Climate Change is big on everyone’s Agenda this year, least because the UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change COP26 Conference in Glasgow on 1 – 12 November 2021. It is the biggest and most urgent challenge facing humanity. People of faith therefore are called (https://faithfortheclimate.org.uk) to see our planet as a gift, and believe we have a sacred responsibility to care for and protect the Earth’s climate for future generations.
The United Reformed Church (URC) is also committed to caring for God’s creation. https://urc.org.uk/about-us/caring-for-creation1.html
An Environmental Workshop was led by the Thames North Synod URC (United Reformed Church) last month on 8th May 2021. Please see details here.
Locally, in Luton & Dunstable, this month on 27th June 2021, members from 5 different URCs took part in an online Climate Sunday service (https://www.climatesunday.org/) led by Revd Heather Whyte, URC Minister serving in Luton & Dunstable.
The service was creative, engaging, very well presented and thought provoking.
Using colorful videos depicting creation’s beauty, Heather said “this is a global issue requiring a global response. Our actions have already set in motion the end of creation. Yet, it does not have to be that way. We need to change the way we do things.”
Highlighting ‘what can we do?’ Heather pointed out simple changes in our lifestyles we all can adapt. She said, “We can change our diet and how we produce food. We must manage our oceans better and rebuild relationship with the planet and the species with which we share it, rewilding wherever we can to re-establish wildlife and the biodiversity the planet needs to survive.”
“Reducing our dependence on cars would mean we do not need to pave gardens, which help maintain the water table and prevents flooding. In the gardens we must use fewer pesticides and move towards organic gardening, creating our own compost, growing more of our own food.”
“We need to be more energy efficient, using LED lightbulbs, switching to sustainable energy providers, and where possible turn down the heating by one degree.”
“We must buy less and repair, reuse, recycle more. Recycling is not the first option, and we are all too aware that often what we think is recycling is simply the shifting of our problem onto the doorstep of poorer communities around the world.”
“Living ‘simply’ and ‘responsibly’ means refusing to accommodate single use plastic, using eco-friendly cleaning products, saving water and cutting down on food waste.”
Heather encouraged all to choose locally produced food and buy in bulk with neighbours. All this cuts our carbon footprint, she said.
Heather reminded how during the lockdowns, the air quality had improved. We must therefore travel efficiently and responsibly.
“All these suggestions may seem prohibitive”, she said, “but we must remember that our way of life is changing the planet’s ability to sustain life.”
“As people of faith, not only do we have a message of hope, but we must be the hope”, she concluded.
She encouraged all to sign up to “The Time is Now” campaign (https://thetimeisnow.uk) which urges the Government to protect, restore and expand our green and wild spaces and leave no one behind, particularly those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change at home and abroad.
To read the full reflection, prayers and YouTube links for songs and short videos, please use the link below;
https://urclutonanddunstable.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Sunday-27th-June-2021-web.pdf
Revd Heather Whyte, Minister of United Reformed Churches (URC) Luton & Dunstable
