Climate Sunday

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.

Click here for more details.

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.