Lent Vigil for Climate Justice (22 February)

Green Christian is joining with Christian Aid, Tearfund, CAFOD, A Rocha, the Salvation Army, CCA and others in planning a prayerful and powerful climate action in Lent this year. This follows on from the London No Faith in Fossil Fuels service and pilgrimage at The Big One in April last year.

From Ash Wednesday, for ten days, a 24/7 Lent Vigil for Climate Justice will take place outside Parliament. 

The Vigil begins with a reflective Service at St John’s Waterloo at 12 noon on Wednesday 14 February. An Ashing ceremony will follow the Service outside in the church garden. From there we will make our way to Parliament where the 24/7 Lent Vigil for Climate Justice will begin at 3pm.

Join with Green Christian, St Albans on Thursday 22 February

GCSA will be at Westminster from 3pm to 8pm on 22nd Feb.  Come for the whole time, or just for an hour. Come on your own, or even better, bring others!

Let your church rep know you are coming, or email Kath at stalbans@greenchristian.org.uk We will form a WhatsApp group for the event, so include your phone number for an invite to join it.

Anna is organising some craft activities, and there will be regular times to join in prayer together. Bring something to sit on, and maybe use Christian Aid’s resources and create your own placard to hold or place in front of you as you vigil - Prayers and Placards Activity Pack:  www.caid.org.uk/C4CJpack

If you can’t come in person, pray at home!  Here’s a guide to Vigil From Home: www.caid.org.uk/vigilhome

Why a vigil?

Prayer is powerful! As we lament the brokenness of creation, we find hope for the restoration of our world.

We have faith that our prayers are heard and can bring transformation, even in the midst of injustice. That is why we gather in vigil, to pray for creation, for our global neighbours, for bold climate action from the UK Government.

Why we need climate justice

Around the world creation is crying out. Heatwaves, fires, droughts, and floods are becoming more frequent, wrecking lives, land, and livelihoods. Meanwhile, the biggest polluters who have caused this crisis make vast profits from fossil fuels. As creation groans, the poorest, who have done the least to cause the problem, are paying the price. Poverty and debt crises mean poor countries are struggling to respond. This is unjust.

Why Westminster?

We believe that the UK Government has a historic and current responsibility to take bold climate action. The extraction of wealth from many nations kicked off the industrial revolution, leading to Britain being the world’s 8th biggest historical carbon emitter.

At COP28, while we celebrated the Loss and Damage Fund becoming operational with support pledged for climate vulnerable countries, the UK’s financial commitments were well below what is possible and came from existing climate funds.

As we vigil, as we pray, we call on the UK Government to:

1. Make the UK’s biggest polluters pay for climate action.

2. Deliver and build on the UK’s international climate finance pledges and pay into the UN’s Loss & Damage Fund.

3. Ban new UK-based fossil fuel projects.

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Let Justice Flow Like a River – give, act, pray – Anna's Autumn

Since being inspired by her in February 2020, I have tried to follow Ruth Valerio’s strategy to “give, act and pray” for our environment.  This is not always as simple as it might seem, and it has led me to do some things I would not have formerly thought likely – taking part in public demonstrations being one of them.  

One of the first things I did was to start supporting all the wildlife or nature charities I could.  One of these is the Ver Valley Society which works to protect the River Ver.  My main aim was to give a regular financial contribution, but I have also had the opportunity to act practically, joining in parties to pull up Himalayan Balsam, a pretty but invasive non-native plant that takes over the riverbank crowding out native plants and doing untold damage. Fortunately, it is easily pulled up (best stress busting mornings I have ever spent!) and the Society is slowly winning the battle to control it. 

When I saw the text for the 2023 Season of Creation ‘Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!’ (Amos 5: 24), I was drawn to make a personal pilgrimage to walk the entire length of the Ver.  I am following the 5 circular walks provided by the Society https://www.riverver.co.uk/walks/, using one each week for the five weeks of the season of creation (1st September to 4th October.)  As I go, I’m praying for the river and those people who are working so hard to protect it.

