On Thursday 15th June, St Luke’s played host to ‘Climate Chat in the Church’, as part of Richmond Council’s Big Green Week. Continuing the momentum from March’s successful EcoFair, we held an informal panel-style event in the Marwood Room with three speakers: Toby Costin from CREW Energy, Cllr Julia Neden-Watts, Environment Lead at Richmond Council and Rosa Appleby-Alis from campaign group Mums for Lungs.
Each speaker gave a 10 minute brief overview of their area of expertise. Toby focused on how to ‘green’ your home, urging the audience to just ‘do something’, even if that something was simply turning your boiler temperature down. He also talked about heat pumps and new home heating technology, as well as the impact of insulation. Cllr Neden-Watts focused on recycling, where residents’ waste goes, what we can all do to fight food waste and reuse more items. She also previewed some exciting new projects, including a planned Library of Things in Richmond. Finally, to mark Clean Air Day, Ealing resident Rosa Appleby-Alis, from campaign group Mums for Lungs, spoke movingly about her 5 year old son’s battle with asthma and the way he is impacted by air pollution. She advocated for attendees to support the ULEZ expansion, make an effort to drive less and stop woodburning in built-up areas.
After these brief overviews, panellists took questions from audience members. These focused on topics as diverse as the longevity of solar panels, whether Townmead Recycling Centre could have a reuse shop, which plastics are recyclable in Richmond and issues around food waste recycling in flats.
Attendees then headed out into the church garden to enjoy a glass of wine or sangria, some savoury snacks and homemade cake, carrying on the very interesting conversations that had been sparked by the main talk!
This photo is of a. group from Cambridge The screen prints were children’s art.
The Big One took place on the weekend beginning 21st April. For four days activists who were passionate about protecting the environment against the impact of human-driven climate change, filled the streets around Parliament Square. Some were first time activists, people for whom it was the first time that they had felt so passionate that they were willing to stand up and be counted.
On the Friday St John’s Waterloo hosted the No Faith in Fossil Fuels service – it was standing room only in the church with a couple more hundred in the garden and still people kept arriving. “Former Archbishop John Sentamu spoke passionately, naming the climate crisis “an offence against humanity”, and emphasising that we need to leave fossil fuels in the ground. The climate crisis is also a justice crisis in which those who contributed least are suffering the most! Our own new bishop of Kingston, Martin Gainsborough was also present and afterwards he spoke about the need for the bishops and the church take a lead on the climate crisis.
1400 pilgrims then marched to Parliament Square many carrying banners from the organisations they represented – Christian Aid, Cafod, Green Christian, the Iona Community, A Rocha – for many of these groups it was the first time they had joined a protest organised by XR – and this was in no small part due to the diligent effort of Christian Climate Action under the leadership of Melanie Compton.
Christian Climate Action hosted the Faith Hub – located on the pavement outside the Supreme Court – providing opportunities for worship in all shapes and traditions, and welcoming curious new comers and activists.
As well as worship, the Big One was four days of marches, workshops, training sessions, guest speakers, crafts and activities, organised picketing of government departments, music and dance. The busiest day was the Saturday with its focus on Biodiversity with about 60,000 attending including 5 from Christ Church, East Sheen. The march that day was so long it took well over an hour to get moving! It was full of people with banners, people in fancy dress, people with puppets and soft toys including penguins and leopards, trees and butterflies. Of course it was popular – what’s not to like about biodiversity? But why then is it that human activities are causing 6th mass destruction of wildlife on earth? Chris Packham spoke that day about this devastation being inflicted on the planet, and urged everyone who shared that same concern to sign up to Extinction Rebellion. I’m involved with Christian Climate Action which is a non-denominational Christian group that partners Extinction Rebellion. Click here to find out more about Christian Climate Action and to sign up for their newsletter.
The message of urgency was vocalised by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the most recent IPCC report: “Humanity is on thin ice – and that ice is melting fast. Our world needs climate action on all fronts: everything, everywhere, all at once.” This was the message of The Big One!
Judith Russenberger from Christ Church East Sheen.
Members of other Churches in the Deanery were also present, including Claudine McCreadie from St Anne’s who took the cover pic.
