Dundee’s golden Gate – our ‘outstanding’ seventh Gold Award 🥇
Today’s newsletter shares the exciting news of our seventh Gold Award recipient and encourages volunteers to register for the Climate Challenge Fund annual gathering and film night discussion. Great photo courtesy of Gate Church International of solar panels on the community centre immediately behind the church building.
Dundee church is seventh to achieve an Eco-Congregation Gold Award
Eco-Congregation Scotland warmly congratulates Gate Church International in Dundee, celebrating the wonderful news that they have achieved our Gold Award.
This means that they have met or exceeded Eco-Congregation’s Gold Award standards in spiritual living, practical living and global living, while also addressing some more general aspects of environmental care. As our most challenging Award, a successful Gold assessment recognises congregations which have developed a long-term commitment to promoting environmental issues as an integral part of their congregational life.
The seventh eco-congregation to achieve a Gold Award were especially commended by assessors for an outstanding contribution in demonstrating practical action taken within the church and involving the local community, through the Gate Church Carbon Saving Project and various Climate Challenge Fund resourced initiatives since 2013.
One of the projects which was particularly praised by the assessors was their innovative Community Fridge in Perth Road opposite the church buildings which has a major impact in reducing Food Waste in Dundee. They were delighted to hear the project is using an electric van to pick up excess food from suppliers for the fridge.
We really appreciated their contribution to our recent ‘Feeding our Communities‘ event and the example they offered that can be followed across the country. This took place during Scotland’s Climate Week (14th–20th September 2020) when organisations aim to promote the message that, together, we can help end Scotland’s contribution to climate change.
The Carbon Saving Project aims to make Gate Church International the ‘Greenest Church in Scotland’.
The assessors noted the way that Gate Church International includes so many volunteers within their projects, many of whom do not have a church link, and the integration this brings with the community they serve, enriching the church’s mission.
Also of note was the work that has been done to reduce the carbon footprint of the buildings, a 200 years-old Grade A listed church and century-old community centre. The installation of solar panels, condensing boilers, draught proofing and insulation offers a wonderful example of what can be done in listed buildings and halls like theirs.
The assessors were impressed with the fact that reuse, recycling & up-cycling was well established culturally within the congregation, with lots of examples of best practice. They liked the Sew and Repair classes the church occasionally runs, alongside their Community Wardrobe, as well as the Gift Boxes which help meet material poverty in the city.
The assessors also commended the house groups that meet across the area and discuss environmental matters. They really appreciated the focus on stewardship as a church, and the church focus that worshipping God means caring for those in need and the world God created.
Also of note are the links the church has with Signpost International and Compassion UK, and the support they give for international small projects through their personal connections. The children in the congregation have been encouraged to sponsor children in the developing world through Compassion UK.
News of the Gold Award was confirmed days before the 2020 Climate Challenge Fund Gathering. Gate Church Carbon Saving Project and the church’s volunteers have regularly been highlighted at the yearly event celebrating climate projects across Scotland.
We appreciate this is a challenging time for many across all churches and communities due to COVID-19 restrictions. We are delighted to share good news over coming weeks from local eco-congregations, this weekend celebrating Eco-Congregation Scotland Award success in Aberdeenshire.
We value the excellent participation of so many volunteers and supporters in recent interfaith events and a range of meetings as we look forward to welcoming the COP26 climate conference to Scotland next November. We invite you to join a wide variety of online events and activities through the remainder of this November.
Thank you for all your efforts and continuing support as we pray, share and act together, caring for our common home.
Today we acknowledge the wonderful work of Inverurie West Parish Church. Congratulations to enthusiastic environmental team leader Joy Doorghen and all at Inverurie West on achieving our Silver Award recognising their commitment to caring for creation. You can read more about their Silver success on our website.
We will share more Award success stories in coming weeks and encourage every eco-congregation to apply, affirming your church’s environmental activities through online assessment. You are also welcome to join Inverurie West and our Eco-Chaplain this Sunday for a live at home service on the Church website and YouTube.
Inverurie West Parish Church service
Sunday 22nd November 2020
11.00am
Website http://www.inveruriewestchurch.org/westcast.html
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_eaGG76yKpRzSAhvOLleLQ
Many Christians mark this Sunday as the feast of Christ the King. Eco-Chaplain Rev David Coleman will be reflecting on Matthew 25:31-46:
“A masterpiece of ‘end-time’ writing, the ‘sheep and the goats’ is perfectly directed at those who look to God for hope in a time of global crisis.”
