Putnoe Heights Eco Church

Tenants of the King - North Bedford Churches Together Lent Course 2024

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 11:20:21 GMT

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth and God saw that it was good”

Tenants of the King is a four session bible based course to explore a Christian perspective on the environment and to consider the practical implications on our daily life and witness. The course is put together by Operation Noah , a Christian charity working to inspire action on climate change. The course was run for four weeks in Lent 2024 and our hosts were St. Mary’s Goldington on Wednesday afternoons, repeated at Priory on Wednesday evenings and our praise and gratitude goes to the volunteers who led the sessions. Each enjoyable session comprised an icebreaker chat to warm us up, a bible reading to give context to our thoughts, a short video from a different speaker each week followed by an activity and a discussion and then a short act of worship to conclude. The speakers (Bishop Graham Tomlin, Revd. Mark Melluish, Dr Ruth Valerio and Dr Justin Thacker) all had experience of different Christian environmental initiatives and were inspirational.

So what did we learn? In week 1 we learned that God intends creation to reflect His glory and that, when we pray “Thy will be done on Earth”, we are addressing the whole ecology of the world.

In week 2, we reflected on our broken world and where we can see creation groaning today.

Week 3 had a very uplifting message – that we can all make significant, though small, changes to improve the environment and that Jesus will be alongside us in the journey.

Week 4 encouraged us as churches to speak up for the environment and “speak truth to power”.

As well as helping us to focus on the Christian response to climate change, the course enabled us to share with others from local churches; the coffee and the fellowship were an important part of the experience. As we take away the messages to eat less meat, switch off appliances and travel by train rather than plane, we look forward to further opportunities to share our faith with our neighbours.

“What a wondrous temple this world is, for in truth it is the temple of God’s building wherein men ought to worship him”.

Text: Sue Allen.

Videos: via Operation Noah's YouTube channel .

Revelation and creation

Wed, 31 May 2023 09:08:18 GMT

A special blog post for Bible Month

Bible Month is an annual campaign that celebrates scripture by inviting the whole Methodist Church to feast on one particular book of the Bible together. In 2023 we are exploring Revelation.

If you’re interested in what Revelation might have to say about creation and the environment, then this post explores some of the key passages.

All creation worships - Revelation 4 & 5

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honour and glory and power,

for ever and ever!” (5:13)

In these chapters worship is not something that is only done by humans, all of creation is involved in praising God. This might remind of us of Psalms like Psalm 148 where all of creation is similarly called to worship God. Passages like these remind us of two things – firstly, our place within the whole community of creation, and secondly, the worth of the whole of creation to the Creator.

Question: Are you surprised to discover that the four creatures (4:6-8) include humanity alongside representatives of all living things? What implications might this have for how you worship? [1]

Making all things new - Revelation 21:1-5

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them...‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

The Greek word used for new in Revelation 21 is kainos . This does not usually mean brand new (that would be neos ), instead it suggests a renewing or remaking of the old. [2] ‘ Kainos is believing that God wants us to partner with him in restoring creation, so that what we do to renew creation now matters.’ [3]

Question: If heaven is about a creation in harmony, the renewal of all things, if that is heaven’s direction, what does it mean to pray, live and work with that vision before us now? [4]

Water and salvation - Revelation 22:1-2

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

In John’s Gospel (7:37-38) Jesus says “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” This promise and imagery are echoed in the passage from Revelation. Jerusalem becomes the source of the river of life which flows through the streets and out into the natural world. The tree of life, its leaves and fruit, will be a source of healing. This is a picture of harmony between God, people and creation. [5]

These passages from the last chapters of Revelation are full of hope for a restored creation.

Question: How can you share this optimism and hope, without it sounding like wishful thinking? [6]

Notes

[1] Question taken from p57, Resound Worship, Doxecology Study Guide (2020)

[2] p164, M.J. & M.R. Hodson, A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues (BRF, 2021)

[3] p52, Resound Worship, Doxecology Study Guide (2020)

[4] Question taken from Colin Matthews p182 The BRF Book of 365 Bible Reflections (BRF, 2021)

[5] p77, M.J. & M.R. Hodson, A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues (BRF, 2021)

[6] Question taken from the Bible Month Daily Reading Guide for Revelation

Creation through the Bible

Sun, 14 May 2023 15:18:57 GMT

Our Eco Church themed service for 2023 was inspired by Nine Lessons and Carols and explored Creation through the Bible.

We listened to the story of Creation as told through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, sang it in our hymns and saw images of it on screen.

The congregation were invited to think about the following questions over the next week or talk about them over coffee:

Which readings surprised you, moved you, spoke to you?
Did any of them change the way you think about the Bible and Creation?

Here we share the nine readings alongside the image that appeared on screen for each. Between the Old and New Testament readings we paused to watch a video from Resound Worship and reflect quietly on the words.

Genesis 1: In the beginning

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there w as light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Job 38: God speaks out of the storm

31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades?

Can you loosen Orion’s belt?

32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons[c]

or lead out the Bear with its cubs?

33 Do you know the laws of the heavens?

Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds

and cover yourself with a flood of water?

35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?

Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

36 Who gives the ibis wisdom

or gives the rooster understanding?

37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?

Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens

38 when the dust becomes hard

and the clods of earth stick together?

39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness

and satisfy the hunger of the lions

40 when they crouch in their dens

or lie in wait in a thicket?

41 Who provides food for the raven

when its young cry out to God

and wander about for lack of food?

Psalm 96: Creation praises God

11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;

let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,

he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Isaiah 43: God’s mercy and Israel’s unfaithfulness

16 This is what the Lord says—

he who made a way through the sea,

a path through the mighty waters,

17 who drew out the chariots and horses,

the army and reinforcements together,

and they lay there, never to rise again,

extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

18 “Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

20 The wild animals honour me,

the jackals and the owls,

because I provide water in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to my people, my chosen,

21 the people I formed for myself

that they may proclaim my praise.

Reflection

Mark 4: The Parable of the mustard seed / Jesus calms the storm

30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” 33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

John 1: The Word became flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Romans 8: Present suffering and future glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Colossians 1: The supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Revelation 22: Eden restored

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Full order of service

Seeking swifts

Sat, 13 May 2023 13:04:51 GMT

Putnoe Heights Church treasurer and Eco Church team member, Andrew Dennison, writes about these enigmatic birds.

On 3 May 2023, about 7:25pm, I spotted my first swift of the year. It was a solitary bird feeding high in the sky above Church Lane in Goldington. The following Saturday morning I saw four together, and again on Sunday. The swifts were undoubtedly back.

