Setting up for the latest Northamptonshire Ecumenical Eco Churches Group event, was very different to the indoor event we had held last November. That gathering had mainly been for local Christians, and had involved worship and a keynote speech from the wonderful Ruth Valerio. Ruth was instrumental in setting up A Rocha’s Eco Church Program and had much to tell the hundred and twenty plus gathering from all denominations about working together and being hopeful in difficult times.
Our July event had a different purpose. The group, representing seven different Northamptonshire churches across denominations, had agreed that we wanted to let the wider public in Northampton know what Christian churches are doing to protect the environment and why we are doing it.
So, on Sunday, 27 July we met up in Abington Park after our Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Reformed, Baptist, and Quaker worship and set up our little fair to attract anyone who was interested to come and talk to us. And they did.
Families wandering through the park to listen to the band or visit the museum were curious and enjoyed the craft and Wild Worship activities we had set up. They took nature trails and tree trails (all including appropriate bible texts about Creation), they made junk model boats and flowers from milk flagons, and fish collages from sycamore seeds and found feathers. They planted seeds to take away and heard about the United Reformed Church Friday Lunch project, which feeds the community every week, using produce grown on its own allotment. A great hit was the Giant Biodiversity Jenga, which illustrated the interdependency of the natural world.
Many showed an interest in the Eco Church stand, which explained what our churches have to do to gain Bronze, Silver and Gold Eco Church Awards and others took magazines kindly donated by Green Christian. Some signed up their interest in Green Christian membership and others (mostly local church ministers who had responded to our invitation and the interview we had done for local radio) signed up to join our Eco Group of churches and become more involved.
We were particularly happy to meet members of the town and West Northamptonshire Council and discuss the urgency of addressing climate change and the importance of pursuing net zero targets.
It was a day blessed with perfect weather, beautiful surroundings, happy cooperation between Christians from across the traditions and open and comfortable Christian witness to the preciousness of God’s wonderful Creation.
Follow the Northamptonshire Ecumenical Eco Churches Group on Facebook.
A Rocha UK is a Charity and Network in Association with Churches Together in England.
Find out more about Churches Together in Northamptonshire, Peterborough and Rutland (Shire and Soke).
Photo credits: Northamptonshire Ecumenical Eco Churches Group