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          Registering your congregation with us is a declaration of your intent to care for creation. Its free and comes with no pre-requisites. Register online today.

           

           

  • Resources
        • Top Tips
          • Ten Tips for saving energy
          • Ten Tips for attracting wildlife
        • Creation Time

          Worship resources celebrating God’s creation

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          Let’s Talk about the Climate Emergency

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          Resources for churches and families

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      Eco-Congregation Scotland
      121 George Street
      Edinburgh
      EH2 4YN
      0131 240 2274
    • Signup for our Newsletter
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
  • About
        • Meet the Team
        • Vision and Values
          • Reports and Policies
        • Partners & Memberships
          • Funders
        • Find an Eco-congregation

          Our map shows all registered eco-congregations in Scotland.

          Find one near you!

        • Christians and the Environment
  • What we do
    • Award Scheme
    • Environmental Chaplaincy
    • Events
    • Faith Action for Nature
  • Networks
    • North of Scotland
      • Aberdeen Network
      • Angus & Dundee Network
      • Highland Network
      • Moray Network
      • Orkney Network
      • Perth Network
    • South of Scotland
      • Ayrshire Network
      • Central Borders Network
      • Dumfries & Galloway Network
      • Esk & Tweed Network
    • West of Scotland
      • Glasgow Network
      • Helensburgh & Lomond Network
      • Mid Argyll Network
      • North Argyll Network
      • South Lanarkshire Network
      • Stirling Network
    • East of Scotland
      • East Lothian Network
      • Edinburgh Network
      • Fife Network
      • West Lothian & Falkirk Network
    • International Congregations
  • Get Involved
        • Volunteer with us
        • Take part in a Campaign
        • Giving
        • Register your Congregation

          Registering your congregation with us is a declaration of your intent to care for creation. Its free and comes with no pre-requisites. Register online today.

           

           

  • Resources
        • Top Tips
          • Ten Tips for saving energy
          • Ten Tips for attracting wildlife
        • Creation Time

          Worship resources celebrating God’s creation

        • COP26 and the Climate Emergency

          Let’s Talk about the Climate Emergency

        • Faith Action for Nature

          Resources for churches and families

        • Ideas for Action
        • Videos
        • Links
        • Newsletter and Leaflets
  • Contact
    • Contact Form

    • Find us

      Eco-Congregation Scotland
      121 George Street
      Edinburgh
      EH2 4YN
      0131 240 2274
    • Signup for our Newsletter

Chaplain

Rev David Coleman

Rev David Coleman

Rev’d David Coleman is eager to get to know local congregations’ initiatives, and to hear of  your trials and joys, and to lead or share leadership of worship, when appropriate, taking note of your own tradition. Encouraging the committed core of congregations is also a high priority. David is an experienced, ordained minister in the United Reformed Church, a mainstream Christian church in the UK, and is also a Member of the Iona Community, having led programmed weeks at the Abbey.

Invite David to visit you by getting in touch through our staff page here 

In preaching and in presentations, David makes exciting use of multimedia (see one of his videos below), and is well-equipped to work in very  varied venues, not just on Sundays, or Sunday mornings.

A visit from the chaplain is an opportunity to celebrate what it means to be an Eco-Congregation.

Continue reading to follow his thoughts and reflections:

 

Chaplain's Blog

  • Trouble the waters

    Lighting you only get for about a minute after sunrise.

    156 Trouble the waters

    (Tune: Blessed Assurance  99 99 and refrain)

    Use with John 5, making sure you use versions which include the ancient, though not universally transmitted words about the angel who ‘troubled’ the waters, leading to healing.  If it’s too long a sing, omit verse 2.

    1) Trouble the waters  when they are tame:

    Send out the angels: hot-foot the lame! 

    Turn all the tables, wake up the Church:

    Ears to the ground, and minds to research.

    ============

    Soaring with stories, feet on the ground

    Mystic, realistic, God’s flesh and bone:

    Christ for  all creatures, eager to heal;

    Urgent, inclusive,  with us, and real.