I had been studying the skies over Putnoe and Goldington for over a week beforehand, whenever I happened to be out and about. I don't usually pay such attention to these birds. Normally I just become aware of them at some point when their piercing scream-like calls just happen to grab my attention. Then I know that summer has arrived and I think back to the birds that used to nest above the windows in an office I used to work in. The summer was filled by their calls outside as they swooped at speed above the car park.

But this year is different. This year I have been actively waiting for them. Because this year we have nest boxes on the wall of Putnoe Heights Church and I feel more connected to them than ever before. Their return to our skies arrives with an accompanying hope that some may take up residence.

We put up these swift boxes last summer (three in total, high on a north facing wall above the church) as part of our work as an Eco Church. God made of all creation, Christ came to redeem all of creation and we, in our mission as a church, recognise our place as part of that creation - within it, not above or outside it. All nature acts as witness to God's work and care for the environment is an intrinsic part of our calling as Christians.

We are not alone with our new boxes. Last summer St Mary's Church in Goldington (a fellow member of North Bedford Churches Together) also installed a large nest box inside the bell tower with room for 8 nesting pairs. And nearby St Andrew's has multiple nest boxes in their tower with room for 34 pairs. Both St Mary's and St Andrew's are Bronze awarded Eco Churches too.

Why this interest in swifts specifically? Well, partly it's about our buildings. Swifts like to nest at height and so church towers, for instance, are particularly suitable when they would be too high to attract many other species to nest. But nest boxes for swifts work equally well beneath the eaves or ordinary houses too.

It's also about responding to need. In December 2021 the swift was added to the British Trust for Ornithology's "Red List" for species of highest conservation concern and the need for urgent action. The significance of the swift reaching this status was emphasised by it being the bird shown on the cover of the BTO's report that published the updated list.

This concern has sparked widespread reaction. A Rocha UK (the charity that runs Eco Church) has made the swift one of the ten priority conservation species named within their Target 25 of habitats, species and groups . The RSPB launched a national project called Swift Cities to raise awareness and track populations in cities. The Feather Speech ran a national conservation campaign calling for compulsory 'swift bricks' in all new housing.

The reasons for the decline of the swift are inevitably complex and varied. They are migratory and can easily travel over 14,000 in a year as they migrate from UK to southern Africa and back again. Much can happen to them along the way. For food they rely on insects which have also seen massive declines due to pesticides and farming practices, so food will be far scarcer than before. There is little we can directly do about these issues as individuals.

But there is one thing we definitely can do - and are doing. Swifts nest in cavities, usually in buildings. They are site faithful and will return to the same nest each year - but increasingly they now return to find their nest sites lost or blocked off. Modern housing includes far fewer cavities than older housing. Ironically, it may often be our environmentally conscious efforts to improve home insulation that inadvertently results in lost nesting cavities for swifts. Providing alternative nest boxes is therefore crucial to balance other lost nesting sites, and these man-made cavities can also potentially be used by other cavity nesting species on the Red List: house sparrows, starlings and house martins.

Swifts are truly amazing birds. They spend almost their entire lives in flight - eating, drinking, sleeping and mating are all done on the wing. In fact pretty much the only thing they can't do on the wing is nest. Thus, when they faithfully return to their nest cavity in early May it is likely the first time they will have landed since they left the exact same cavity the previous year. They are supremely adapted to life in the air and their graceful flight through our skies is a delight to watch.

There is no guarantee that swifts will ever use the nest boxes that have been installed - at Putnoe Heights, St Mary's or St Andrew's. Or it may take many years of waiting before they do. To try and encourage them, a recording of swift calls is played from a speaker in one of the boxes - set on a timer around dawn and dusk each day.

If we as a church can help these birds with our next boxes then that will be wonderful. You can help too. You may not be able to provide a next box on your own home (though if you could, that would be a brilliant thing to do) but you can help us to keep watch on our boxes. High above our heads it will hard to know if any boxes are used - by swifts or by sparrows, starlings or anything else - unless we happen to spot birds going in or out. So lift your eyes heavenwards when you're nearby. And if you see anything, let us know!

St Mary's Eco Church Journey

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 09:59:00 GMT

In this special guest post, Colin Last, the Environmental Officer at St Mary's Goldington shares some of their Eco Church journey with us. Putnoe Heights and St Mary's are both part of North Bedford Churches Together. Every church that embarks on the Eco Church programme will have a different journey depending on their circumstances and so we wanted to share our stories with each other.

About St Mary's

At St Mary’s we believe environmental issues are at the core of our Christian faith and that we are custodians of the environment for future generations. So how have we been responding to the climate and biodiversity crisis?

We joined the Eco Church scheme in 2020, mainly to be part of a wider movement and not just doing things on our own. It has allowed us to compare what we do with other churches and provides an incentive for us to improve. It has certainly made us think about things which we weren’t doing or considering.

I like the scheme because it encourages us to look at everything we do. It promotes good environmental practice in ALL aspects of our church life, including – Worship and Teaching; Management of Buildings and Land; Community and Global Engagement; and Lifestyle.

At its core is the comprehensive Eco Church Survey. Some things we were doing well already, but others we weren’t. We worked through the requirements to gain a Bronze Award in November 2021.

Our Church

St Mary’s is the Anglican parish church of Goldington and is probably quite typical of hundreds of parish churches throughout the UK. We are a grade II listed building with the older parts dating back to the thirteen and fifteen centuries. We have a churchyard with over 400 gravestones. It is closed meaning that burials no longer take place, although interment of ashes still occurs.

In addition, there is about an acre of land to the south of the churchyard. This includes the church hall, built in the 1960’s, a car park area, and green areas including a largish, grassed area by the hall. We have a number of trees within the churchyard and also in the rest of the grounds.

Our weekly congregation averages around 90. Although we have many elderly parishioners, we also have families with young children attending which we are building on. The church hall sees a lot of activity, particularly now that the pandemic is receding. Our church has seen worship for 800 years and we certainly see it continuing for a long time.

St Mary's Eco Church Survey

There are many challenges we face to become a truly environmentally friendly church. I discuss below how we have been getting on with each part of the Eco Church survey.

Management of Land

One area we were failing on spectacularly was in looking after our land. There was certainly a tendency in the past to regard the church yard as having to look ‘tidy’, and consequently grass was cut regularly everywhere with no areas for wildlife encouraged.

We have made major improvements over the past 2 years.

We took part in the ‘Count for Nature Week’ in June 2020 and with help from both Messy Church and the local Guides we recorded the wildlife we have in our churchyard.

We then drew up a Wildlife Plan for the churchyard, with lots of ideas on improving the environment and increasing biodiversity.

