Becoming an Eco Church
Here at Christ’s Church Harwood we are beginning to work towards becoming greener and more eco minded. We are aiming to achieve a Bronze eco award from the diocese. To this end we need help from people in our parish who also feel committed to being good stewards of God’s creation.
Psalm 8 says ‘You have made them [humans] rulers over the works of your hands.’ These words mean we have the responsibility to care for and look after the world that God created. A world where people and animals and all the works of God’s hands are cared for by us. By humans. This is quite a responsibility and one which needs help from many people.
We need to consider each of the following;
Worship
Buildings
Land
Community
Lifestyle
We won’t be able to make huge changes or touch on all areas at once but we can make a start.
Worship
We hope to hold a service to pray for creation and to encourage each other.
Buildings
We are looking into greener heating and lighting and using eco friendly cleaning products.
Perhaps we can twin our toilets and so sponsor areas of the world where sanitation is poor.
We can put up water tubs to collect water from the downspouts.
Land
Our gardeners already do a lot to protect and preserve our churchyard. I know that we are grateful for all their hard work. Indeed, much of what they do already will feed into this eco ambition.
Can we think of other ways to encourage wild life into our grounds.?
We might build a hedgehog run. We might have more bug and bird boxes.
Community
Does anyone know of a local group we might work alongside?
Can we share lifts to church or cycle?
Toilet twinning would also be part of this area.
We already use Fairtrade products in the café and have used them for some years in church. Can we do more?
Lifestyle
How might changes in our own homes and daily life make a difference to the world we live in? Do we recycle and re-use?
These are just a few ideas. I am certain that you can all think of lots more and I hope that many of you will want to be part of this initiative. This is a project which needs lots of ideas and support. I know that many of you already do lots of green activities which we can build on and share so that we here at Christ’s Church can really move forward to gain the Bronze award.
It would be especially great if young people could get involved. I know that they have lots of ideas and we would like them to be part of this.
If you want to get involved or just find out more or indeed bring ideas, we will meet via zoom at 7pm on Wednesday 28th April. Contact me via email and Ill let you have the link.
Please let other people know who may have missed this notice.
Thanks. I look forward to seeing you.
Adrienne Morgan