When I saw another river pilgrimage advertised, this time along the River Thames in London, I naturally wanted to do it.  ‘Pilgrimage for the Planet’ on 9th September was arranged by Christian Climate Action and The Laudato Si’ Movement.  You can read a detailed account here: https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/47995.  Unable to find a walking buddy amongst likeminded local friends, it was with a sickly knot in my stomach (through fear of getting hopelessly lost on the underground) that this country mouse packed up the banner she made for a COP26 march and caught the Thameslink train to Greenwich.  It was actually a very easy journey and I am so glad I made it - it was an interesting, inspiring and spiritually strengthening outing in the company of some delightful new friends. 

The Pilgrimage consisted of walking from the Cutty Sark to the Thames Barrier.  We were guided to reflect on the resilience of the natural world as we walked, of which we saw plenty, and stopped every so often to pray about specific topics.  At the Thames Barrier, we heard that it was used to prevent flooding in the 1980’s 4 times, in the 1990’s 35 times, in the 2000’s 75 times and since 2010 200 times, all due to rising sea levels.  It was not built to be activated so frequently and will have to be replaced ahead of schedule.  Sobered by that information, we stood downstream of the barrier and reflected that here, we were united with the rest of the world by rivers, seas and oceans.  We prayed particularly for those places most vulnerable to climate change.  As I write, this knowledge is even more distressing, considering the tragic circumstances in Libya. 

This experience has made me even more determined to keep stepping out of my comfort zone and now I am going to take to social media and join my new friends in supporting Pope Francis’s plea for us all to speak out to the powers that be ahead of COP28. Pray with us for climate justice - Laudato Si' Movement (laudatosimovement.org)

I hope you have been able to enjoy a riverside, park or country prayer walk during this year’s Season of Creation.  Please share any ideas you might have for acting or giving to protect God’s world.

Anna Barrett – Member of St Albans URC

Greening your money – Kath’s journey

“The best way of saving the planet? Your savings. Your current account and pension could be having double the carbon impact of going vegan, quitting flying and choosing the bike over the car, COMBINED!”  https://www.mymothertree.com/

I am vegan.  I hardly ever fly.  I’m always jumping on my bike.  But my money?  Sitting in a pension with dubious ethical values, and a zero-interest bank account.  Something had to happen – but where to start?  It all felt so daunting.  Luckily, along came three things/people in quick succession which really helped me on my way – and a fourth now in progress.  I hope you will take inspiration too. 

No 1. Mothertree

Dan Sherrard-Smith has set up a website to help us see the impact for good or bad our money is having – and what we might do about it.  Why not follow his link to his finance carbon-counter – it’s very revealing. https://calculator.mymothertree.com/

Here’s Dan’s table comparing different banks:

For further information visit mymothertree.com/bank-league-table

Other things Dan does – he will put you in touch with green financial advisors. This has been key for me in my financial journey – see below.  He also runs occasional webinars and online Climate Challenge communities to inform and motivate people to move their money.

No 2. Money Movers 

This is a brilliant, face-to-face gathering for women sponsored by Friends of the Earth.  It’s run locally by the inspirational Sarah MacLaren, and it came along at just the right time for me.  There are three conversation sessions for women to talk money, and in particular, greening our money.  Our group all found it enjoyable and empowering – it certainly gave me the oomph I needed to make the changes I have achieved in the last 6 months.  https://www.wearemoneymovers.com/  

A new Money Movers group will get going in the Autumn in Harpenden – email moneymoverssarah@gmail.com to express your interest or find out more.

No 3. Financial Advisor

Some women in the MoneyMovers group researched their own options, but for me having someone knowledgeable whom I can trust has been invaluable in making things happen. Yes, there is a cost involved, but this cost will be recouped by the return on my investments.  I met a couple of FA’s online, both FHSA registered, and chose the one who energized me most.  We’ve worked on my savings, and on my pension.  My existing pension provider was difficult to contact and basically unable/unwilling to tell me the types of companies holding my money.  My new pension company is much more transparent, and I am happy with the investments they are making on my behalf.  In addition, the fees are lower and the returns are at least as good!

Isn’t this greenwashed capitalism?  Maybe – but it’s better than I was doing, and I’ve reduced my money carbon footprint by about 12 tonnes. 