Some of the ways we have improved things for wildlife include:

Installing 8 swift nest boxes in the Bell Tower
Putting up nest boxes in the churchyard. Two were used by Great tits last year.
Creating a hedgehog home. Not being inhabited yet.
Leaving wild corners where deadwood, leaf piles and vegetation can provide shelter and homes for wildlife.
Leaving some areas of grass to grow long to encourage spring and summer flowers, and a habitat for bees, insects, butterflies etc. Over the summer there was a fine display of ox-eye daisies which occurred naturally. We have also added some supplementary planting of primroses, cowslips, and foxgloves.
Leaving some areas under long grass throughout the year which will provide shelter, food and overwintering sites for invertebrate and other small animals.
Last year we took part in the Queens Green Canopy project, planting four whips (Cherry, Birch, Oak, Lime) and creating a hedge along one boundary.
There are 26 trees which are managed with safety in mind, but deadwood is encouraged, and ivy allowed to grow on the trees.
Going forward we have ambitious plans to create a pond in the paddock area next to the church hall.

I feel we have made great strides. From having an initial very low score on the Eco Church Survey of only 4% we now have a high score of 60%. The churchyard is no longer ‘tidy’. It does however require a lot of volunteer work and it is encouraging that several of our congregation have given of their time during the year. We wouldn’t have succeeded without their help.

Management of Buildings

The Church of England has an ambitious plan to become net zero carbon by 2030. It is an aim which St Mary’s has also agreed to try and achieve.

Yes, we have smart meters and LED bulbs, but by far the biggest part of our carbon footprint which we need to address is the energy we consume in heating the two buildings. Our ancient church is a particular challenge having a large space with a high ceiling. Being listed we are also restricted in what we can do.

To reduce the amount of CO2 we emit will require us to replace the existing gas boilers with a greener alternative. It is a bold step which will need substantial investment but will be necessary if we are to be true to our goals for tackling climate change. We are currently investigating our options as to how we can realistically and affordably achieve this. If anyone has an easy answer let me know…

Worship and Teaching

We have been good in our worship and teaching. There has been a marked change over the past few years. The clergy and worship team are fully on board and environmental concerns have been in our thoughts, regularly included in our prayers in church, and featured in our monthly magazine.

Lifestyle

We encourage our congregation to think about their impact on the environment and what they can do to help. For example, some of us joined in the Plastic Free Lent campaign. Much more difficult than giving up chocolate….

We encourage car sharing in coming to church. We promote the use of Fairtrade products.

The Eco Church Survey suggests there is much more we can do. This year, just as we have measured the carbon footprint of the church, we will be asking people to measure their own carbon footprint. And then looking at ways of how this can be reduced.

There are now some great resources available, easily accessible online, to help in learning about environmental issues and how to get involved. We encourage people to get more informed.

Community and Global Engagement

We did just enough to gain our Bronze Award in this section and to be honest there is a lot of room for improvement.

We engage with our own congregation but could certainly be more proactive in also engaging with our local community. I can praise what Putnoe Heights Church does in getting the word out on social media, which is something we don’t currently do enough of at St Mary’s.

Postscript

The main lesson I have learned is that it is important to try and involve as many people as possible. The climate crisis affects everyone, and we all need to be doing our bit to solve this.

I am currently reading ‘The Climate Book’ created by Greta Thunberg in collaboration with over a hundred experts. It is a comprehensive analysis of the climate crisis. It reinforces the importance of what we are trying to achieve through Eco Church. We have no time to lose. The next goal in our journey at St Mary’s is the Silver Award, which won’t be easy to obtain but we will get there. And soon.

A greener Lent

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 13:56:37 GMT

A Rocha UK, the Christian charity behind the Eco Church programme, have two resources to help you journey through Lent. The first is focused on taking time to connect with our Creator and God’s creation, the second asks h ow can we become better at caring for creation and improving our lives and the lives of others through healthy, eco-friendly and sustainable living?

Connect with God's creation over Lent

This new downloadable resource has a theme and suggested activities for each week of Lent.

Week 1: Bring nature into your home or garden.

Week 2: Connect with creation in a new way.

Week 3: Discover the great outdoors with company.

Week 4: Plan a Wild Time!

Week 5: Join us to protect and restore nature together.

Week 6: Be still in nature.

Easter Sunday: The Easter hope of reconciliation is good news for all.

Go Green(er) for Lent

The Lenten 40-day period before Easter gives us the opportunity to reflect on the practice of fasting and commit to giving up something that brings a real benefit to nature and helps address climate change. Below are some changes you could make that will help the environment. Take time to pray, reflect and consider these options – pick one or two or however many you’d like (you never know the changes might just stick!)

Go plastic free . Even if you can’t become totally plastic-free, make it your goal to at least reduce your use of plastic.
Switch off from digital. Explore technology-free times or areas of the house, switching to ‘airplane mode’ for the first hour in the morning and the last hour at night, ‘switch off Sundays’, reaching for your Bible over your device(s) and writing a list of outdoor things that you enjoy.
Boycott fast fashion.
Buy less or second hand.
Buy local or in bulk.
Become zero waste. Slowly try to reduce your waste a bit every week. Consider giving a home-made gift instead of buying a present, upcycling items or looking at your food shop and seeing what items you could buy differently, spending a bit more on loose fruit and veg for example.
Spend more time in nature.
Invite wildlife into your garden.
Try a plant-based recipe or diet. Start by cooking yourself vegan or plant-based meals once a week and take it from there. As time goes on, cook more vegan/vegetarian meals and try to eliminate as many animal products from your diet as you can.
Grow your own. Whether you have a garden or sunny windowsill, find out what you can sow and grow on a month-to-month basis.
Change your method of transport. Choose one day a week to walk, cycle or take public transport to work where you are able to.
Take a step to save energy in your home.
Move your money. Could you divest from fossil fuels and support a bank which invests in renewables?
Join the Eco Church community. Make a commitment to long term action on the environment in your local community through Eco Church or other greening schemes. If you’re already part of an Eco Church, find out how you can help your church achieve the next award level.

As we look towards Lent, Lord, open our eyes each day to see something new and wonderful in your world, so we may choose to be more considerate towards your creation during this time of reflection and beyond.

Go green for Christmas

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 12:26:52 GMT

In this post we take a look at some of the ways that you can have a greener Christmas.

There are lots of blog posts and articles exploring this idea, so we’ve picked out eight of the most simple and practical tips. At the end of the post are links to some other articles if you want to go further.

Why not try one or two of the suggestions here and let us know how you get on.

Buying your presents

What and how we buy matters. Think about the amount of packaging, the companies you buy from and make sure your gifts don’t cost the earth.

