Eco-Congregation
Scotland
This year’s Local Networks Seminar, which will be held at Bridge of Allan Parish Church where we held the Annual Gathering earlier this year.
Here is the Programme for the local networks seminar 2012.
All the networks have been invited by email, if you are not the network contact and would like to attend please contact Margaret Warnock. Two representatives from each network will be entitled to have their travelling expenses refunded.
Abernethy Parish Church has received their 1st Eco-Congregation Award. Congratulations!
Photo borrowed from: http://www.nethybridge.com/html/community/church.php
Principally the award was awarded for:
- The infectious enthusiasm of the Eco-Congregation Team and the close involvement and support of the Minister and his wife contributing greatly to successfully raising the profile of environmental issues whitin the congregation.
- The high profile of Fairtrade, and the excellent outreach to the local schools and wider community.
Well done!
The Building Faith and Fellowship Planning Group has arranged three events on Sunday afternoons in September with a view to considering the Christian’s part in the care of the environment. These events will focus on aspects of CLIMATE CHANGE.
The title of the series is ‘3 Sunday Afternoons in September’.
The events will take place between 2pm and 4pm on Sundays 2nd, 9th and 16th September 2012,
in Hope Park Church Hall, St Mary’s Place, St Andrews.
Photo of church by Susan Sinclair, borrowed from the Hope Park Church Hall, St Mary’s Place, St Andrews website.
These events are carefully linked to provide a general background against which we ourselves, or others, might continue to build in the future. —–BUT each event may stand alone and prove beneficial of itself.
Those taking part include Professor Alan Werrity, Emeritus Professor of Geography. University of Dundee, Chairperson of Eco-Congregations (Scotland)
Adrian Shaw, Climate Change Officer, Church of Scotland,
Stewart Robertson, T.E.A.R. Fund (Scotland)
and members of the Planning Group.
The members of the Planning Group are keen that this should be an interactive experience when those taking part may learn from each other as well as from those leading events.
Do join us, YOU, will be most welcome to one or all of the events.
‘3 Sunday Afternoons in September.’
Week 1.
Welcome/Brief Introduction to the Series.
Read and Reflect.
“What do you think?”. (in groups)
Film(Christian Aid)/Follow up.
Refreshments.
Week 2.
Welcome/Brief Introduction.
Read and Reflect.
Presentation(s) on Climate Change.
Refreshments.
Week 3.
Welcome/Brief Introduction.
Read and Reflect.
‘Let’s be practical?’ (in groups)
‘BEING PRACTICAL?’ Presentation and book reviews
Refreshments.
The news from the Greenland is startling. There has been an unprecedented amount of ice melt in July 2012 and this has made the headlines.
You can read about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18978483
More significant but possibly less news worthy is the steady attrition of the arctic sea ice. This is monitored daily by US satellites and the daily satellite images make fascinating viewing. Here is the satellite image from 24 July.
You can find the full story here: http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/
As the website records:
“Arctic sea ice continued to track at levels far below average through the middle of July, with open water in the Kara and Barents seas reaching as far north as typically seen during September. Melt onset began earlier than normal throughout most of the Arctic.”
The area of sea ice is close to the all time low; keep watching to find out what happens in August and September, when the ice cap will be at its smallest.
By Adrian Shaw
You can access the notes from the last meeting by clicking on the link: South Lanarkshire Network 20th June 2012
The next Ayrshire network meeting will take place on Monday 20th August, from 11am to 1pm at Fairlie Parish Church.
The meeting will be attended by representatives from four churches in the area that have already begun their Eco-Congregation journey. Please open the agena for details: Agenda for Ayrshire Network meeting. However, it is flexible – please come with your questions and ideas and we hope you will come away better equipped to take forward the caring for creation work in your congregation.
Fairlie Parish Church is a third award winner (which means their Eco-Congregation work has been on-going there for more than 9 years!) and are therefore very experienced in the projects and activities connected with being an Eco-Congregation. They have offered to share some of their expertise and would like to invite you to Fairlie to see what they have achieved but also to talk about their whole Eco-Congregation journey – the ups and downs!