    ===================

    [2) Crisis, our homeland?, faith shines our way!

    Christ is our wild one: loves come what may

    Preaching of hope, though disaster may loom

    Never denying danger of doom.]

    ==================

    3) Business as usual’s killing the earth.

    Jesus transforms: gives alternative worth:

    Life and compassion, creatures diverse

    Joy love and hope healing apathy’s curse.

    ===========================

    4) Trouble the waters, set the Earth free:

    Damage is done to the air and the sea

    Yesterday’s deadline silently passed:

    Light in the dark days : this is our task!

    Continue reading →
  • Be still….

    A few ‘stilling videos’ to begin worship or parts of worship, either online of in person.

    *Running time 2 mins 20s or less.

    Come back to this page to see further additions throughout the summer and beyond

    Please do download to use.

    Continue reading →
  • Preaching to the (partly) Converted: A talk and a closing worship script for the Annual Gathering

    (Please note: these were live events, with support from slides)

    Being-Church-in-Climate-Crisis

    Download
    AGM-worship-copyDownload
    Continue reading →
  • Grand index of video resources from the EcoChaplain, for devotional use.

    NOTE –  Vimeo files are straightforwardly downloadable , COP Clips will be posted elsewhere . You will in most cases have to copy the link into a browser to use, as I can’t embed 100+ videos on a page.

    ==============================

    Quick Clips

    21 years of EcoCongregation Scotland  https://vimeo.com/664234829

    Preparing for Palm Sunday  https://youtu.be/0IuSaWIIbaE  1 min 19

    Pentecost Turbine  https://youtu.be/P3h2CuflFD4  2 mins 19

    Rotten Halloween  https://youtu.be/wearcajWRes  1 min 44

    Extinction bell, National Museum of Scotland  1 min 9   https://youtu.be/XMtSwZS7M34 

    Prayer of Hope ( coming down a mountain) 1 min 36  https://youtu.be/UFB27B9XRzw 

    The cost of coming down ( less than 2 mins) https://vimeo.com/702006703

    A revelation  https://vimeo.com/702006703 

    Introduction to Bible reading project with actor Jo Clifford  https://youtu.be/LrDlP_hyEP0

    What is EcoChaplaincy?  1 min 30   https://youtu.be/89Ld65ki9Qw 

    Everything that has breath  1 min 17  https://youtu.be/vxft889dQl8 

    Pentecost Projection art on Colonsay (also for BIAPT) https://youtu.be/20e3z-kBCAM

    Jesus with the wildlife  1 min  https://youtu.be/Iren9xLDDyY

    Location is the language   https://youtu.be/LThYUztdfpY

    Just one minute – Climate Rally https://youtu.be/uyuH4iA6qMQ

    Climate Strike, March 2022   https://vimeo.com/697347648

    Lockdown learnings prayer  https://vimeo.com/697347648

    The mountain:  not getting there, but getting there  https://vimeo.com/670372075

    You have been my refuge   https://vimeo.com/667249030

    Epilogue – the valley of the shadow  https://vimeo.com/655927450

    Longer, general 

    The mystery Bible character (for the URC General Assembly) 12 mins 37   many locations  https://youtu.be/_v3hx9hYhZQ  and   https://vimeo.com/664217421 

    Royal Presence: Bees! 9 mins 50   ( a visit to a beekeeper at work)  https://youtu.be/TQV9QWqwjgc

    Heart Wood – walking round an area of ancient woodland, Music, no commentary 8min 27

    The Great Wee Hill  ( Hill of the Angels Iona)   6 mins 45 https://youtu.be/2PdpHtBegOs 

    The Bad judge ( sketch based on James 2)  5 mins 30 https://youtu.be/_nTjt6UsTvM 

    Mungo: Forest in the Temple:14 mins 46  (  Glasgow Cathedral at the tomb of Mungo, and many other locations: looking to COP and being inspired by the stories of Glasgow’s patron saint)  https://youtu.be/jJ1q3WuOD-Y

