This is the latest news from the Edinburgh Eco-Congregation network.
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Hear the Word; keep the Word; pass the Word on.
Morningside United Church is using the lectionary chosen by ‘Spill the Beans’. It’s an opportunity to write on something different from the RCL. Here’s the draft for Sunday 12th January 2025
Continue reading →Human Rights Day of Action On Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Guest blog from Nourish Scotland:
Join the #BringBackTheBill Human Rights Day of Action On Tuesday, 10 December 2024, we are calling for action at the Scottish Parliament to demand the reintroduction of the Scottish Human Rights Bill.
The #BringBackTheBill Human Rights Day of Action isn’t just about raising awareness -it’s a powerful call to action. Organisations across Scotland are urging the Scottish Government to prioritise the Scottish Human Rights Bill, ensuring that rights are protected for all.#OurRightsOurFuture is more than just a slogan – it’s a rallying cry for change.
Organisations, community groups, grassroots organisations, students, and individuals are all invited to join us on this important day to create a future where human rights are a priority in Scotland.
About the Scottish Human Rights Bill
The Human Rights Bill for Scotland aims to enshrine everyday human rights into Scots law, with special protections for women, disabled people, and racial minorities. It guarantees rights such as adequate living standards (including food, housing, and clothing), the highest attainable health, fair work conditions and pay, a healthy environment to live in, education, family protection, social security, and cultural participation.
Under the Bill, devolved public bodies would be required to take account of human rights in their decisions and ensure no one falls below a certain level of each right that is needed for dignity. They must also demonstrate progress in improving rights for all, prioritising those in the worst situations, using maximum available resources.
The Bill strengthens accountability by creating new pathways for human rights complaints and underpinning our legal rights, while empowering oversight bodies like the Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.Calling on Scottish MPs
We also call on all Scottish MPs to pledge their support for the Scottish Human Rights Bill in their upcoming manifestos. #BringBackTheBill is a movement to build a fairer, more just future for Scotland.
Let’s march together, stand up for what’s right, and make this happen.- Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
- Time: 10:00 – 14:00 GMT
- Location: Scottish Parliament Building, Edinburgh
- More information is available via Eventbrite
Together, we can make a difference. Let’s #BringBackTheBill
Ss Ninian and Triduana Bronze Award
Ss Ninian and Triduana RC Church, Edinburgh received their Bronze award earlier this year. The assessors noted that the parish is active in making the link between faith, justice and creation. They were also impressed by their garden transformation, restoring their garden to an eco-garden, incorporating a sitting area for social/quiet space, a meadow area, and a pond area.
Their church garden revamp included:- New benches installed from repurposed pews
- 5 swift boxes added
- A pond created from a repurposed old school sink
- Water butt installed from a repurposed grey bin
- Bug hotel created from a repurposed old shopping trolley
- Winter home for frogs and bulbs added by local school children
- Leaf mould pile created
- Plants added from cuttings from parishioners gardens
- Introduced ‘No Mow May’
- A peace pole installed at the front
Well done to everyone involved.
Continue reading →
BEFORE 
AFTER Environmental Survey for Congregations
Augustine United Church (Edinburgh) recently designed and distributed an environmental survey for members of their congregation. They have kindly shared their survey with us for others to adapt and use in their own Eco-congregations. Feel free to download and edit the survey for use in your church.
Continue reading →The Work that Reconnects
The A+E project at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh invite you to join them for a series of 5 workshops in October and November: The Work that Reconnects.
Over the 5 workshops participants will be guided through the Work’s spiral of practices: Gratitude, Honouring Our Pain for the World, Seeing with New Eyes/Ancient Eyes, and Going Forth.
These workshops are open to anyone currently involved in addressing the climate and ecological crises in any way and/or who wish to become more active.
First workshop, Monday 14th October 7pm. Details of the course and booking information can be found on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-work-that-reconnects-a-series-of-5-workshops-tickets-1012742408807
To find out more about the work of the A+E project at St Mary’s Cathedral, visit their website https://www.cathedral.net/community/eco-cathedral or read the recent article from Creative Carbon Scotland: https://www.creativecarbonscotland.com/the-story-of-an-embedded-artist/
Continue reading →
Resources for Edinburgh:
Energy Saving Trust in South East Scotland
For advice on energy efficiency and reducing energy bills or to simply check if you are entitled to any government grants, please don’t hesitate to contact the Community Liaison Officer for your area, Dagmara Opilka. You can contact her on:
dagmaraopilka@se.energysavingscotland.org.uk
Direct line: 0131 468 8682 | Helpline: 0800 512 012.
Complete and send the Referral Form to check if you are eligible for financial support.
Dagmara has offered to arrange a meeting or a talk to discuss the available services from the Energy Saving Trust. For more information click on the leaflet link Home Energy Scotland.