When researching gifts online, try the non-for-profit search engine Ecosia . All their profits are used for climate action, with at least 80% financing tree-planting projects around the world. Their solar panels produce enough energy to power your searches twice over, meaning more renewables (and fewer fossil fuels) in the energy grid.
Go for quality not quantity. Over half of UK adults say they have received gifts they don't want at Christmas. When buying gifts think: less but better, putting the time into picking a quality item that will last a long time. This reduces the chances of gifts going to waste and can be better for your wallet! Alternatively, you could try a family Secret Santa which means you don't have to buy for everyone.

Wrapping your presents

We all want the presents we give to look attractive (although some of us are better at the skill of wrapping than others!) but what we use to wrap our presents is also important.

• Lots of wrapping paper can’t be recycled. Plastic, foil and glitter are big problems when it comes to recycling. If when you scrunch it up it springs back, it isn’t recyclable. Look for non-glossy paper that feels like paper. Recyclable brown paper is also a good option and if you saved last year’s Christmas cards you can use them to make the tags to bring some colour to your wrapped present.

• Ditch the sellotape – sticky tape can’t be recycled. Look out for biodegradable paper tape, some companies even sell special festive designs.

Food

Meals over the festive season bring people together and are a chance to spend time with family and friends. There are lots of things you can do to make your meals more sustainable.

Buy locally produced, seasonal products. This reduces the energy spent growing foods out of season or shipping food to the UK. Eating with the seasons is also a great way of supporting local farmers.
If you want to go one step further, why not try a vegetarian Christmas meal? Eating more plant-based meals is good for you and the planet. A high-meat diet causes environmental problems, such as overgrazing of land, pollution, or the intensive use of water or fossil fuels. If you do eat meat, try and make sure it’s free-range or organic, and buy it from a local farmer or independent retailer.

Nature

Getting outside is good for us and gives us a chance to enjoy God’s creation. We can also help nature by providing food and shelter.

Reconnect to nature: for many of us the festive season is about spending time with friends and family. Try making one of your festive activities a walk around your local park or nature reserve. Winter is a great time to spot all sorts of over-wintering birds.
Look after wildlife this Christmas. Resist the urge to sweep away leaves and other debris from your garden as many small mammals use them to keep warm. Set up a bird table and put out high-fat foods (sunflower seeds, peanuts, bird feed) for robins and other garden birds to keep them warm during the long nights.

Green Christmas blog round up

Want even more inspiration or information about the benefits of going green at Christmas?

Our twelve tips for a greener Christmas (A Rocha UK)
Ideas for a Greener Christmas (A Rocha UK)
Top tips for a sustainable Christmas (WWF)
21 eco-friendly Christmas tips (Friends of the Earth)
16 tips for a greener Christmas (The Eden Project)
How to have an eco-Christmas (The Wildlife Trusts)
10 green acts of Christmas kindness (CPRE, the countryside charity)
Christmas, but make it eco: our tips to make your holiday season greener (CPRE, the countryside charity)
Sustainable Christmas ideas: 13 ways to make this yuletide greener (Positive.News)

Your guide to COP27

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 11:57:42 GMT

This month’s blog post explains everything you need to know about COP27. It ends with some prayer resources.

What is COP27?

UN climate summits are held every year, they are referred to as COPs, which stands for "Conference of the Parties". The parties are the attending countries that signed up to the original UN climate agreement in 1992.

COP27 is the 27th annual UN meeting on climate. It will take place in Egypt from 6 to 18 November.

What's on the agenda?

COP27 will focus on three main areas:

Reducing emissions
Helping countries to prepare for and deal with climate change
Securing technical support and funding for developing countries for the above

Some areas not fully resolved or covered at COP26 will be picked up:

Loss and damage finance - money to help countries recover from the effects of climate change, rather than just prepare for it. This is the focus of a major campaign from Christian Aid.
Establishment of a global carbon market - you can find out more about carbon markets on the United Nations Development Programme website.
Strengthen the commitments to reduce coal use

There will also be themed days on issues including gender, agriculture and biodiversity.

Who will be attending?

More than 200 governments have been invited. Environmental charities, community groups, think tanks, businesses and faith groups will also take part.

How can I pray for COP27?

A number of Christian organisations have produced prayer guides to help. Here we highlight two.

Tearfund - Pray for the UK Government and COP27

Pray for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, that the Lord would bless and guide him in his new role. Pray that the new leaders in the Cabinet will make decisions for the long-term benefit of all.
Pray for strong leadership and integrity in the UK Government in the lead up to and at COP27 from 6 November. Pray they would turn words to action and deliver on their promises of climate finance to low-income countries.
Praise God for the hundreds of supporters who took our Send a Coin action to remind the former Prime Minister Liz Truss of the overdue climate finance bill. Ask that the new UK Government will be moved by this powerful endorsement from the public.
Pray for the church in the UK, for the thousands of Christians who continue to use their voice to speak up for climate justice and for those joining the marches on Saturday 12 November – that they would be encouraged, and that their calls would be heard by the decision-makers and leaders.

JRI / BUEN - Dr Dave Gregory convener of BUEN (the Baptist Union Environment Network) and JRI chair shares his thoughts in the run up to COP27 with prayer points from Dr Mike Morecroft JRI chair and IPCC (UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) lead author.

Action for Hope

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 13:56:26 GMT

This month's blog post unpacks the Methodist Church's Action for Hope plan.

What is Action for Hope?

The Methodist Church has set an aspirational target of becoming a net zero carbon emissions church by 2030. Many districts, circuits and churches have already begun to work towards net zero goals, an Eco District award, or other aims in caring for creation.

To support this journey it was agreed at the Methodist Conference in 2020 that to enable the diversity of the church to fully engage, it was important to develop a range of key partnerships along the way.

With the endorsement of the Conference, the Methodist Church is working with Faith Invest who run the Faith Plans programme which help faiths to use their assets, investments and influence to drive practical action to benefit people and the planet.

The programme involves each religious group developing a long-term action plan to determine how they will manage their assets and resources over the next seven to ten years. The plan is called Action for Hope.

What is the focus of Action for Hope?

The Methodist Church has decided to initially focus on three key areas:

Faith-consistent use of assets – including investments, purchasing power, buildings and land.

Wisdom – including theology, liturgies and prayer.

Lifestyles – including traditions of simple living.

What does that look like in practice?

Assets

By 2030 all travel, electricity and gas directly funded by the Church will have net zero emissions.
Resources will be produced to support members and church leaders to reduce carbon emissions related to Methodist properties and activities as well as guidance on listed buildings, new property projects and use of other fuel sources.
Much has already been achieved in recent years, notably in investment policies. The electricity used at Methodist Central House in London is from 100% renewable sources.

