Campaigns, Courtyard Garden and Collecting Litter

The Climate and Ecology Bill was reintroduced to Parliament earlier this month, so a couple of weeks ago we sent postcards to our MPs encouraging them to support the bill. We used cards with images from the Lost Words, which seemed appropriate.

Last week I welcomed the St John's School Eco Club and Gardening Club members to do some planting - tomatoes, strawberries, peas and salad. Hopefully the former two will be ripe before they break up for the summer while the latter should be ready for a church lunch eventually. The children were hugely enthusiastic and the courtyard was a whirl of industry - when the dust settled not all the plants were quite where I was expecting them and there weren't enough pots left over for the rocket (which is why it's still by the back door), but it was great fun and they're keen to come back and keep watering when they get the chance after their half term break.

Last Sunday I used resources from Tearfund's Rubbish Campaign to frame our Godly Play session on the Good Samaritan. I was hoping to get the older children to write some campaign letters afterwards but a couple of them were certain there was no point because the government never listen - that led to other discussions, but sadly no letters. More positively, they were very keen to help clear up the rubbish in the local park, with the litter pickers borrowed from a Green Party councillor in the parish. 

Enjoying the Sunshine and Christian Aid Week

Over the past two weeks we have had plenty of opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous weather. On May 7th we took our Family Service out to the front of the church for the first of outdoor service this year. We headed back inside for a Coronation lunch (there was a vegan alternative to the Coronation Chicken available) - and money raised will go to Christian Aid. 

Our main fundraiser for Christian Aid week was a very well attended quiz on Saturday night organised by Rosemary and Liz. At half time a speaker from Christian Aid updated us on what Christian Aid has been doing for the people of Ukraine. Sunday's service drew on Christian Aid's worship resources for this year so it felt apt to take the children out for part of the service to do some planting - not of pigeon peas but wildflower seeds. We added a few plants to each pot in case the seeds don't come up.

In the afternoon there was Forest Church - looking forward to Ascension with the aid of lots of bubbles.

The Big One

Over the weekend thousands of campaigners, including several of our congregation, joined a protest in London, calling for meaningful action to tackle the Climate and Biodiversity Crises. Although national news gave the impression that all those present belonged to Extinction Rebellion, the reality was that lots of other organisations including Christian Aid, Tearfund and A Rocha were present too. On every day there were services led by different church groups in addition to daily Franciscan prayer walks. Former archbishop of York, Lord Sentamu, tried to deliver a letter of protest to Shell headquarters - you can see what happened here.

Diocesan Report

At last week's deanery synod the report of the diocesan synod was all about environmental issues. Reading deanery's motion to make it easier to put solar panels onto churches was passed, as was a motion from Wantage:

That this Synod, embracing the principles of the Sustainable Church Flowers movement, which encourages a living into the Fifth Mark of Mission by promoting the use of local, seasonal and fully biodegradable/compostable flowers and foliage without floral foam, 1.) encourages a sustainable approach to church flowers throughout the diocese and 2.) strongly discourages the use of all floral foam in churches and churchyards across the diocese. 

Their supporting paper is here.

We were also encouraged to take a look at the Diocese's plan to reach net zero, which was accepted by the synod. This has ambitious targets aimed at tackling the Climate Crisis, and both the Diocese and parishes have a part to play in meeting them.