God's Green Fingers Environment E-news
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Hello,
There seems to be a groundswell of action across the diocese as parishes hold Climate Sundays, looking seriously at cutting their carbon emissions and bringing the fullness of live into churchyards (don’t miss the Church’s Count on Nature this June). Meanwhile the diocese is progressing its Carbon Net Zero plans with a proposal to be presented to Diocesan Synod in October.
Enjoy the plethora of good news, ideas, resources, events and much more in this issue. If you want to stay up to date with events and resources join us on Facebook here.
God bless
Jemima Parker,
Diocesan Environment Officer
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Churches across the Ripon area have been celebrating recently as they look to go green. St James’ Wetherby and Towards Carbon Neutral Churches in Craven have been the recipients of grant funding from the Rural Community Energy Fund, or RCEF.
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Wakefield and beyond are now within environmentally-friendly reach for Bishop Tony Robinson, Bishop of Wakefield, who has just taken possession of a new electric car. “It was time to change the car and I decided to jump to an electric version as a contribution to cutting my carbon footprint,” said Bishop Tony.
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Climate Relay to Cross our Diocese this Summer |
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A climate pilgrimage happening this year is looking for volunteers as it crosses large parts of our diocese. The Relay to COP26 is a relay walk from St Ives to Glasgow running from June to October, organised by the Young Christians Climate Network. The relay comes through our whole diocese, from Marsden in the Huddersfield area to Bedale in the Ripon area.
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The Diocese of Leeds is hoping to remain one of the top dioceses in the country for green data, as this year’s use of the Energy Footprinting Tool gets underway. The Energy Footprinting Tool calculates the carbon emissions from the energy used by a church using information from the energy bills.
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Church Buildings Webinar Pulls a Crowd |
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A recent diocesan webinar on How Your Church Building Can Have a Positive Impact on the Environment attracted over 50 churchwardens and buildings mangers. Run jointly by the DAC, Stewardship Team and Environment Officer the webinar covered a multiple of practical tips and introduced the new DAC Sustainability Principles.
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St John’s Sharow is one of several churches across the diocese marking the Church Count on Nature Week. The church will be holding family activities, wildlife walks, species identification, and a species count in the churchyard, which acts as a window back in time, providing a snapshot of what the meadows of England looked like in the first half of the last century.
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From an outdoor service to calculating the church carbon footprint and double glazing a church window the team at St Mary’s has been busy since they achieved their Bronze award in 2018. “Many people in the congregation contribute to the life of St Mary's and caring for the environment is always a top priority for everyone.” Says Diana Linford Parish Environment officer.
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New Resources for Climate Sundays |
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As churches across the Diocese are preparing to hold Climate Sundays ahead of the COP26 International Climate Change talks in Glasgow in November, new ready to use orders of service have been produced by the Diocesan Environment Worship Subgroup. Services of Lament are also included.
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The Church Commissioners are carrying out a review of bishops’ accommodation to judge how their carbon emissions can be cut. The Diocese of Leeds have assessed the carbon emission from our Bishops’ properties, but they are the responsibility of the Church Commissioners.
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The COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma explains how critical the COP26 UN climate summit is for building a cleaner, greener, future. This video is a 25 minute explainer on why we need to act on climate change, how the UK is a leader, what COP26 is and how we can transition to net zero.
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New Resources Advocating for Climate Justice at COP26 |
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The Make COP Count Coalition have released a series of briefing documents for faith groups outlining key demands for the international decision makers at COP 26 in November. These papers can be used to upskill your congregation, to equip you with letter writing or conversations with your MP and more. Remember every church can hold a Climate Sunday.
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The General Synod is the highest elected decision making body of the Church of England. Elections for the 2021-26 Synod will soon be taking place in our diocese. Any member of the C of E can stand. This will be a critical time as the church steers through the climate and ecological crisis.
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Christian Climate Action have been disappointed to discover disparity between the different targets to achieve net-zero carbon emissions set by the Church of England’s National Investment Bodies (including the Church Commissioners). The Commissioners argue that their ownership and engagement approach has more impact than divestment.
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St. John`s held their regular pet service on zoom this year and were delighted, to have twenty-four households, across a wide age-range, bringing their animals to show and be prayed for. They had dogs, cats, chickens and guinea pigs – and many of these were introduced personally and had their lovely coats admired!
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“Gee Seven” is a toe-tapping new song created by Sir Tim Rice and Peter Hobbs for Sing2G7 to share and sing with the world. Recorded first by Truro Cathedral Choristers, schools are being encouraged to learn the powerful and evocative song to enable children to raise their voices and be heard by world leaders at the Summit in Cornwall in June. Hear the song here.
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Part of the Climate Change – Theology, Ministry and Action mini-series. Designed for Clergy and Readers, but open to anyone in church leadership.