Wisdom

The main resource available is Hope in God’s Future. This was last updated in 2020 but it is planned that a further update will be issued in 2023. The report offers not just a statement on our approach to climate change but resources including for small group reflection and whole-church conversation.
Download the 2020 edition (PDF)

Lifestyles

At the January 2022 meeting of the Methodist Council, the aim of encouraging Methodist members and adherents to reduce their carbon footprints, particularly via the three key areas of energy, travel and diet (the biggest contributors to individual emissions) was proposed.
Updates and resources on living sustainably will be produced in the coming months.

The Methodist Church's Six Steps to Net Zero

1. Assess where you are. Take a snapshot of your carbon footprint now, as a community or as an individual.

2. Green your energy. Use energy efficiently by reducing waste. Where possible, source energy from renewables.

3. Travel smart. Minimise unnecessary travel, use public transport or bikes where possible, car share when you can and fly rarely.

4. Go for gold. Eco Church offers a structured and well-resourced award scheme for churches to join. Five hundred Methodist churches are already registered.

5. Live Light. Reduce how much we buy, reuse and repair what we can and make careful choices in what we eat.

6. Celebrate together. Take time to reflect on, share and celebrate your achievements.

Download a one page summary.

What next?

In autumn 2021, a task group of Connexional Team members was appointed to take the work forward, reporting to the Methodist Council on progress in January 2022 and to the Methodist Conference in June 2022.

Keep up to date via the Action for Hope page of the Methodist Church website.

Counting butterflies

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 13:31:54 GMT

This month’s blog post puts the focus on citizen science and invites our readers to join in with The Big Butterfly Count.

What is citizen science?

Citizen science projects involve ordinary people of all ages and backgrounds taking part in scientific studies by collecting and reporting data. The information they gather can then be used by scientists and conservationists to inform their work. These kind of projects usually don’t require a huge time commitment or need much prior knowledge. Lots of projects provide free resources like identification guides and will help you to understand what impact your results will have.

The Big Butterfly Count

The Big Butterfly Count is run by Butterfly Conservation, a British charity devoted to saving butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout the UK. The count is a nationwide citizen science survey aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world's biggest survey of butterflies. Over 107,000 citizen scientists took part in 2021, submitting 152,039 counts of butterflies and day-flying moths from across the UK.

As well as being important in themselves as pollinators, butterflies can act as an early warning for other wildlife losses. Butterflies are key biodiversity indicators for scientists as they react very quickly to changes in their environment. if their numbers are falling, then nature is in trouble.

The Big Butterfly Count 2022 opens on 1st July ready for the main event between 15th July and 7th August. All the counts can be viewed on an interactive map .

All you need to do to take part is to count butterflies for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny) weather during the Big Butterfly Count. This is the time of year when most butterflies are at the adult stage of their lifecycle, so more likely to be seen. Records are welcome from anywhere: from parks, school grounds and gardens, to fields and forests. You can count from a fixed position or on a walk.

You can do as many counts as you want to: you can submit separate records for different dates at the same place, and for different places that you visit. And your count is useful even if you do not see any butterflies or moths.

An ID guide is available to download and results can be submitt ed during July and August via the website or by using the Big Butterfly Count app.

Putnoe Heights Big Butterfly Count

As well as submitting results for your own garden, we’d love it if some of our readers were able to spend 15 minutes around the church grounds so that we can find out which butterflies are visiting our planting. You can submit your results as above but do let us know how you get on via online@putnoechurch.org.uk You’ll be helping Butterfly Conservation as well as helping our church with the Land category in the Eco Church scheme as undertaking wildlife surveys is one of our targets.

Why not spend 15 minutes sat in the sunshine on the bench outside church contemplating the wonder of creation and doing your bit for conservation?

Three more citizen science nature & environment projects

The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch is one of the best known initiatives. The project has now yielded 40 years of data to help scientists understand how garden birds are faring in the UK. The 2022 results and analysis are now available. The Birdwatch usually takes place at the end of January.

Plantlife run No Mow May , a campaign where people are encouraged to leave their lawns to grow long during May. Alongside they run Every Flower Counts, a citizen science activity where participants record which flowers appear in their lawns and are given a Personal Nectar Score, showing how many bees their lawn can support. The combined results give an indication of the nectar the average lawn in the UK can produce. The survey results also allow them to monitor change over time.

Star Count is an annual piece of citizen science from CPRE, the countryside charity . It is about mapping the light pollution which stops people enjoying dark starry skies. Participants submit data based on how many stars they can see in the constellation of Orion. It is usually run in February / March. The Night Blight maps that are produced as a result help people to take action locally.

Isaiah and creation

Fri, 27 May 2022 10:58:08 GMT

A special blog post for Bible Month

Bible Month is an annual campaign that celebrates scripture by inviting the whole Methodist Church to feast on one particular book of the Bible together. In 2022 we are exploring Isaiah.

If you’re interested in what Isaiah might have to say about creation and the environment, then this post explores some of the things that you might want to look out for.

God as creator

Isaiah reinforces the idea that God is creator of all. Look out for images like those in chapter 45: It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshalled their starry hosts.

Farming and cultivation

Throughout Isaiah you’ll find images of vineyards, crops like wheat and barley to make bread, bees to provide honey, cattle for milk and meat, and herbs for cooking. These images are sometimes used metaphorically (e.g. the vineyard to represent Israel) but also show us that an ideal world is one where people can feed themselves and live peacefully with each other and God. As chapter 65 says, They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Landscapes, habitats and wild creatures

Look out for descriptions of landscapes and landscape features – meadows, mountains, deserts, rivers, springs, trees and forests all feature throughout Isaiah. You’ll also find lots of different animals and birds named (although the species can vary in different translations) along with the places where they live. Some passages also show an understanding of animal behaviour, like this one from chapter 34: The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them, and care for her young under the shadow of her wings. Some of these passages show us that there are places where humans don’t live, such as deserts, but there are non human inhabitants who do belong there. God has created all of these.

Destruction, renewal and restoration

This is one of Isaiah’s most important themes, through the book we see descriptions of the land being destroyed and degraded as a result of human behaviour and rejection of God. However, we also see images of a restored creation where life flourishes and human and non-human creation live in harmony. From chapter 35: The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

Creation praises

Look out for descriptions of the whole of creation praising, worshipping and honouring God. One of the most famous passages comes in chapter 55: You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Bible study questions

The following notes and questions come from the 30 day guided reading plan for Bible Month prepared by the Methodist Church’s Learning Network:

Isaiah 25-27 The gloomy description of the world being 'utterly broken' is suddenly replaced by a vision of a world made new. First Judah, then Israel, and finally all people will be renewed. God's judgement will be revealed as a tool of salvation: a means of saving the world from the powers of chaos and darkness, depicted as the sea monster Leviathan. There are lots of allusions here to key stories, ideas and images in Genesis 1-3. Which ones can you identify?

