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Feb 2009
Creation Challenge newsletter
We are delighted to announce that Creation Challenge has grown to include another tradition within our network. As of the JPIT meeting on Wednesday 21st Jan the Baptist Union of Great Britain has joined us. We look forward to working together to share news, resources and to help us all engage with the environmental issues that are before us.
Read a comment from Rev Dr John Weaver, who is currently President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and Principal of the South Wales Baptist College about this news.
The network exists to support the work of individuals and churches throughout our denominations so please share any news, tips, experiences or questions that you have where churches' and your own engagement with the environment are concerned.
Best wishes,
Dave Coaker
Creation Challenge, Coordinator
Actions
Copenhagen Climate Talks: This year, world leaders meet in Copenhagen to agree how to tackle climate change. It’s vital an effective deal is done, for the sake of the planet and for the millions in the world’s poorest countries who are suffering from the effects of climate change right now.
Attend the Climate Change Day of Action in Coventry on March 19th.
Help Christian Aid campaign for a fair and just deal in Copenhagen by taking the pledge. Take the pledge
Operation Noah is convinced that targets for the global power sector (electricity generation) are crucial to bringing down carbon emissions. Find out more about Operation Noah’s ARK Campaign
(If you have any other suggestions for actions individuals or groups could take please let us know!)
Church Action
Tilehurst Methodist Church: On 17 January a Green Faith Day featured some excellent speakers and ran a number of workshops. Over a hundred people attended and the day has resulted in further interest and support for Eco-Congregation and other such initiatives in the area.
Maranda St John Nicolle said, "The Green Apostles team at Tilehurst Methodist Church were incredibly inspiring in their commitment to promote Christian thinking about the environment, their organisation and their creativity. People came to the day from all over the area and found it very worthwhile. We greatly enjoyed working with the church and would happily support other churches in the Berks, Bucks, Glos, Hants, Oxon or Wilts area that wanted to organise a day like this."
http://www.ccow.org.uk/blog/green_faith_day
http://ravenwilderness.blogspot.com/2009/02/green-faith-day-17-january-2009.html
http://greeningstjohns.blogspot.com/2009/02/17-jan-green-faith-day-at-tilehurst.html
We know there is so much more happening out in the churches than we are sharing with you! Feel free to recycle newsletter or press reports and email us what you’ve been up to!
Tips/Resources
Lent resources from: Tear fund and Love Life Live Lent
Reviews
The Green Bible: a priceless message that doesn't cost the earth – reviewed by Anne Martin
Have you read something you’d like to review for us?
News
Peaceful demo at Heathrow on Sat 17 Jan: Church Times Report
Events
Hope for Planet Earth Events: 23 Feb – 13 Mar, various locations - Leading experts from the John Ray Initiative, Tearfund, A Rocha and SJI will be dispelling the myths surrounding climate change and equipping you to make a difference.
7th March - Creation on a big canvas - a multi-media presentation by Peter Massey and Joseph Field. 7.30pm at St John's Methodist Church, St Owen Street, Hereford: HR1 2PR - Free admission - donations invited to cover costs. Organised by Herford Christian Ecology Group
19th March - Climate Change Day of Action in Coventry.
21st March - Celebrate Justice - Leeds Methodist Mission, Oxford Place (mass at St Anne's Cathedral , LS2 8BE ); 11am start (tea/coffee 10.30am), mass 12noon and afternoon event. Contact: leeds@cafod.org.uk or tel: 0113 275 9302
28th March - G20 Mobilisation, Put People First G20 March in London.
4th April - *'God and Global Warming - what Christians should do about climate change'* 10am-4pm Christ Church URC, Broadway, Morecambe - Main speaker: Mark Dowd (Operation Noah) - The day will also include a choice of workshops, children's activities for primary school aged children and a performance of 'Degrees of Change', directed by David Ash for Drama Factory. - Talk on climate change and peak oil from Mark Rotherham, CEL member.- CEL stall. Free, but booking required Contact Kathy Chandler 01524 425374 kathy@kasulu.org.
16th May - Eco fair Evesham Methodist Church and Avonbank Centre,10.30am till 3pm. To celebrate the reopening of the Avonbank Centre after the floods and for the church receiving its third ECO award we are hosting an ECO fair. This is an opportunity for the local community of Evesham to show how it can be more self supporting and help solve many of our most pressing environmental problems and for national concerns to display information.
Hilfield Project Programme 2009 - A Franciscan Initiative for Peace and the Environment at Hilfield Friary in Dorset
Eco-congregation Awards
Avenue St Andrews URC, Southampton
St John Southworth RC/Christ Church Methodist LEP, Nelson
Stratford Methodist Church - Second Award
Please get in touch if you have material you would like to submit for the next e-newsletter which will be distributed around the end of April 2009.
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