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Theology/Preaching/Bible
study
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management/Recycling
Church grounds
Community
actions/Campaigning
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Commitment for Life has a complete service outline on climate change available on CD Rom. It has drama, children's talks, prayers, sermon ideas and real stories from Bangladesh, Jamaica, Israel and the Palestinian Territories and Zimbabwe. The CD contains Powerpoint presentations but the service will work perfectly well on its own. For a copy contact: Gill Hillman 020 7691 9867.
The Glory of Creation; a hymn written by Denzil Walton set to the tune of: Jerusalem The Golden / Ewing / 7.6.7.6
Environment Sunday As part of the Chester Diocese Committee for Social Responsibility's initiative to encourage churches to 'Share God's Planet', their Environment Group have produced a Resource Pack of new and 'tried and tested' materials for churches to mark Environment Sunday on June 3 or for use on any other Sunday during the year. The Pack includes ideas for worship, activities, church magazine articles and useful links.
Theology/Preaching/Bible study (Return to top)
‘Six Degrees: Our future on a hotter planet.’; by Mark Lynas, Fourth Estate 2007.
'The Global Warming Survival Kit'; by Brian Clegg, Doubleday 2007.
‘When Enough is Enough: A Christian Framework for Environmental Sustainability’; edited by R.J. Berry, IVP 2007.
‘The Last Generation’;
by Fred Pearce,
‘The Long Emergency’;
by James Kunstler,
Eco-Spirituality power point show "See, Grieve, Hope, Act" by Ruth Jarman
Articles for Parish / Church Magazines from Christian Ecology Link.
Here is a list of other Lent resources recommended by CEL members and others.
Use MRDF’s Bible study pack on climate change in your Lent group, housegroup or youth group - and don’t just change your light bulbs – change your life!
Heat; by George Monbiot, Penguin 2007.
U.N. Development Human Development Report 2007/2008; 'Fighting Climate Change'. Director and lead author: Kevin Watkins.
by Tony Juniper, Collins 2007.Christianity, climate change and sustainable living; by Nick Spencer and Robert White SPCK, 2007
A Moral Climate - the ethics of global warming is the latest book by Michael S. Northcott, Professor of Ethics at the University of Edinburgh and a priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Darton, Longman and Todd. Read this review by Jo Rathbone, coordinator of Eco-Congregation.
Changing Climate, Changing Church Rev'd Peter Doodes looks at this short book produced for CCC (Catholics for a Changing Church)
RGS launches new climate change website for schools. The Royal Geographical Society has launched a new website for schools on climate change and how it affects all aspects of life. It supports the KS3 geography and citizenship curriculum and links to GCSE and A-level syllabuses. There are student worksheets to download, as well as teachers' notes. To view the site, go to http://www.yourclimateyourlife.org.uk
Online climate change gaming for schools. 'Operation: Climate Control' is a new online game to teach students about climate change. It's intended for use in schools (KS4), and players get the chance to create environmental policy for Europe for the 21st century. It is free to use and there are resources for teachers. http://www.operationclimatecontrol.co.uk/content/
The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society for the 21st century. Read it online and let us now what you think?
reality or rhetoric? green tariffs for domestic consumers from the National Consumer Council.
Christian Aid has produced in-depth reports about the price poor people are already paying for global warming.
Report from Sibiu (part 1) A group from Christian Ecology Link have returned on their epic bus journey back from Sibiu (Third European Ecumenical Assembly in Romania in early September) Isabel Carter tells of the bus journey and the Ecumenical Assembly.
Report from Sibiu (part 2) Ruth Conway gives her summary of the Issues raised in the Creation Forum that she prepared for presentation to the full Assembly.
