There are several 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.
Creationtide (or Creation Time, or the Season of Creation) runs from 1 September to 4 October 2019, St Francis Day.
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.
Each year, Creationtide is celebrated from 1 September to 4 October, with prayers for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles.
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).
This year, the theme for the season by CTBI is ‘Biodiversity, God’s web of life’. Churches are encouraged to consider the unique value of each creature in God’s wondrously complex web of life.
In addition to CTBI’s website, there are a wealth of resources for Creationtide:
London’s first car free day on Sunday 22 September 2019 has been announced by the Mayor of London.
This event will extend across 18 London boroughs.
Let’s consider how London’s churches can celebrate and participate in this event to bring a breath of fresh air to our capital. Ideas to Head of Environmental Challenge.
See London Car Free day.
Green Week is scheduled for 4 – 8 November 2019.
The week will highlight what it means for the UK to reduce its emissions to next zero, including cleaner buildings, transport and waste handling,
In 2020, Ash Wednesday will fall on 26 February, with Easter Sunday on 12 April 2020.
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.
The Lent Book for 2020 is to be launched in November 2019. It is set to cover themes such as light, water, land, trees and birds, fish and the sea; and our role within creation as humans ‘in the image of God’.
Of course, exercising this role and therefore changing the way we live are not just things we do in Lent – they need to be forever.
Earth Hour 2020 is scheduled for 8:30 to 9:30 pm on Saturday 28 March 2020.
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 2020, Earth Day falls on Wednesday 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.
In 2020, Environment Sunday will be on Sunday 7 June.
Environment Sunday is on the Sunday nearest the UN’s World Environment Day (5 June).
Resources will be posted nearer the time.
For the latest news, contact the Head of Environment and Sustainability, who produces a regular newsletter, issued to parish representatives and Parish Environmental Champions.
See also Resources on the Environment.