Service of Prayer for Climate Justice
Sunday 22nd November 2020
2.00pm – 3.00pm
https://prayerforclimatejustice.eventbrite.co.uk
Join a service of prayer, reflection and action on climate justice organised by Christian Aid, Tearfund, Anglican Communion Environmental Network, CAFOD, Lutheran World Federation, ACT Alliance, European Christian Environmental Network and other friends around the world. Look ahead to COP26 next November and reflect on our push for more ambitious climate action in the coming year. Register now and commit to joining in prayer and action through 2021 with the Prayer Chain for Climate Justice.
Out of Africa…Into Malta
Monday 23rd November 2020
7.30pm – 8.30pm
https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/event/outofafricaintomalta/
Hear about the varied work of Out Of Africa…Into Malta as it aims to relieve humanitarian need and provide hope to a displaced people. Rev Doug McRoberts, former minister of St Andrew’s Scots Church in Malta, will share how the project founded in 2010 grew from offering prayers and second-hand clothes to becoming a major life-changing presence, partnering with the Red Cross and becoming a Church of Scotland Guild Partner Project.
Just Transition: a fairer, greener Scotland
Wednesday 25th November 2020
9.00am – 11.00am
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/just-transition-a-fairer-greener-scotland-tickets-128768970457
Just Transition Commission members will share some of the emerging themes from their work to date, ahead of delivering their final recommendations to Scottish Ministers in early 2021. This will be your opportunity to explore and discuss their findings, and the solutions proposed to deliver a just transition in Scotland. The Commission was set up last year to give practical advice on how Scotland can meet ambitious climate change targets in a way that is fair for all.
Trees, Community & Climate
Thursday 26th November 2020
4.00pm – 5.00pm
https://climatefringe.org/sccs-live-events/
Chaired by Kat Jones of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, join Alan McDonnell of Trees for Life, Veronique Walraven of Morvern Community Woodlands and Madagascar-based Bangor University research fellow Sarobidy Rakotonarivo to explore how forest conservation and woodland restoration can best deliver climate mitigation, the co-benefits that arise and the role of local communities in delivering them.
Climate Challenge Fund Gathering and film event
Thursday 26th November 2020
9.00am – 4.00pm Gathering 2020 Programme
7.00pm – 9.00pm Evening Film and Discussion
https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ccfgathering
The Climate Challenge Fund Gathering provides opportunities to learn, network and share experience on tackling climate change, bringing together over 200 CCF Grant recipients and local community-led groups including churches and faith projects. The evening will explore how community film nights can get people thinking about climate change, followed by the opportunity to watch and discuss a challenging film. Find out more and book Gathering and film tickets here.
Financing Climate Justice
Monday 30th November 2020
12.00noon – 1.00pm
https://climatefringe.org/sccs-live-events/
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and Jubilee Scotland report ‘Financing Climate Justice’ outlines the need for increased climate finance to global south countries hit hard by climate change and Scotland’s role in creating such change. Hear from International Centre for Climate Change and Development director Saleemul Huq, Anne Funnemark of Jubilee Scotland and Loss and Damage Youth Coalition co-founder, activist and researcher Sadie De Coste.
Let’s talk about the climate emergency – Our Global Connections
Monday 30th November 2020
7.30pm – 8.30pm
https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/event/ourglobalconnections/
The November theme in our “Let’s talk about the climate emergency” resources is Our Global Connections. How we live has a direct impact on climate change and the lives of others. Join us to talk, pray and reflect on thoughts about Our Global Connections to ensure a fairer world for current and future generations. Please register here.
This Sunday 22nd November, please join us and Christians across Scotland in prayer at 7.00pm.
Good Shepherd,
Speak once more to our hearts
And offer us vision and hope for days to come.
Go before us Shepherd King
And lead us into the future that you hold in your hands.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us
Climate Challenge Fund Gathering and film event
Thursday 26th November 2020
9.00am – 4.00pm Gathering 2020 Programme
7.00pm – 9.00pm Evening Film and Discussion
https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ccfgathering
The Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) Gathering provides opportunities to learn, network and share experience on tackling climate change. The annual event brings together more than 200 attendees representing CCF Grant recipients, local community-led groups including churches and faith projects, national organisations and the Scottish Government. Keep Scotland Beautiful organise the Gathering as part of their management of the CCF on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Having time to network, come together and share experience is particularly important in a year that has presented major challenges to communities across Scotland with COVID-19. The event will feature topical keynote sessions:
There will also be contributions from CCF Grant Recipients and the wider CCF Community through:
On the evening of the Gathering there will be a separately ticketed online film and discussion. The event will explore how community film nights can get people thinking about climate change, followed by the opportunity to watch and discuss a challenging film.
Tickets to both events are free and open to CCF Grant Recipients, and representatives of other organisations with an interest in community-led action on climate change. Find out more and book Gathering and film tickets here.