    Talks for gatherings :

    The mystery Bible character (for the URC General Assembly) 12 mins 37   many locations  https://youtu.be/_v3hx9hYhZQ

    Address for National Synod of Scotland  23 mins  https://youtu.be/FAxefc7GNiM 

    Interview on ‘Reflections at the Quay’ https://youtu.be/hwMImoZ8ELA 

    If not, why on Earth not? https://youtu.be/iCs3DR4VDDA  13min 05

    Climate emergency  How to respond : For Aberdeen churches: https://youtu.be/vLqlXSVVJJI

    The Happy Apocalyptic ( for Wildlife week, Iona) https://youtu.be/QTuPw83Me-A

    Malvern Progressive Christian Network   18 mins  https://youtu.be/AvhrNBkNlGA 

    Festival Green talk  https://youtu.be/gDB3lnb_lAs

    Refuel Festival talk  https://youtu.be/mLt5ayY7sW8 

    Faith and Environment ( Stirling Climate Festival) Zoom recording 39 mins)  : https://youtu.be/s03nd-RM4nU 

    Creative Considerations  7 mins 10  ( conversation with artists and others involved on creative reflection on climate etc) https://youtu.be/Jehj3RAzt1Y 

    Retreat for a church group in Shetland :  

    Part 1: 9 mins   https://youtu.be/8Cu0VKM-UKg 

    Part 2: 9 mins https://youtu.be/aRRD-1lmMXs 

    Part 3:  3 mins  https://youtu.be/eTg72PAsJio

    Part 4: 8 mins https://youtu.be/IUABw6Zu5Zc 

    Part 5: 13 mins  https://youtu.be/DCG1XhZH7g8 

    Part 6  6 mins  https://youtu.be/UKNidZ_pZII 

    Shorter, general, & Bible readings

    Whitelee : Power Station Music, no commentary : Looking around this site of industrial/agricultural/conservation/recreation signficance, on a dark January morning  https://youtu.be/_isTDOUQsw4 

    Genesis 2 18 to 22: Pastoral environmental interpretation https://youtu.be/9npMqrk7zwg 

    Exodus 3: 1-10 reading  Burning bush. ( in a snowy location)  https://youtu.be/TwEil89mteM  

    Joshua 5: 9-12   the stone circle of Gilgal  https://youtu.be/fJFm5j4PCak 

    Psalm 1: (Up a mountain )  https://youtu.be/CcSisbBOPQg 

    AND   https://vimeo.com/593137700

    Psalm 8 as a pilgrimage  https://youtu.be/QnmQFYJAe6c

    Psalm 8 under the stars  https://youtu.be/JP-FW1spu3g

    Psalm 19 ( up a mountain)  https://youtu.be/CcPT6_78MOA 

    Psalm 23 Pentlands  https://youtu.be/aeuTpmi-RrI 

    Psalm 25 (highland location)  https://youtu.be/uhJW6YCV1U8

    Psalm 36 and thoughts on denial, by a mountain stream  https://youtu.be/FI_uliYNULk

    Psalm 54: (Up a mountain )  https://youtu.be/s_bdDhVcg10  AND  https://vimeo.com/593137409