Isaiah 42-43 The new hope is based on an unnamed figure, the ‘Faithful Servant.’ At the time they probably had Cyrus, the King of Persia in mind, or maybe it was a metaphor for the renewed nation of Israel. Later, Christians would see Jesus in these words. The restoration is for the creation too; the author seems to have a fondness for jackals and ostriches. What other creation motifs can you see in the text?

Isaiah 65-66 The book ends with a beautiful vision of a new heaven and a new earth. Isaiah extends the scope of the rescue from exile once again; not just for his contemporaries in Babylon, but for all people and all of creation. Can you see the connections with Revelation 21-22?

Walking with Micah & climate justice

Sat, 07 May 2022 10:28:51 GMT

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8, NIV)

The Methodist Church is currently exploring the question of what does it mean for the Methodist Church to be a justice-seeking church through the Walking with Micah project. It acknowledges that we live at a time of huge change when domestic and global injustices are being revealed and intensified and asks how can our world be renewed so that all God’s creation, people and planet, can flourish?

What is climate justice?

A good definition of climate justice comes from the Natural History Museum website :

“Climate justice recognises that climate change will not affect everyone in the same way, and that this will lead to inequalities between places, people and even generations. It moves climate change conversations beyond the science and the physical impacts, to questions of politics and ethics, such as who should bear responsibility for paying for the damage caused by climate change, or how much developed countries should help the developing world increase their energy use in a sustainable way.”

Why should Christians care?

Ruth Valerio is the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director for Tearfund and has written extensively on the link between climate change and poverty, and why Christians should care about climate change.

Writing for the Tearfund blog in 2020 she said:

“For those who are already vulnerable, this is a life-threatening emergency that is pushing them further into poverty. The climate crisis is a justice issue.

This is even more evident when we reflect on what it means that we’re made ‘in the image of God’ (Genesis 1:26–28).

Firstly, it speaks of the absolute equality between people. Acting justly means not only responding to the needs of our immediate communities, but also looking to our global neighbours living in countries that do not have the financial protection or healthcare that we do.”

Want to go deeper?

The Revd Simon Topping has written a series of blogs on the theology of climate justice for the Methodist Church. The aim is to help ground the climate crisis, and our responsibilities as Christians to address it, in the Bible.

Time to Deliver - a Tearfund campaign for 2022

Tearfund are calling on the UK Government to ensure finance is delivered to climate-vulnerable communities.
Find out more and sign the petition.

Climate Justice: Every moment matters - a Christian Aid campaign

Christian Aid have lots of resources related to Climate Justice and a Loss and Damage petition which calls on Boris Johnson to fully back the creation of an international loss and damage fund.

Find out more and sign the petition.

Ethical shopping in Bedford

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 12:44:59 GMT

In our survey about content for this blog, you told us that you’d like to read more about lifestyle tips and ways to live more lightly on the earth. In this month’s blog post we put the spotlight on three local enterprises helping you to spend your money more ethically and help the environment.

The Store (St Cuthbert’s Street)

The Store is Bedford’s zero waste shop. Customers bring their own empty containers to fill or use the paper bags and recycled jars available. Their large (and ever expanding!) range includes pasta, rice, oat milk, bread, fruit and vegetables, laundry liquid, soap and chocolate. An ethical sourcing policy means that you can be confident that the brands have been well researched, local producers are supported and that sustainability is put first. The friendly team are always ready to help and answer any questions you might have.

In July 2021, The Store partnered with local resident, Alan Cooley of Silverfields Living Walls and Bedford Borough Council to construct Bedford's first living wall . You can see it on the exterior wall of St Cuthbert's Arcade. Living Walls are a great way of bringing nature into towns and they have other benefits such as better air quality and absorbing noise and heat.

Fairtrade at St Andrew’s (Kimbolton Road)

Fairtrade at St Andrew’s stocks products from a range of Fairtrade producers, including Traidcraft which was set up as a Christian response to poverty. In response to restrictions brought in by the Covid-19 pandemic they set up a delivery service in addition to running the shop and stalls. The shop is open on Wednesdays between 11:00-12:00, in addition Coffee & Company runs in the foyer on the first Friday of each month 10.00 to 12.00 with the shop open alongside.

As well as being good news for workers, artisans and producers, Fairtrade is also good for the environment . Farmers are supported to improve soil and water quality, manage pests, avoid using harmful chemicals, manage waste, reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity.

Green Earth Café (St Paul’s Square)

Green Earth Café is a vegan café, specialising in plant based food and cake. They use locally roasted coffee and are home to Made in Bedfordshire which supports local craftspeople by providing a platform to sell sustainable and handmade products. They also run events such as Craft Stash Swaps, music nights and advice sessions on aspects on environmentally friendly living.

And don’t forget about charity shops…

They do a great job of helping us to reduce, reuse and recycle. Plus your money does good by helping to fund the work of charities in the UK and overseas.

Do you have any other top tips for ethical shopping in Bedford? Let us know via online@putnoechurch.org.uk and we’ll add them to the list.

Net zero and carbon footprints explained

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 16:37:01 GMT

In this post we take a look at what the terms net zero and carbon footprint mean, why they are important and how churches and individuals can make a difference.

What does net zero actually mean?

The Energy Saving Trust explains net zero like this: The term net zero means achieving a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it. This balance – or net zero – will happen when the amount of carbon we add to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed.

Why is net zero an important ambition?

The science clearly shows that in order to avert the worst impacts of climate change and preserve a liveable planet, global temperature increase needs to be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The UN Net Zero Coalition says that emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

Can net zero actually be achieved?

Yes! However, it is a huge challenge and urgent action is required. Net zero means we need to rethink, as a society and as individuals, how much we consume, how we make things, how we travel and what we eat. The solutions to reducing emissions are varied and include economic and social changes (e.g. tax incentives, educational programmes and community based projects), developing new green technologies and nature based responses (e.g. renewable energy, peatland restoration and tree planting)

What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere as a result of our actions.

Why calculate it?
If we understand our impact then we can take steps to reduce it. Carbon footprint calculators help us see what changes we can make.

How do I calculate my carbon footprint?
There are lots of online carbon calculators. We have road tested a sample of them and would recommend either of the two calculators below.

The WWF carbon footprint calculator is a quick and easy to use online questionnaire. It covers food, travel, home and spending. There are lots of helpful hints and "did you know?" facts as you work your way through. At the end it will tell you how you compare to the UK average and which section of the survey produced the largest percentage of your carbon footprint.

