In this update Faiths4Change keep us posted about adapting to lockdown plus Duncan and Ann from Oaks Community in Skelmersdale tell us about their Eco Church journey.
While we are all adapting to new ways of working because of physical distancing, Faiths4Change have been reflecting on what is important about our congregations and asking how we can celebrate community both during this time and when we are able to return to our places of worship; how does community fit into our Eco Church activity? How can we inspire and grow eco actions at home during this time?
Faiths4Change is still offering support to all churches in the Diocese with all things Eco Church. They can help with everything from registration through to any points on the Eco Survey that you’re looking at to help you progress to your next award. If you would like to arrange a call or zoom meeting then get in touch with Liz Atherton at liz@faiths4change.org.uk. Rocha’s web-based Eco Church registration and award system is continuing to operate and they offer support to the Eco Church community by email and phone.
This year Faiths4Change has been working with churches across the Diocese to put in place action plans to help individual churches to move towards their next award. Our Roots In The City project is based at St Michael in the City; Rev Miranda Threlfall-Holmes has been active in adapting to remote worship, you can see her prayer and worship on Facebook here (on the Team Parish of St Luke in the City Liverpool page).
Oaks Community in Skelmersdale is working towards their Silver award. Duncan and Ann from Oaks answer some questions about their journey so far.
Whose idea was it to become an eco-church? Why did you think it was important?
Ann and I have tended to push environmental issues quite a lot at Oaks and when we saw the initiative mentioned in a Diocesan mailing (at least we think it was there we saw it but would not stake our house on it, not that we own one!) it seemed logical to somehow officially up the awareness. We were encouraged by Annie Merry along the way and we had already started a Forest Church (now called Outdoor Oaks) and were encouraging environmental issues through our Open Oaks mornings.
What was the inspiration –for example a press article, TV programme, social media, or pressure from the congregation?
See above, but we did feel, as others in our fellowship did, that the church generally needed to be at the forefront of eco issues and the environment, especially with all the concerns over climate.
Tell us about what impact you wanted the church to have eg – saving money, reducing greenhouse gasses, impact on landfill.
Oaks has built its ministry around the words of Isaiah 61:1-3 and the words ‘beauty instead of ashes’ really resonate with this whole agenda for us. We had already bought into Good Energy as our gas and electricity supplier, given its commitment to 100% renewables, were running Oaks with a Fairtrade stance where we could, and were carrying out litter picks, bulb planting and foraging activities as part of Outdoor Oaks and Open Oaks so the groundwork was there. I suppose the issues of recycle, reuse and renew were near the front and taking care of the planet in all aspects drove it.
What activities has your church undertaken to become an Eco-Church? And why did you choose those activities?
We have mentioned some aspects above but have built and planted in reused pallets in our local square (this and much else aided by all at Faiths4Change and many thanks to them), helped with a community garden, enabled access and use of a piece of land owned by the council for outdoor activities, joined with a local group to plant trees in the town, connected with Friends of Tawd Valley, and supported a local junk food café. Last autumn we held a Foraging Harvest service and some of the fruit collected was given to the café for use or made into puddings to give away at a local community event.
Tell us about the people who’ve been involved in those activities and what they have done.
Many have been involved so it would be diplomatic not to mention names lest we mention some and leave others out! There have been some involved in tree planting and cooking, some with creative activities like making wreaths at Advent from natural materials, some making bird feeders and so on. Children particularly have taken to outdoor activities.
Have there been any unusual or unpredicted outcomes as a result of you becoming an Eco-Church?
Child engagement with prayer and worship has surprised us by how much easier it seems to involve them. It has also shown us that the creative skills we have amongst people is much greater than we would have anticipated and is good for building self-confidence.
What advice would you share with other churches who are thinking of becoming an Eco-Church?
Do it!
Do the simple things first, working to your strengths. It will not ‘all happen at once’ but be open to the ideas that people have. It brings out some interesting gifting. It will not fit with everyone, but some will love it and grow spiritually through it.
How has your parish adapted in the current COVID-19 lockdown?
Our already raised awareness has meant people generally engage well when doing outdoor exercise under the COVID-19 remit, or in their gardens where they have one. Folk are portraying creativity in activities at home and posting them under our God news slot on Facebook and in our Zoom services.
How is your community continuing with your Eco-Church activity during lockdown?
Apart from the above, foraging whilst exercising also occurs e.g. picking wild garlic and making pesto from it to use with pasta, or on toast, or even as a coating on roast lamb on Easter Sunday!
For more of all this, by all means, look at our Facebook page Oaks Skelmersdale or the website which gives the Facebook link also, at www.oaksinskem.org