Southwark Diocese Eco Church Celebration Event
Over 70 churches were represented at the Eco Church Celebration event held in St John’s Church, Waterloo on Earth Day (Saturday, 22nd April). There were inspiring speakers, such as Andy Atkins, CEO of A Rocha, Deborah Colvin from St James’s Piccadilly – a Gold award church, The Rev Sharon Moughtin, Vicar of St. Mary’s Eco Church, Lambeth, whose ministry specialises in engaging children and young people in thinking about climate and the new Bishop of Kingston, Martin Gainsborough who led us in a Service of Thanksgiving for Eco Church.
There was also an opportunity to take part in workshops on each of the awards’ areas (Land, Buildings, Lifestyle, Community & global engagement), to share learning and connect. Jack Edwards, Diocesan Environmental Officer, also spoke about about central church funding and the support that is planned for distribution to the Dioceses as part of the common goal to reach Net Zero.
It provided a great opportunity for St Luke’s to get energised and networked as we embark on our work to achieve our Silver Eco Church award. A perfect way to spend Earth Day!
Congratulations to St Luke’s and St Anne’s in Kew and to St Matthias and St John the Divine in Richmond on their recent Bronze Eco Church awards. Nine churches in the deanery now hold this award and are now working towards silver.
The award is given in recognition of each Church’s efforts to care for God’s earth in the following categories: Worship & Teaching; Management of Buildings and Land; Community and Global Engagement; and Lifestyle. Each church has a team of dedicated members who have worked hard to achieve this award and will be diligently working towards their silver awards.
Over 500 people attended the first Kew Eco Fair on Saturday 11th March and engaged with the message of how message of how we can all take better care of God’s Earth. Some pictures are below and more news and pictures can be found at @KewEcofair.
St Luke’s Church, Kew to be hosting the very first Kew EcoFair on Saturday March 11th (10:30am – 2pm).
Launched as part of St Lukes’ EcoChurch initiative, the aim of the event is to inspire local residents to take action on climate change and to feel empowered to make changes in our everyday lives to help protect God’s Earth.
The event will be officially opened by broadcaster and active travel advocate Jeremy Vine, as well as the Mayor of Richmond.
There is something for everyone!
‘Good As New’ Clothes Swap – bring your old clothes and swap them for new ones!
Repair Cafe – bring your appliances, furniture, clothes and more in need of mending, and see if our repairers can help!
Active Travel Festival – get your bike health checked with our friends from London Cycle Workshop in East Sheen, shop for second-hand bike bits and check out different cargo and folding bikes with Richmond Cycling Campaign, and engage with the work of local pedestrian advocacy group Richmond Living Streets.
Eco Shopping – browse our wonderful eco-business stalls, from sustainable lifestyle shops to eco candles, from home produce to rentable party gear, as well as our ‘Regifted’ present stall, we’ve got you covered!
Entertainment – there will be free childrens’ craft activities, singing by the Kew Community Choir and 2nd Kew Brownies, music from the Motleys, and nature-themed activities for the whole family provided by Dose of Nature
Wishing Tree – enter for your chance to win one of our fantastic ‘mystery prizes’ donated by generous local businesses!
Refreshments – a delicious vegetarian lunch and tea/coffee will be available, courtesy of St Luke’s Social Committee
Follow Kew EcoFair on Twitter @KewEcofair for all the latest news – and email Charlotte Baker/Suzie O’Brien at kewecofair@gmail.com with any enquiries.
By St Luke’s, Kew, this new event aims to empower & inspire members of the local community to tackle climate change
Broadcaster & active travel advocate @theJeremyVine will be coming to open proceedings!
In our day to day life we are keenly aware of the damage we are causing to our planet by climate change. As Christians, we should be asking how issues relating to the topics of climate change and climate justice link to our faith. Churches in the deanery are responding in many different ways.
Eco Church
Eco-Church is an initiative from the charity A Rocha, which helps churches become green and sustainable. A Rocha’s vision is for churches of all denominations to care for creation as an integral part of loving their neighbours and following God faithfully. This scheme provides a framework for churches to consider what actions they can take in five areas:
worship and teaching
church buildings
church land
our community and global engagement
lifestyle.
Many churches in the deanery are working towards their Bronze award or, having already achieved Bronze, are working towards their Silver award.
The Church of England Environment programme hosted a series of useful webinars in 2021 which can be viewed here.
St Mary’s, Barnes
Visit the Care for Creation page on St Mary’s website to find out what they are doing about Climate Change
Holy Trinity, Richmond
Visit the Creation Care page on Holy Trinity’s website to find out what they are doing about Climate Change.
St Luke’s, Kew
Visit the Creation Care page on the St Luke’s website to find out what they are doing about Climate Change.