No 4. The Global Returns Project (GRP)

I still want to have a more positive impact with some of my money.  For a while now I’ve given to wildlife charities, and occasionally helped crowdfund re-wilding projects.  But it’s time to review my regular giving – is it going where my heart is? Where is the need greatest, most urgent? What can I afford?

I was excited to be introduced to the Global Returns Project.  https://globalreturnsproject.earth/

It was great to have an online chat with Olly Tapper who explained it all to me.  Like, say, a pension company, GRP invests your money in organisations with a proven track record and scalability.  These organisations are supported and held accountable and provide an annual report – but on planet-saving figures rather than profit for shareholders.  There is a diverse portfolio, including Trillion Trees for tree planting, Whale and Dolphin Conservation for oceans, and ClientEarth for legal battles.  All the money invested goes direct to the projects – GRP gets its own funding in other ways.

I asked Olly how much people give - typically one percent of invested income, he said – about £6-£20 a month.  I was born-again into an evangelical church and have always given 10% plus of my gross income… so was initially quite shocked at this.  A readiness to invest for planetary returns rather than our perceived security makes for huge potential to make a difference in this climate and ecological emergency.  What use is it to leave a financial inheritance for our children if the world has melted away?  GRP gives us all the opportunity to be climate philanthropists, rather than it just being for the super-rich, and I’m looking forward to being a part of it. 

Postscript

I do realise I am extremely fortunate to have money to be investing – in previous years it would have been about where I had my mortgage, or my loan account.  We pay these institutions a whole lot of interest – what are they doing with it?  And we can never be complacent.  Some in the MoneyMovers group had already made the big changes, and were now looking at other places money goes, like insurance companies and shops.  In addition, while there’s great value in moving your money, this can be amplified by telling the old company why.  We found out you have to do this before you leave i.e. there are no communication channels once you have left.  Some people take things further and keep a minimum share in a company in order to have access to the AGM and voting rights.  This is potentially very powerful.  See https://shareaction.org/take-action/become-an-agm-activist  Come what may, don’t be cowed into inaction like I was, and don’t be afraid to start small. There’s always a first step on every journey.

Kath - St Luke’s Church, St Albans

Green Christian St Albans - June 2023 Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE

Save to Date (29th June)

SustFest23 (10-18 June)

- Community Showcase at the Abbey

- Repair Fair with Plants for Pollinators at Greenwood URC

30 Days Wild (1-30 June)

Activism

- Reflecting on The Big One climate protest

- Climate Justice – Kickstart local action

- Say NO to Luton Airport Expansion

St Albans Council wins Green grant

St Peters run Plenty! course

Plenty! is a new small group discussion resource developed as part of Green Christian’s Joy in Enough project. It’s a six week course designed to get churches talking about and engaging with the Big Issues of climate change and economics, and we tested it out at St Peter’s in the run-up to COP26. Here’s what we loved about it:
 
It’s unashamedly big picture. Plenty isn’t frightened to explain and explore the economic and cultural underpinnings of climate change, from the economic drive for perpetual growth to the psychology of consumerism. It can be heavyweight in places, and not afraid of controversy in others, but if you’re keen to get stuck in, it definitely delivers.
It’s packed full of excellent content drawn from charities, journalists and academics, from personal stories to new economic theories. The sheer amount can be tricky to navigate in 75 minutes, but it means you can pick the bits which will resonate best with your audience.


It’s biblical and theological too, drawing on two or three Bible passages each week. The biblical reflections are suggested as pre-reads, but we worried they might get overlooked that way, so we made them the basis of a sermon series which ran parallel with the course. It’s also constructive and hopeful, exploring emerging alternative models for economic growth, and focusing you on action rather than leaving you in a pit of despair. And it’s currently freely available (although financial contributions are welcomed) so you can check it out and see what you think.
 
So to conclude, if, like us, you have a hunch that climate change won’t be solved by recycling your newspapers and switching your energy tariff alone, and you want to be more informed and inspired, this is an excellent, if at times demanding way to properly explore the biggest challenge facing the world right now from biblical, cultural and economic perspectives. We recommend it!