We know that a day time meeting might not suit everyone but if you (or a representative of your church) is available you would be most welcome to join us. We will meet at Fairlie Church at 11.00 (please don’t use the Main Doors as there will be a class in the church.) We are meeting in the Millenium Room and one of us will meet you outside and direct you in. We hope to fit in a visit to Fairlie Growers Sustainable Garden project, so come prepared for being outside in “the weather”!
If you are planning to come, please RSVP to margaret
ecocongregation
orguk (margaretecocongregationorguk)
Are you a knitter? Would you like to knit teddies for children in hospital in Malawi?
Each teddy will be placed in a draw string bag, which is sewn using colourful materials, and which also contains small articles such as a toothbrush and paste or a pencil and notebook. Teddy knitters do not need to provide the cloth draw string bags since there are volunteers who have offered to do this sewing if necessary.
The bags with the teddies etc. will be dispatched to children in hospital in Malawi by the charity The Raven Trust.
Here is the pattern for the teddies if anyone is interested in ‘having a go’.
This is an Esk & Tweed Network initiative. If you would like to participate and are not a member of the Esk & Tweed network please contact us and we will put you in touch with the Esk & Tweed Network Co-ordinator.
Message for Esk & Tweed network congregations: If you complete any teddies please contact your church Eco Team leader who will contact the Esk and Tweed Network Co-ordinator and arrange to have them picked up.
Many thanks to anyone who ‘has a go’!
Carlops Church and Community have supported the Raven Trust Charity over the last few years by donations of cotton clothing for children and adults and by fundraising. If you would like to hear more about its work it may be possible to arrange for a visit by someone involved.
Here is some information about the Raven Trust which was taken from the Charity’s website:
Why The Raven Trust?
There’s a story in the Old Testament where ‘The ravens brought (Elijah) bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening and he drank from the brook’ (1 Kings 17 v 6).
The ravens (- intelligent scavengers!) supplied all that Elijah needed at that time. This is a story about God’s loving provision in creation, pointing forward ultimately to his coming to Earth as Jesus to set things to rights. Following the example of these humble creatures, The Raven Trust aims to do a similar job for needy people in Malawi. It’s also a focal point for people who want do something practical to help, and it supports those working in development and Christian mission.What we do
Over the past few years we have researched, dispatched and funded many full container loads plus several part container loads to Africa with an estimated value well in excess of £1,000,000.
We have undertaken building and maintenance projects at Mission Hospitals and rebuilt a hospital boat for Lake Malawi, written and published distant learning material on Tool Maintenance and also published our ‘Newslink’ newsletter for a network of supporters and relevant organisations.
Some of the provisions we have sent out recently include:
- Medical Supplies (basic hospital disposables such as gloves, bandages, dressings, needles & syringes etc. Also equipment such as Ultra-scan machines, operating tables, infusions pumps, x-ray equipment, operating instruments, ECG machines & patient monitors)
- Books and Videos (medical, educational, secular and theological)
- Tools and Equipment (carpentry tools, saw bench and planers, metal working tools, computers, printers, cables & monitors etc)
- Clothing (knitted goods for babies, blankets, cotton sheets, clothing etc)
- Toiletries (soap, talc, shampoo & disposable razors)
- Other items include mattresses, footballs, netballs, sports equipment, football strips, stationery, lecturing equipment, a ships engine and children’s playgroup toys.
The work is funded by donations and gifts from individuals, Church congregations etc. The work is not currently underwritten by any organisation or Church. It is faith at work. The Raven Trust undertakes to provide the legal framework to enable us to receive grants and process tax relief on funds. Each container currently costs about 10,000 GBP to transport to Northern Malawi plus UK costs. We find that finance becomes available as goods arrive on the doorstep and the final funds arrive in the post as the final load arrives!
Go Green!
For a personalised action plan of how you can go greener, create your Greener Plan today - Click Here.
For a personalised action plan of how you can go greener, create your Greener Plan today - Click Here.