Prayer from St Anne’s, Kew
Loving Creator God, we give You thanks for the wonders of Your Creation. We ask for grace to see, as You do, the beauty and the suffering of our Planet Earth, and the grace to examine how our life choices impact on creation and on our fellow human beings throughout the world. Help us to recognise the urgency with which we need to act in relation to climate change. We pray in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Jesuit Ecological Examen
The 500-year old Ignatian Examen is a daily prayer of review – a short reflection back over the day, recalling events and taking note of your feelings. The purpose is to discern the ways in which God has been present to you, the times when the Holy Spirit was drawing you towards life. The Jesuits have now developed a special ‘ecological examen’ to help individuals and communities undergo a conversion of heart to embrace ecological justice.
The Climate Sunday initiative is calling on all local churches across the UK to hold a climate-focused service on any Sunday before COP26 (November 2021).
During their local Climate Sunday, churches are invited to do one or more of three things: Worship: Hold a climate-focused service, to explore the theological and scientific basis of creation care and action on climate, to pray, and to commit to action. Commit: Make a commitment as a local church community to taking long term action to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions. Speak up: Use your voice to tell politicians that you want a cleaner, greener, fairer future at the heart of plans to rebuild a strong economy. The culmination of the campaign will be a national Climate Sunday event on Sunday 5th September 2021, to share church commitments and pray for bold action and courageous leadership at COP26.
St Richard’s, Ham, and and Holy Trinity, Richmond have both held Climate Sunday services. St Anne’s, Kew and St Mary’s, Barnes are planning to hold services.
Creationtide
Creationtide or the Season of Creation is the period in the annual church calendar, from 1st September to 4th October, dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. Christ Church, East Sheen are observing this season in September with special Eucharistic and All-Age liturgies and an alternative cycle of readings around the theme of eco-justice.
COP26 Relay
This is an initiative from the Young Christian Climate Network, and is a walking/cycle relay from Truro to Glasgow. Click here for further details. The relay passed through London in early August and walkers from Churchs Together in Barnes joined in the relay, walking from Richmond to St Paul’s Church, Clapham via Wimbledon (see below).
Amongst them were Julie Smith (Youth Worker at St Mary, Barnes) and her daughter Imogen. You can read a report of their experiences by clicking on the images below.
COP26 Vigil and Pilgrimage – 23rd October
South Bank Churches invites people of all faiths for a time of prayer for the success of COP26, the international conference on climate change in Glasgow.
You’re encouraged to make a pilgrimage on foot, by bike, by public transport, however you wish, from your place of worship – perhaps in a group – to Southwark Cathedral, arriving between 2 – 3pm. Bring a Letter for Creation to pass on to the faith leaders involved in COP.
There will be interactive prayer stations from 2pm. At 3.20 everyone will come together for a time of prayer and reflection with singer Samantha Lindo and St Leonard’s Eco Church Community, ending with a blessing by the Bishop of Kingston.
Dr Martin Hodson and Revd Margot Hodson from the John Ray Initiative in Oxford (www.jri.org.uk) shared their expertise and learning through a day of free workshops, lectures and hands-on experiences to help us learn more about conservation and how we might play our part to reverse the negative impact of climate change on our environment and on those least able to cope. There were activities for adults and children.
What is a green ‘tau’? Tau τ is the Greek letter similar to the English T. Tau itself developed from the Phoenician letter Tāw X (from which the Hebrew letter Tav ת is also derived). In ancient times, tau was used as a symbol meaning eternal life or resurrection. In Hebrew tav means mark and this was the sign marked on the foreheads of those who lamented their sins (Ezekiel 9:4). For early Christians tau became an apt symbol of the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
Francis of Assisi used the tau as his mark when signing his letters and other writings. The tau cross, often made of wood, is worn by many Franciscans across the world. Francis is widely known as the saint who spoke with the birds, and to the hungry wolf in Gubio – he worked out a deal between the wolf and the people of Gubio such that they could live together in harmony. Francis was the author of the canticle ‘Brother Sun, Sister Moon’ – probably the first piece of literature written in Italian. Francis understood that everything in creation had been made by God and was deserving of equal love and respect and should be treated as brother or sister. In 1979 Pope John Paul II declared St Francis as the patron saint of ecologists, reflecting not only Francis’s love for all creatures, but also his intuitive understanding of the interconnectedness of the whole of creation. I therefore chose a green tau to represent my desire to live sustainably, protecting the earth.