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St John’s, Sharrow, near Ripon. Churches wishing to increase biodiversity in their Churchyard are invited to attend.
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In 2020 We Are Tearfund and Youthscape surveyed 630 young Christians from the UK. They asked 14-19 year olds about their thoughts on the climate, the church and their faith. Find out what the research revealed and how your church can act within the current climate emergency to connect to young people who want to know how their faith in Jesus is relevant.
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A JPIT Yorkshire Online Day Conference. Key note speakers Prof Richard Bauckham, Fr Diarmuid O’Murchu and Fr Steven Shakespeare.
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12 June - Eco Church Festival with ‘Churches Count on Nature’ 2021
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A day conference hosted by Sheffield Diocese. Inspiration for an Eco Church journey with interactive workshops/panels, and celebrate churchyard wildlife with Churches Count on Nature.
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A bi-monthly Environmental Book Club where you can explore eco fiction, environmental non-fiction and their relationship with Christianity in a context which recognises the interconnected nature of God and the world in which we live. June book: Raynor Winn 2018 The Salt Path. July book: Bishop Graham Usher’s 2 The Way Under Our Feet: A Spirituality of Walking.
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Part of the Climate Change – Theology, Ministry and Action mini-series. Designed for Clergy and Readers, but open to anyone in church leadership.
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Hannah Malcolm, 2019 Theology Slam Winner, and Rev Grace Thomas will sensitively guide us though a morning of inspiration and interaction, to enable us to be better informed and improve our mental health.
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This series of webinars is designed to support and equip you to reach the Church’s ambitious "net zero carbon" emissions target and with churchyard biodiversity. Church Heating, Electric Charge points, A positive vision of a zero carbon church, Defining and measuring net zero - choose as many topics as you need to help you on this decade-long journey.
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5 June - Prayer in the Park |
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A day of prayer for the climate in local green spaces this World Environment Day, Saturday 5 June. Just a week before world leaders meet in Cornwall for the G7 summit, it’s a powerful opportunity to pray for decisions that create a better world for us all – especially the poorest communities across the world.
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From Forest Church to Bats in churches this series of 12 webinars will get you up to speed in all things churchyard biodiversity.
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Starting with Wonder, Wisdom and Worship: Opportunities and challenges for using science in preaching Revd Prof. David Wilkinson.
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Invite your MP along to hear from the network of faith organisations, the Make COP Count Coalition.
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A Theological Response to the Ecological Crisis: Reflections, Liturgy, Reviews, Comment. Weekly sermon ideas are perfect for preaching through the Lectionary.
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Every church in the country is being encouraged to hold a climate-focused service before November when the COP26 international climate change talks will take place in Glasgow. There will be a special national focus on Sunday 5th September, but your Climate Sunday can be at any time.
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Developed by a group from Leeds Diocese in collaboration with Tearfund, this new resource will guide your church or Christian organisation through simple but powerful actions that have an impact far beyond your own walls or community.
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The Creation Care scheme aims to lead households step by step to make changes to care for God’s earth. It covers seven areas of household activity from food and travel to gardening and possessions. Could your congregation participate?
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Advocating for climate justice can mean getting involved with local and national policy. This does not have to be political. This webinar from Hope for the Future covers local MPs in the Harrogate, Ripon and Skipton areas, but the principles and tips could be applied anywhere.
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Need funding for an environmental/renewables project?
Read more on the Environment Funding page of the diocesan website here including a list of possible grant funding sources.
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New! Diocese Church Buildings Fund
This fund, which offers grants of up to £5,000 per parish is to support churches with maintaining and improving their church buildings as vital centres of worship, community and mission. It has been designed to particularly to reduce the environmental impact of churches. Details.
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Thursday 9th September, 12pm-1.30pm
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Ready to Print Magazine Articles
Trees for Life
Rev Dr Jan Goodair, Joint Area Environment Champion for Leeds, takes a look at a scriptural basis for tree preservation.
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Books, Ecology and New Life
Christine Jack, Diocesan Environment and Literature Book Club Coordinator, muses on how authors like David Attenborough and Chris Packham can enlighten our faith.
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Eco Top Tips
Find a weekly top tip here for your parish newsletter:
Or watch the 10 Pledges carbon reduction video here.
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Parish Environment Reps
Are you the environmental enthusiast in your church or do you know the person who is? We are seeking a Rep in each parish to receive information and take up training opportunities.
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Area Environment Champions
Seeking enthusiastic volunteers for Bradford and Ripon Areas to support local churches in their care for creation.
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Are you preaching on the environment or creative at writing liturgy, or songs for worship?
The Diocesan Environmental Group has a Worship Subgroup who would welcome new members to help create new liturgical, hymnal and preaching resources. Contact Jemima here.
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If we don’t laugh we’ll cry: helping you through the grief of ecocide...
Sent in by one of our readers...
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