    Psalm 80  (highland location)   https://youtu.be/RNPJ5GSTsiw 

    Psalm 95 with strangers  https://youtu.be/DwtB4MF2X-s 

    Psalm 116 ( up a mountain)  https://youtu.be/ZrVMyn_fkuU

    Psalm 121 as a pilgrimage: https://youtu.be/QxtfZvzVtcY

    Psalm 121 Sgurr Alastair https://youtu.be/oRJ9N0BJ0Nc

    Psalm 125 ( up a mountain)    https://youtu.be/XfiU51_SHtY

    Psalm 139 as a pilgrimage   https://youtu.be/YT7mPZEK48U

    Psalm 146 ( Up a mountain)   https://youtu.be/R7oEjjQYcQw

    Isaiah 12:2-6   (highland location)   https://youtu.be/laAb0Ae8v4Y 

    Isaiah 43  ( Snowy location ) https://vimeo.com/684976891

    2 Peter 3  on the Pentland Hills ( a day like a thousand years)  https://youtu.be/adxPgHO8ABg 

    Mark 1: 9-12 Baptism of Christ – Greendykes Bing https://youtu.be/I9kHLHh3n7U 

    Mark 7 24-37  – read by actor Jo Clifford   https://youtu.be/0oXcPDCCxNA

    Mark 9 39-50  – read by actor Jo Clifford   https://youtu.be/tBtkmry1czg

    Mark 8 27-32   – read by actor Jo Clifford   https://youtu.be/tBtkmry1czg

    Mark 10: 13-16  – read by actor Jo Clifford   https://youtu.be/2bUNEi_Bnrk

    Luke 9: Transfiguration  ( from Ben A’an) https://vimeo.com/662625291

    Luke 13: 1-9 reading ( in a snowy location)  https://youtu.be/DyeUJSiHxZ0

    Luke 15 ( prodigal Son) (Tree background) https://youtu.be/555Uc3boHqo

    John 12: ( snowy location) https://vimeo.com/684975864 

    John 14: a reading https://youtu.be/m0aUm9mWvxY 1 min 36

    Great Commmission Matthew 28  https://youtu.be/7GSXh4rGqyk

    Acts 17  https://youtu.be/LXcqxlKBxIE

    Revelation 21 and John 5  – Real life and just fantasy  https://vimeo.com/701942203 

    Our Father on a mountain-top  – interpreted on location .https://youtu.be/6OTQdsQVY1A  

    1 min 24

    Liturgical

    The Litany of the Earth: https://youtu.be/hKEuhoZlJwA 

    (Gathering 2019) at St Andrews, with live congregation

    Aaronic Blessing (prepared for Glasgow Churches Together  https://youtu.be/AAnDhHl3aGc  

    55 sec

    Benedictus on location:  https://youtu.be/I2ajc6CD1Tw

    Magnificat ( Highland location) https://youtu.be/ZLwYHpZbWUU 

    Energy Prayer  https://youtu.be/LIg1PnDlHnc

    Friends prayer  https://youtu.be/snKeZpq3aw8 

    COP prayer  https://youtu.be/3cI2X4aQW4g

    Live clips

    Snake/Dove  https://youtu.be/NwxSJX4fDRs  1 min 5

    A fixed camera record , at Castlemilk, of the neglected  question about Matthew 10:16

    Times & Seasons

    Season of Creation year A

    Week 2  https://youtu.be/1H6a9c6zNxE 

    Week 3  https://youtu.be/1ZgoFRYfyWw

    Week 4  https://youtu.be/SxOsZKrwBkg 

    Season of Creation year B: 

    Week 1 The Earth, including Us  https://youtu.be/wG65QWcLnoo 

    Week 2 Creation Speaks God’s language  https://youtu.be/-gOTP8edXRc 

    Week 3 The tree and their fruit  https://youtu.be/V8zFgbmDwBM 

    Week 4  The Obstacle Course  https://youtu.be/jHR6sRC-Mi4

    Week 5  the gift of the Name https://youtu.be/7AgGEcIt9DU 

    Mark 13, for Advent 1B : https://youtu.be/40AbS_DOiF4

    Ash Wednesday from a heap of Ash  https://youtu.be/3hsqdlgZdVk

    Lent 1 C ‘A land possessed ( Location:  Five sisters Bing (industrial waste tip) https://vimeo.com/676935225

    Lent 2C as transfiguration   https://vimeo.com/673271625 

    Lent 3 C: ‘Blazing’ ( Location: Cadzow ancient oaks) https://youtu.be/TGd5-vhxd8A  AND   https://vimeo.com/677594550

