There are a range of events each year around London about the environment and climate change, which church members can take part in.
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 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 in the light of the UN’s COP26 Climate Conference, hosted in Glasgow in November 2021.
The aim is ‘giving a voice to local churches’, who are encouraged to hold a local Climate Sunday any time from 2020 onwards.
During their local Climate Sunday, every church is invited to do one or more of three things:
The canonical Anglican calendar does not include a celebration of creation as such. It is supplemented by a range of events running in parallel.
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 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 celebrates all that’s being done together about climate change.
In 2022, GBGW runs from 24 September to 2 October. Find out how to get involved.
GBGW makes it easier for groups to take part by offering training, on-line events listing via their website, and small grants.
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 2023, Ash Wednesday falls on 22 February, with Easter Sunday on 9 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.
See link below to the Christian charity on animals Sarx, for a Lent guide on living peacefully with God’s other creatures. Sarx chose its name because as the Gospel of John tells us, Christ the Word became flesh. That’s the meaning of ‘incarnation’. ‘Sarx’ means ‘flesh’ in New Testament Greek -and apparently it includes other animals as well as human beings.
Earth Hour 2023 is scheduled for 8:30 to 9:30 pm on Saturday 25 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 2023, Earth Day falls on Saturday 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 2023 will be on Monday 5 June.
Environment Sunday is on the Sunday nearest to World Environment Day.
Therefore, in 2023, Environment Sunday will be on Sunday 4 June 2023.
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
A Rocha UK
Operation Noah
Christian Aid
Tearfund.
For the latest news, contact the Head of Environment and Sustainability.
Environment and Sustainability, front page.