Global warming - should Christians care? by Janet Fulljames of St. Andrew's Church (CofE) Taunton
The wind blows where it chooses
The Challenge of the Fifth Mark of Mission
The Ethics of the Decalogue and Nuclear Power
Sarah Hargreaves encourages us to have a look at this new project that has been set up at the Franciscan Friary at Hilfeld West Dorset. They have a programme of events and also accommodation for people who want to run courses for themselves, please visit the website if you are interested. http://www.hilfieldproject.co.uk/
Energy Study Pack
This pack contains six study papers for individual or group use and supported by technical papers contained on CD-ROM. Contact Methodist Publishing House, ref PA 131
www.mph.org.uk/contactusbdy.php
Energy Use
The Methodist Property Office co-sponsored a technical study of energy saving in religious buildings - see Property points 2003 Part 2
Green Electricity
Methodist Church House, London and United Reformed Church House have both switched to green electricity. Green sources of electricity include hydroelectric, wind energy, methane gas collectors on landfill sites etc. Many electricity companies will be happy to provide you with a quote for electricity supplied from a green source.
For more information see www.greenelectricity.org
Renewable Energy information
The Methodist Property Office produced the following information sheet in order to give managing trustees some background information on the subject of renewable energy.
For more information, click here
An Environmental First for Methodism!
Useful Renewable Energy Information from the Methodist Property Office
'Stewarding the Earth's Resources'
Recycle your ink cartridges. Christian Aid is teaming up with Environmental Business Products Ltd which aims to raise £12,000 for developing countries over the next twelve months. Christian Aid will get £1 for every recyclable ink or toner cartridge sent in. EBP will supply big collection boxes or special Freepost envelopes to churches. For further information ring EBP on 0800 435576 quoting ‘Christian Aid’. Or email christianaid@inkagain.co.uk. Churches requiring support materials should contact Christian Aid directly on 020 7523 2225.
Community
actions/Campaigning (Return to
top)
Here's twelve behaviours that Defra argue could potentially encourage more environmentally friendly behaviour among individuals and communities.
My Actions; ways to engage with I Count, the campaign of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, the ever-growing coalition of more than 50 organisations, has over 700 years' experience working for a safer, fairer world.
The Green Standard: Tests for environmental leadership is a joint initiative by nine of the UK’s leading environmental groups.
Revd Heather Walker from Stamford and Rutland Methodist Circuit has suggested we might all support this petition to charge 10p for plastic bags: http://www.green-england.co.uk/plasticbagpetition
The United Reformed Church passed the following resolution on Global Warming / Climate Change at the 2007 General Assembly.
The Methodist Church passed the following resolution on Caring for creation in the face of climate change at the 2007 Conference.
Cut your Carbon - Ideas to take action. Produced by the URC to support the Environment resolution being taken to this year’s General Assembly.
Walking More Lightly Compiled and written by Anne Martin, a trustee of Christian Concern for One World, for whom this research was initially conducted, and former Director of the Commitment for Life programme. Anne has kindly agreed for the resource to be available to anyone who wishes to download it.
WDM- Climate Change Calendar 2007 has seen WDM grab the headlines with their Climate Calendar. It demonstrates the startling fact that by 8th January the average person in the UK will have already caused as much damage to the environment; by producing harmful CO2 as the average person in one of the world’s poorest countries will all year. The calendar includes dates for other countries, so if you have ever wondered how the average UK citizen compares environmentally to someone in India, China or Sweden you can find out at www.wdm.org.uk
A Rocha is an international and interdenominational Christian environmental charity, with emphases both on biodiversity conservation and also on practical local action (e.g. lifestyle change). Each year they produce resources for Environment Sunday which will be June 3rd this year, and for which they are producing a pack on ‘Climate Change’ (available during March for £10).
www.arocha.org (main website, and for UK only www.arocha.org.uk)
www.livinglightly24-1.org.uk (lifestyle challenge and resources)
www.climatestewards.org.uk (the only Christian-based carbon mitigation scheme)
Need a speaker about climate change? Try www.climate-speakers.org.uk which is a site set up by Climate Concern UK, a group of agencies working on climate change issues, and keen to get the message out there!
The Church Times Green Church Awards
Eco Congregation
making environmental issues accessible for churches
For Tomorrow Too
A new resource from Tearfund
Stop Climate Chaos: Carbon Dating
Here’s ten top tips from Faiths4Change incorporating Operation Eden who are based in the North West of England.
Suggestions for churches beginning to think about environmental issues