    Lent 4C circle of justice  https://vimeo.com/681938533

    Lent 5C  Divesting from despair Ben Lomond  https://vimeo.com/697347648

    Lent 1B Complete service  https://youtu.be/UVFAGrOjf3w 

    Lent 1B from Greendykes Bing https://youtu.be/YnCPgifuXLo

    Lent 2B  Standing up to the devil’s Advocate https://youtu.be/F8At_TU0Ldg

    Lent 3B  Zeal for your house https://youtu.be/jrMVev3LWAk

    Lent 5B  John 12:20-33 The Tipping point https://youtu.be/kRn8JvNh9hQ

    Mothering Sunday: Flowers for Mother Earth https://youtu.be/hE-fei6kZLA  13 mins 07

    Having worked towards a church visit on Lent 4/Mothering Sunday, the UK went into semi-emergency mode. The reflections in preparation come together in this video. This is also presented in three parts, as sermons cover a lot of ground. Taking cue from Laudato Si

    Good Friday : Dream of the Rood: for devotional use on Good Friday: 15 min 20  Aa reading and consideration of the Anglo-Saxon Poem quoted on the Ruthwell Cross.

    Palm Sunday –  from Edinburgh Episcopal Cathedral   https://youtu.be/n1kV1aAp9wM

    Palm Sunday  -From a deserted Edinburgh City Centre  https://youtu.be/lBQ_8T-dM0o 

    11 min 8

    Palm Sunday: Pavestones Gravestones: the stones shout aloud!  Luke 19:40 

    https://youtu.be/GTlUAhXNpcQ   3 mins 11

    Maundy Thursday:  John 13  Footwashing reflection, for Annual Gathering, with introduction

    https://youtu.be/aiIVKcKabjY   6 min 16: 

    also   without introduction https://youtu.be/UgqYCAd3yX0  4 min 08

    Easter Sunday 2020 – no holds barred Easter Sermon  https://youtu.be/vDgrSXgJMK4  13 mins  25

    Easter Sunday 2021  The Inclusive Commission https://youtu.be/-t48xMOX_q0 

    Easter Sunday 2022 Risen High, Risen Low ( St Margaret’s Chapel and St Filan’s Cave) https://vimeo.com/697347648

    Ascension reflection 2020  https://youtu.be/uo9sRNMi6gU

    Trinity Sunday  https://youtu.be/6UJNBOZSfao  11min 08  (2020 Lectionary)

    Pentecost 2020 https://youtu.be/zspRpFqstPY 10 mins 26

    Pentecost Projection art on Colonsay (also for BIAPT) https://youtu.be/20e3z-kBCAM

    Pentecost Turbine  https://youtu.be/l3w8yZjm9sk

    Late Harvest : reflections on a “plentiful” – or a daunting – harvest https://youtu.be/9ZAlzvQKUhE 6 min 53

    Emmaus-  Luke 24:  a sermon on wheels  -riding the distance walked in that wonderful conversation.   The walk to Emmaus, against the background of lockdown in the city of Edinburgh. One outing per day permitted for mental and physical health….  but what about spiritual wellbeing? – And could this be a pligrimage?

     https://youtu.be/Ou_Cy3lg7-g  8 mins 02   

    Lockdown Gospel – if the disciples had used Zoom whilst waiting for the resurrection.

     (-Gospel of John version of gift of Spirit)  https://youtu.be/fP8MktgP7go  

    8 min 44

    Ezekiel 37  : Indecent Hope   11min 57

    Words and pictures and more, for the final week of Lent, and the scariest story of the Old Testament  https://youtu.be/vOh2QD_PmIw

    =========================

    Sermons by Gospel content

    Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30 and Zechariah 9:9-12  Weeping and Dancing  https://youtu.be/47fPz00rk4M  12 mins 41

    Matthew 25: Recycling the sheep and the goats https://youtu.be/z5TYVB-mY34

    Mark 1: 14-20 – Discipleship  https://youtu.be/mXmplBGD7Ow

    Mark 1:21-28 1` Cor 8:1-13  Knowing enough to get on with it  https://youtu.be/FOjrbk7lWyM

