that churches across the Diocese are taking seriously the gospel imperative to bring renewal for creation. From tackling flooding in the Holme Valley to the meetings with MPs, biomass boilers and electricity switching read all about it below. Remember to make use of the ready to print article in Magazine Magic.
Local News
Bishop of Huddersfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs, spoke about our responsibility to creation at this joint event with Huddersfield University. This was funded by a Scientists in Congregations grant.  Read more . 
St Stephen's Bowling are raising funds with a 90 day " Warm the Heart" challenge. They aim to install a biomass boiler for the church to provide a warmer welcome to the many local people whom the church is a lifeline. Revd Jimmy Hinton and Sarah Hinton are undertaking a marathon tandem ride. Read more. 


Over one hundred churches are now benefiting having switched electricity and/or gas supplier with the Green Journey. Getting 100% renewable electricity cuts churches emissions and energy surveys help to identify other opportunities. Read more. 
Shipley MP Meeting Raises Policy Challenge 

Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, agreed to look into government policy on housing insulation and renewables tax at a constructive meeting with local constituents the Revd Sandra Benham the vicar of Baildon, Marilyn and Roger Banister of Menston Parish Church and Jemima Parker the Diocesan Environmental Officer.  Find out how the group were supported by Hope for the Future .  Read more . 

National News
"Extreme and Unusual" Continues into 2017

A global analysis from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) indicates that 2016 was not only the warmest year on record, but it saw atmospheric CO2 rise to a new high, while Arctic sea ice recorded a new winter low. Read more.
Carbon Cutting Cymru 
 
Local shop saved as the village church helps to install 45 solar panels on the roof. One of seven great stories of local action that has reduced carbon emissions in Wales. Read more. 
"Climate change often seems like a distant existential threat. This report shows it is already impacting upon some of our most treasure and special places around the UK", said Prof Piers Forster of Leeds University. Read more. 
China Trumps US on Climate Change
 
Where can we seek out hope for global transition to a low carbon economy? Environmental campaigner Baroness Bryony Worthington says China's positive action on climate change is much more significant than Donald Trump's threat to exit the Paris agreement. Read more.  
Magazine MagicMagazine
A ready to print magazine article for your Parish Magazine. This edition's article explores how switching your electricity supply can be an act of love. Magazine Article

Resource Center
Cherishing Churchyards Week 3rd to 11th June
Is your churchyard a resource for mission? Most churchyards are wildlife havens and a green oasis for the local community. Caring for God's Acre have stacks of resources to help you make the most of what God has given you. More
Oppportunities
Diocesan Area Environment Champions 

Could you assist your local parishes giving advice on environmental issues?  Read more.
Entries for the Church Times Environment Awards

Could your church be nominated, or nominate an environment champion? Read more . 
Operation Noah Trustees

This ecumenical Christian charity, providing leadership, focus and inspiration in response to the growing threat of catastrophic climate change, have 2 vacancies to fill for 2017. Read more . 
© Diocese of Leeds, 2017

Diocesan Environment Officer | 01423 569121 | [email protected] |
Church House
17-19 York Place
Leeds, LS1 2EX