Eco Church

Well done St Michael and All Angels for achieving Bronze Eco Church! Several years ago St Michael's was awarded Eco Congregation status. This helped us to focus on important "green issues" relating to worship, the church building, biodiversity and land use and community; both local and global. We wanted to sustain the work started and so, to that end, we have just completed an updated version of this award called Eco Church, (set up by a Christian environmental group called A Rocha) which can be achieved at bronze, silver and gold level. Having the framework of the Eco Church enabled us to assess our green credentials and look to ways we can improve them. Why is this important? God calls us to care for his world, to be good stewards in the broadest sense and to take responsibility where we can to ensure its beauty is sustained for future generations.

Looking forward, we hope to achieve silver level and we have an action plan in place to help us move towards that goal. Some of the ideas include:

• During Lent taking time to consider change - there are leaflets in church to support those wishing to pursue any changes, with a focus on Eco issues in our personal lives
• Eco Tips in the Link each month
• A prayer focuses throughout the year with an Eco theme
• An Eco Flower festival in May for the community - this was successful and attracted many visitors-see photo montage
• 3 talks/workshops on carbon footprints, sustainability and climate change issues which will be open to the public and will take place on October 28th 4-7pm at Hawkshead School
• Review Eco advice when conducting the tower renovation project
• Linking to the school to re-do a church yard survey on biodiversity
• Sustain and develop worship linked to caring for the planet

We look forward to as many people as possible taking part in or being enthused by these ideas. Do get in touch if you want to know more.

Mrs J Hallam (working with an Eco sub group of the PCC)
Joyce.hallam@uwclub.net