    Mark 4:26-34   Holy Habitats ( Cedar and Mustard Bush, Ezekiel Ezekiel 17:22-24 Mark 4:26-34   https://youtu.be/nz57186bZI8

    Mark 5: 21: Mess and miracle  https://youtu.be/iETzlSamRQE 

    Mark 10:  Proper 24 yr B:  Job 38, No fire without smoke  https://youtu.be/08hXqcpKdO8 

    Mark 13, for Advent 1B : https://youtu.be/40AbS_DOiF4

    Luke 13: 6-9  with Isaiah 55:6-13 “Manure for fruitful trees”. https://youtu.be/RlH_0AZj-UY

    John 10:10  – led, not force-fed :8 min 57

    Reflection for EcoChaplaincy on John 10:10: a highly provocative ‘cuddly story’.

    Acts 17: Capital Games Thoughts on Acts 17, for an online retreat with a local church.

    https://youtu.be/b4ME5jQvlGs  9 min 59

    Acts 10 1 Kings 4  More wisdom than you can shake a stick at ( Solomon and Jesus)

    Genesis 22 Cross that bridge where we come to it: a bike ride across the Forth Road Bridge whilst reflecting on Abraham and Isaac  https://youtu.be/XAjzFaRE7U4  9 mins 53

    Matthew 9:35-10:23 and Romans 5:1-8  No holds Ba’ad – fear and Christian Character  https://youtu.be/y5sAjUA63Vw  10 mins 53

    Romans 8 : Groaning Creation: getting out of our Depth  

    https://youtu.be/nFEE_qw-gNA  9 min

    Matthew 20: workers in the vineyard : Beyond Harvest   Sermon for Costorphine, delivered on location. https://youtu.be/gjdR3Zd5sp4  15 min 17

    Hymns

    O the life of the world   https://youtu.be/YBq4nNIK22o 

    What will change your life’s direction https://youtu.be/XbyWVDdIyn4

    From the waters’ fond embrace  https://youtu.be/j3NqhCZ2g1M 

    Now Christ lives here   https://youtu.be/xG5XE7qxFz8

    ( to ‘Courage, brother) https://youtu.be/p7SLOxOR2J0

    Our legacy is dire  https://youtu.be/JzEwGMvjVS0 

    One day I said sorry out loud to the Earth  https://youtu.be/cKA8PvX86YA 

    Deep our longing  ( Westminster Abbey) https://youtu.be/ljdOzsMQ50A

    Continue reading →
  • A very simple Sanctus for Easter Sunday

    For those traditions where there is scope for text variation in the Communion prayers:

    -Taking note of the great Commission of Mark 16, and the multiple rebukes given by the Risen Christ, which authenticate, in character, that the Risen one shares the identity of Jesus of Nazareth who was killed and buried. Known in the breaking of bread – and in the love with which Christ speaks out!

    iGreen shoots after wildfire – Used by Permission: Murray Lowe

    Downloadable PDF

    New-Hymn-195-Green-blade-Sanctus-Download

    Text only Use ‘Now the green blade rises’ ( Noel Nouvelet).

    Holy, holy, holy,

    All-embracing God!

    All Creation praises

    action, life and word:

    Hosanna highly, Hosanna below!

    Flesh and blood, our Jesus

    in whom, God we know.

    Holy, holy, holy,

    All-transforming power!

    Praise from every Creature

    All shall rise, none cower:

    Hosanna highly, Hosanna below!

    Christ in love rebukes us;

    Christ, the friend we know.

    Continue reading →
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Recent Posts

  • Trouble the waters
  • Be still….
  • St Ninian’s Episcopal Church, Edinburgh gain Bronze Award.
  • Preaching to the (partly) Converted: A talk and a closing worship script for the Annual Gathering
  • Grand index of video resources from the EcoChaplain, for devotional use.
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