The Climate Stewards calculator for individuals is more in-depth, and may require you to do a little research, but you will get a much more accurate picture of your carbon footprint. At the end of the survey you will be given the opportunity to offset your carbon emissions by making a donation which is used to fund Climate Stewards’ partners in Ghana, Kenya, Nepal, Peru, Tanzania and Uganda. They work with local partners on community-based projects that either reduce carbon emissions or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

If you give one of the carbon footprint calculators a try, think about:
What changes can you make?
What was the most surprising thing about your results?

Is the church going to be calculating its carbon footprint?
Yes! We will be using the Climate Stewards 360º Carbon calculator , which is the one recommended for churches taking part in the Eco Church scheme. We will be looking at key areas including energy use, food and waste. Calculating this year’s footprint will help us monitor our progress in future years.

Eco Church

The Eco Church programme provides a framework for churches looking to take action to reduce their carbon footprints, campaign for local and global action and learn more about the Biblical mandate for creation care.

Andy Atkins from A Rocha UK says : “Addressing climate change is a profound opportunity for human society to learn to live in balance with other parts of God’s creation, as he intended. Christians and churches have unique assets to bring to bear to this challenge of our generation and Eco Church provides a learning community with multiple tools in which churches can advance together.”

Action for Hope

The Methodist Church has decided to initially focus on three key areas:

Faith-consistent use of assets – including investments, purchasing power, buildings and land.

Wisdom – including theology, liturgies and prayer.

Lifestyles – including traditions of simple living.

More detail on Action for Hope will be released later in 2022.

*Do you have any questions about net zero or carbon footprints that we haven’t answered here? Send them to online@putnoechurch.org.uk and we’ll add them to this post!*

Beyond Bronze

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 15:09:58 GMT

We’ve always been clear that Eco Church isn’t a box ticking exercise, a case of getting an award and then moving on to something else. It’s something we want to embed into our church life and continue to work on together.

But how did we get to this stage of our journey and where do we hope to go next?

In June 2019 Putnoe Heights Church Council voted to register with Eco Church , A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth. It was seen as a positive project which would build on areas that were already seen as important to us as a church, social and community action at local level and beyond. We were also very aware that environmental issues were of increasing concern to people, especially younger generations. We saw an opportunity to bring a church voice into the conversation, alongside taking practical action to lead by example in our community.

The first step was to take the Eco Church survey. This is a detailed survey that covers the five areas of the Eco Church programme – Worship & Teaching, Buildings, Land, Community & Global Engagement and Lifestyle. We included as many people as possible at this stage so that the church members who knew about our building, our money, our land management, our catering and so on could help us answer honestly and find out more about the targets that might lie ahead. As a result of the initial survey we were delighted to find ourselves at Silver in Worship & Teaching and Buildings, and Bronze in Community & Global Engagement. This meant that we knew we had work to do in the Land and Lifestyle categories but it also gave us a boost as there were things we were already doing well.

We then looked to see what small changes we could make quite easily. We decided to set a target in each of the Eco Church categories, regardless of our score in the survey, so that we could keep working holistically. Early changes included switching to recycled paper in the church office and asking our team of intercessors to include environmental themed prayers where appropriate. We also added Eco Church on to our meeting agendas so that it would be considered in everything we do.

January 2020 saw the launch of the Eco Church newsletter which was created to help us communicate our Eco Church journey to church members. Amazingly, the newsletters have developed a wider readership and we know of regular readers in other parts of the country as well as in other churches in Bedford. We also set up an Eco Church noticeboard in the church entrance area.

When the Covid-19 pandemic and associated restrictions hit, the church closed and we wondered how and if we could keep the Eco Church momentum going. We introduced midweek Eco Church reflections which were posted on the website, on Facebook and distributed by email during the first of the lockdowns. The lockdowns also saw an increase in people engaging with their local green spaces, countryside and wildlife and so, inspired by 30 Days Wild from the Wildlife Trusts , we introduced a Connect to Creation project on our Instagram channel . We wanted Instagram to be a place where we could focus on our Eco Church journey and engage with people who might be interested in environmental issues but have little or no experience of church. The Connect to Creation project continues to share photographs of nature taken in the local area. The posts encourage people to appreciate the natural world by finding new ways to slow down and connect to God's creation.

In September 2020 we were delighted to be receive a Bronze award.

In 2021, we continued to set actions across the five Eco Church categories and held a Climate Sunday service in August. Climate Sunday services were held in the run up to COP26 in Glasgow and encouraged churches to explore the theological and scientific basis of creation care and action on climate, to pray, and to commit to action. As part of that service we committed as a congregation to working towards a Silver Eco Church award.

Recent successful projects include the setting up of an empty blister pack recycling point in church, with a second collection point at Miller Place, a local retirement development. As part of the Queen’s Canopy tree planting initiative for the 2022 Platinum Jubilee, we are planting and nurturing a mixed hedgerow at the back of the church car park.

Acknowledging the climate crisis, at the 2021 Methodist Conference an aspirational target of becoming a net zero emissions Church by 2030 was agreed. With this in mind we will be calculating the carbon footprint of the church and encouraging church members to calculate their own carbon footprints, so that we can work together on reducing our carbon emissions.

Finding more ways to explore the link between environmental action, the Bible and our faith is an important goal for the future. We are also committed to working with other churches to share our experiences and learn from others, this is happening through North Bedford Churches Together, the Circuit Social Action Mission stream and the District Eco Forum.

It’s been a great journey so far and we’re looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Building an Eco Church library

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 14:01:29 GMT

There are an increasing number of books which explore environmental issues from a faith based perspective. But where to start?

Whether you’re wondering about what practical steps you can take, what the Bible says, nature and spirituality or enjoy reading real life stories, there’s something for you.

A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues by Martin and Margot Hodson is designed for group or personal use. The book covers eight key issues including climate change, biodiversity, food and development. The chapters are part autobiographical and part background information; they also include Biblical reflections on the themes and Bible studies with questions for reflection or discussion. This is a great introduction for anyone who would like to study a few key areas in some depth and relate them to the Bible.

L is for Lifestyle: Christian living that doesn’t cost the earth by Ruth Valerio is divided into 26 bite sized chapters, one for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a book to encourage practical action and after an overview of the topic each section ends with some suggestions of things you can do to make a difference. There are also lists of websites and books for further reading. Ruth is also the author of the 2020 Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book Saying Yes to Life which uses Genesis 1 to explore environmental issues.

Dave Bookless’ Planetwise is a book of two halves – the first looks at the Biblical basis for creation care and the second looks at living it out through discipleship, worship, lifestyle and mission. Each chapter ends with some questions for reflection. This book might particularly appeal to anyone interested in how the church as a whole might respond to environmental issues but it is also the story of how Dave and his family changed their lifestyle. Their story is also the focus of God Doesn’t Do Waste which is more autobiographical and tells how Dave became involved with the Christian charity A Rocha. Dave and the A Rocha team turned an urban wasteland in Southall (West London) into a Country Park. This is told in a narrative style and would be a good read for anyone who prefers a book that can be read straight through.

