Blog

Notes from Edinburgh Network meeting on 7th November 2012

Chair (Angela) welcomed all present and led prayer.

Networking
1. Discussion of a draft plan for energy efficiency for Christ Church, Morningside, included following contributions: Historic Scotland (no constraints on insulating inside of windows). Church of Scotland provides helpful information. Applications to Climate Challenge Fund close on 20/12 (will fund carbon saving measures). Dalbeattie Parish Church has introduced de-stratification fans (to circulate warm air). Jean proposed commissioning a masters student to review and analyse church improvements. Change Works provide a guide for improvements – Margaret will email to all about this.
Other websites Earth be Glad, Creation Tide resources – for a range of resources produced by different Christian environmental organisations.

2. Parish activities: Angela mentioned and local church photography competition.
Photos can be exhibited inside church and encourage visits. Susan mentioned a celebration show around theme of honey.
Questions about how to celebrate harvest festival and how to enhance church grounds –
Ideas include: holding a farmers’ market on forecourt; contacting Shandon Food Group, Trellis Therapeutic Gardening – Edible estates – Timebank. Jean suggested contacting Pat Able, Royal Edinburgh Community Gardens. Christmas cards – it was thought Woodland Trust charity has stopped recycling Xmas cards (recycled card no longer profitable) but please see note with these minutes for further information – Added to notes 4th Dec 2012: Marks & Spencers collect and recycle Christmas Cards for the Woodland Trust.

Carbon Conversations
Introduced by Arthur – to engage people in groups of 8-12 with 2 facilitators over a
6 week period to look at ways of reducing carbon footprint. See Carbon Conversations. Benefits of using this in church explained by Jean and Margaret. Political involvement and SCIAF campaigns discussed, incl. lobbying Parliament.

News from Eco-Congregation
Margaret reported on the network seminar in September, when the registration process was streamlined.
Mentoring scheme for congregations new to Eco-Congregation (or those seeking help with developing their action plan) introduced. Resource material arranged into 3 Ideas for Action. Margaret urged parishes to apply for awards – assessors like to meet workers. Suggested working through Check Up and presenting an action plan to kirk session, or AGM, etc. as a way of getting a green team together to work towards an award. Potential for energy savings in congregation’s homes much greater than in the church building.

Date of Next Meeting: Wed 18 Feb 2013, 7.30pm at Saughtonhall United Reformed Church, 85/87 Saughtonhall Drive, Edinburgh EH12 5TR when Saughtonhall United Reformed Church will be talking about their project to install photovoltaic panels on the church roof and the CO2 and money this has saved.

4 Degree Hotter World by End of Century According to World Bank

Report by World Bank:

Turn Down the Heat, a snapshot of the latest climate science prepared for the World Bank by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Climate Analytics, says that the world is on a path to a 4 degree Celsius[1] (4°C) warmer world by end of this century and current greenhouse gas emissions pledges will not reduce this by much.

“A 4 degree warmer world can, and must be, avoided – we need to hold warming below 2 degrees,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim.  “Lack of action on climate change threatens to make the world our children inherit a completely different world than we are living in today. Climate change is one of the single biggest challenges facing development, and we need to assume the moral responsibility to take action on behalf of future generations, especially the poorest.”

 

Left-over wool put to good use by Skene Parish Church Eco Group

Skene Parish Church Eco Group sent out an appeal for any double knitting wool that was no longer required in order to knit some tea cosies for our church teapots! A huge amount of wool was received and three tea cosies so far have been made. At the same time one of our group members mentioned the Fish and Chips Babies project and that was all that was needed! Needles began clicking and wool was requested on a regular basis and we now have around 200 outfits ready for dispatch.  And the ladies are still knitting!


 
The photo shows a display of some of the outfits on our new Eco Board in Trinity Church Westhill.

By Sheila Gray

An excellent activity in the European Week for Waste Reduction!

Knightsridge Church Sunday School Project 2012

Last Sunday, Knightsridge Church’s Summer Sunday School Project 2012 was dedicated with a special creation service entitled, “For the beauty of the earth” In appreciation of all the hard work, the young people were each presented with a personalised “God Bless You” mug featuring the Eco-Congregation 2nd Award plaque.

The finished artwork entitled, “God, The Father of Creation”,  comprises photographs taken by the young people inserted into fabric squares individually designed with fabric dyes and paints.

Knightsridge Church

Photo: l –r  Rebecca Pratt, Tia Coles and Liam Lawson of Livingston Ecumenical Parish – Knightsridge Church. 

Photo by Marjory McGhie