There are a range of events each year around London about the environment and climate change, which church members can take part in.
The canonical Anglican calendar does not include a celebration of creation as such. It is supplemented by a range of events running in parallel.
Climate Sunday has been organised by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland with support from charities including CAFOD, Christian Aid, Tearfund, A Rocha UK, and Operation Noah.
Climate Sunday is a way to focus attention on the global emergency of climate change.
The aim is ‘giving a voice to local churches’, who are encouraged to hold a local Climate Sunday any time from 6th September 2020 onwards.
During their local Climate Sunday, every church is invited to do one or more of three things:
The climax of the campaign was the national Climate Sunday event on Sunday 5 September 2021. Churches are still encouraged to hold their own Climate Sunday services, to share their commitments and pray for bold action and courageous leadership ahead of the UN’s COP26 Climate Conference, to be hosted in Glasgow in November 2021.
Each year, Creationtide (or Creation Time, or the Season of Creation) is celebrated from 1 September to 4 October (St Francis Day), with prayers for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles.
Several Christian denominations in the UK and Ireland and around the world share in this annual event, established in 2007 by the European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu, Romania.
Many churches pick one Sunday during the season of Creationtide to focus especially on environmental themes.
Creationtide is now supported by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI).
Members of St Stephen’s Church Ealing have produced a booklet with reflections and actions for use during Creationtide. Links are under ‘Information and Resources’, below.
Doxecology, a collection of 13 contemporary, congregational worship songs on themes of creation, ecology and Christian hope, may also be used during Creationtide.
The Church of England is a member of the Climate Coalition, who are encouraging groups around the country to run events during Great Big Green Week (GBGW). GBGW runs from 18 to 26 September, celebrating all that’s being done together about climate change.
GBGW it easier for groups to take part by offering training, on-line events listing via their website, and small grants. Applications are open now, to be fully allocated by June.
GBGW coincides with Creationtide (above), so churches might already be planning events which could come under this umbrella, and secure some additional funding to be more ambitious.
In 2022, Ash Wednesday will fall on 2 March, with Easter Sunday on 17 April 2022.
There are many customs and traditions associated with Lent.
To show our concern for God’s creation and the impact of global warming and climate change, we can mark Lent with a Carbon Fast, starting on Ash Wednesday.
Earth Hour 2022 is scheduled for 8:30 to 9:30 pm on Saturday 26 March 2022.
Earth Hour is an annual event organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), when people and organisations all over the world switch off their lights for one hour.
People and organisations are encouraged to use this opportunity to make a public statement of their concern to challenge those ways our lifestyles and behaviour threaten the wellbeing of God’s earth.
International Earth Day takes place on 22 April each year.
In 2022, Earth Day falls on Friday 22 April.
Earth Day extends the aims of Earth Hour much wider – inspiring ‘a billion acts of green’.
The actions we take on just one hour or one day each year must of course lead to sustained action all through the year.
World Environment Day is celebrated on 5 June every year. It is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment.
World Environment Day 2022 will be on Sunday 5 June.
Environment Sunday is on the Sunday nearest to World Environment Day.
Therefore, in 2022, Environment Sunday will also be on Sunday 5 June 2022.
Earth Hour
International Earth Day
World Environment Day
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
Creationtide Booklet (Portrait)
Creationtide Booklet (Landscape)
Church House Publishing
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
Green Anglicans
Green GB
A Rocha UK
Operation Noah
Christian Aid
Tearfund
CAFOD.
For the latest news, contact the Head of Environment and Sustainability.
Environment and Sustainability, front page.