St Peter’s Church, St Albans

St Paul’s journey to Silver Award

Quite a long time ago, back in the early 2000s a group of us at St Paul’s formed a Sustainability group and fretted a bit about our energy use. We changed quite a lot of the lightbulbs and we wrote articles encouraging environmental sustainability for our Church magazine. So, when the congregation made the decision to extend our Church buildings we became very involved in identifying sustainable options.

We suggested as many changes as we could in the design of the buildings; we also recommended that the construction processes use recycled materials for hard core and did not demolish existing buildings. We also included a variety of environmental initiatives, for example:

  • Where we could we used as much natural light as possible;

  • We installed solar panels on the hall and extension roofs;

  • We insulated all that we could particularly in the new build sections of the building and also in the original church building.

The building work was carried out during 2009-10. We applied to A Rocha for the Eco Church award soon after it was set up in 2016. We immediately scored highly on our church buildings but there was much more to do! The Eco Church award is a box-ticking process so we could see in which areas we needed to improve. Of the five areas covered, our score on Worship and Teaching was particularly low although we had all contributed prayers focussing on the environment. There was very little clergy input at the time so we organised a guest speaker from A Rocha and also a sermon by a local environmental enthusiast from another church.

  • We planted a wildflower garden and set up a composting system and continued to support A Rocha, Tearfund and Land for Life in Argentina (a Christian charity that fights deforestation).

  • We also published more articles on sustainable living to improve our score on Lifestyle. Eventually we achieved our Bronze award in 2017.

  • Having realised that our scores on the Eco Church award were edging towards Silver in most areas we made an effort to identify what we needed to change to bring the scores up to the Silver mark.

  • We invited more guest speakers to speak on sustainable living and we continued to pray for creation care. We’ve done two Eco/Sustainability services and also a Seminar on living sustainably.

  • We changed our energy supplier to a renewable option and we confirmed that our church used recycled toilet paper and environmentally friendly cleaning products.

  • We planted perennial insect friendly plants where our wildflower meadow had been as this had become an unsustainable option. We are still composting and we still support A Rocha, Tearfund and other environmental charities.

  • We’ve been involved in Sustainable St Albans along with many other faith groups and have organised several events during St Albans Sustainability Festivals in recent years.

  • We try to apply LOAF principles (Local, Organic, Animal friendly, Fairly traded) to our catering and to encourage our members to apply these principles in their own lives.

We could see that more action was needed in particular in the personal lifestyles of church members – a different type of change to achieve compared to changes to the buildings or use of our land. So, for example, we’ve encouraged church members to carry out their own carbon foot-printing and to use of Fairtrade products through a video shown during Fairtrade Fortnight.

Finally we edged past the score required for a Silver award, which we received in October 2021.

We have been inspired by publications from A Rocha such as L is for Lifestyle and Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio, and Bible studies by the John Ray Institute and Operation Noah which have been used by our small groups. We have a Creation Care emailing list with about 25 recipients whom we keep informed both about what we’re doing as a church and about wider issues.

Next up: we’ll see whether we can achieve the Gold award, which (at the time of writing) there are only 24 churches in England and Wales. It will be a challenge, especially as we have little land, but we’ll do as much as we possibly can to meet the criteria in all five areas. We are delighted that our new (job-sharing) vicars are very supportive of caring for God’s creation and know they’ll encourage us as we press on towards Gold.

St Paul’s Church, St Albans

Future Generations Bill

The Big Issue’s Future Generations Bill ensures parliament can no longer introduce legislation that is short-term focused. Instead, it must take into account the needs of future generations, delivering a new, sustainable vision that prioritises the environmental, social, economic and cultural wellbeing of current and future generations.

Here’s how you can get your MP to back our Future Generations Pledge.

Coca Cola

Send a message in a bottle to Coca Cola, named as the worst offender for distributing plastic bottles. In nations where there is no facility for recycling, people just have to live with the rubbish.

Click here to join Tearfund in their campaign, putting more pressure on Coca-Cola by sending them a message in a (Coke) bottle.

Image by maria mendiola@malu_mm