Graham Usher has written two excellent books about spirituality and landscape: Places of Enchantment, Meeting God in Landscapes and The Way Under Our Feet: A Spirituality of Walking . Places of Enchantment uses chapters themed round different kinds of landscape such as sea, forest and mountain to explore how and why we encounter God in the natural world. It is a very readable book which is clearly rooted in Usher’s own experiences and reflects on them in the light of the Bible and church tradition. As the blurb on the back of The Way Under our Feet has it, when we walk we “We become more ready to recognize the needs as well as the joys of others; we sift our thoughts; we seek to heal our battered world, even as we glory in the beauty of nature; we find ourselves companying with our three mile an hour God.” The book is wide ranging with each chapter taking its title from active words like thinking, seeing or accompanying. Like Places of Enchantment, it draws on the authors own experiences of walking and mixes this with Biblical reflection.

Grove Books produce short pamphlet length (28 pages) introductions to a variety of topics. They say "We would like Grove Books to be your first call for comment on contemporary issues that is based on biblical principles, engages with best practice, and offers practical application." The John Ray Initiative has a handy webpage with details of all the books that deal with environmental concerns. The pamphlets come from across the Grove series: Ethics, Biblical, Discipleship, Doctrine, Education, Spirituality, Worship and Youth, so there's something for everyone!

Words for a Dying World. Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church. (ed. Hannah Malcolm) asks How do we talk about climate grief in the church? And when we have found the words, what do we do with that grief? Read a full length review by one of our Eco Church team.

Christian environmental organisations – who’s who?

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 13:19:39 GMT

There are a number of Christian organisations working on the environment and climate change but who’s who and what do they all do?

The six organisations featured here are all non-denominational and work with churches and Christians in the UK.

A Rocha UK

A Rocha UK is part of the worldwide family of A Rocha organisations committed to nature conservation as an expression of Christian mission. They run a number of programmes, of which Eco Church is probably the most well known. Their Wild Christian community supports families and individuals, helping them to enjoy, nurture and defend nature in their own homes and communities, and by campaigning. The Partners in Action network includes their own nature reserves, Foxearth Meadows and Wolf Fields, which are also demonstration sites to inspire and enable others to manage small or larger areas of land for the benefit of people and nature.

The John Ray Initiative

JRI is an educational charity with a vision to bring together scientific and Christian understandings of the environment in a way that can be widely communicated and lead to effective action. It runs the Christian Rural and Environmental Studies (CRES) course, which is a two year distance learning programme which provides an opportunity to study rural and environmental issues from a Christian viewpoint. It publishes regular Briefing Papers which provide information and commentary on a wide range of topics, as well as blog posts and book reviews.

Operation Noah

Operation Noah works to inspire action on the climate crisis. They run the Bright Now campaign which calls for churches to divest from fossil fuels. They also initiated the Climate Sunday programme which encourages churches to hold climate themed services, make commitments to take action and use their voice to campaign for stronger climate action.

Green Christian

Green Christian describe themselves as a community of ordinary Christians from all backgrounds and traditions seeking to relate living more sustainable lifestyles to their faith. They run the Joy in Enough programme which advocates for a fair and green economy. Their Borrowed Time initiative focuses on pastoral care in a climate and ecological crisis.

Young Christian Climate Network

YCCN is an action-focused community of young Christians in the UK aged 18-30, pursuing climate justice. In 2020, YCCN organised a Relay pilgrimage to COP26, mobilising churches and individuals across the UK to walk and pray for climate justice. Their political focus was on climate finance: communicating through MPs, to demand that the UK government pushed for a COP that prioritised the financial needs of climate-vulnerable developing nations.

Tearfund

Tearfund is a Christian charity with over 50 years of experience in international development around the world. Their climate campaigning focuses on injustice, as the climate crisis is hitting the poorest people the hardest and threatens to push millions more into poverty. The Climate Emergency Toolkit provides a practical way for churches to respond to the climate crisis. They have also produced a series of films for small groups and you can sign up for SMS prayer updates straight to your phone.

Putnoe Heights Eco Church

Tenants of the King - North Bedford Churches Together Lent Course 2024

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth and God saw that it was good”

“What a wondrous temple this world is, for in truth it is the temple of God’s building wherein men ought to worship him”.

Revelation and creation

A special blog post for Bible Month

All creation worships - Revelation 4 & 5

Making all things new - Revelation 21:1-5

Water and salvation - Revelation 22:1-2

Further reading

Notes

Creation through the Bible

Our Eco Church themed service for 2023 was inspired by Nine Lessons and Carols and explored Creation through the Bible.

Genesis 1: In the beginning ﻿

Job 38: God speaks out of the storm

Psalm 96: Creation praises God

Isaiah 43: God’s mercy and Israel’s unfaithfulness

Reflection

Mark 4: The Parable of the mustard seed / Jesus calms the storm

John 1: The Word became flesh

Romans 8: Present suffering and future glory

Colossians 1: The supremacy of the Son of God

Revelation 22: Eden restored

Full order of service

Seeking swifts

Putnoe Heights Church treasurer and Eco Church team member, Andrew Dennison, writes about these enigmatic birds.

St Mary's Eco Church Journey

About St Mary's

Our Church

St Mary's Eco Church Survey

Management of Land

Management of Buildings

Worship and Teaching

Lifestyle

Community and Global Engagement

Postscript

A greener Lent

Connect with God's creation over Lent

Go Green(er) for Lent

Go green for Christmas

Buying your presents

Wrapping your presents

Food

Nature

Green Christmas blog round up

Your guide to COP27

What is COP27?

What's on the agenda?

Who will be attending?

How can I pray for COP27? ﻿

Action for Hope

What is Action for Hope?

What is the focus of Action for Hope?

What does that look like in practice?

The Methodist Church's Six Steps to Net Zero

What next?

Counting butterflies

What is citizen science?

The Big Butterfly Count

Putnoe Heights Big Butterfly Count

Three more citizen science nature & environment projects

Isaiah and creation

A special blog post for Bible Month

God as creator

Farming and cultivation

Landscapes, habitats and wild creatures

Destruction, renewal and restoration

Creation praises

Bible study questions

Further reading

Walking with Micah & climate justice

What is climate justice?

Why should Christians care?

Want to go deeper?

Ethical shopping in Bedford

Net zero and carbon footprints explained

Beyond Bronze

Building an Eco Church library

Christian environmental organisations – who’s who?

Genesis 1: In the beginning

How can I pray for COP27?