Creation Time

1 September – 1 October is celebrated as CREATION TIME by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, Council of European Churches and many other groups. Many useful resources are available for use this year, particularly by parish groups.

In 1989 the Ecumenical Patriarch suggested that 1 September, the first day of the Orthodox Church's year, should be observed as a day "of protection of the natural environment". Ten years later the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) widened this proposal, urging churches to adopt a Time for Creation stretching from 1 September to the feast of St Francis on 4 October. This was endorsed by the 3rd European Ecumenical Assembly in Romania in 2007, which recommended that the period "be dedicated to prayer for the protection of Creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles that reverse our contribution to climate change".

Useful Creation Time links:

CTBI resources  www.ctbi.org.uk/295

ECEN http://ecen.org/thematic-work/theology-and-creation-time

Green Christian  www.greenchristian.org.uk/archives/7496

New Columban Resource

Columban JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) believes that there is an intimate connection between the action of social justice, peacemaking and care for Earth. Columban JPIC in Australia has produced an excellent resource exploring the existing Catholic Lectionary to help us remember God’s seamless gift of Life in all Creation and to help grow a better recognition of the natural world. Each Sunday in September focuses on a particular gift – FOREST, LAND, WILDERNESS, WATER

See: www.columban.org.au/resources/a-catholic-season-of-creation-sundays-of-september

New Interfaith Website

A new website featuring interfaith perspectives on climate change has recently gone online. The website, which was developed by the World Council of Churches and Religions for Peace, intends to offer a variety of faith-based perspectives on climate while encouraging people to get involved in addressing climate change issues.

See: www.interfaithclimate.org

Climate March 21 September

The People Climate March in London will take place at 1pm on Sunday, September 21. That weekend has been chosen because in September heads of state are meeting in New York City for an historic summit on climate change, and marches are being held around the world.

Register for the London event at: http://act.350.org/event/peoples_climate_attend/7683 or on Facebook
www.facebook.com/events/1428960304030884/ or through the Climate Coalition ‘For the Love of’ campaign http://bit.ly/21september.

An interfaith gathering is being planned to take place before the main London march at Victoria Embankment Gardens at 12-1pm, opposite Temple tube station. There is also an Anglican church service at 11am at St Mary le Strand, very close by.

There are other marches happening in Manchester and Edinburgh and smaller events in other locations: Gloucestershire (Sept 21) , Sheffield (Sept 21) Huddersfield (Sept 19), Dudley (21 Sept). Indeed, there are events being organised right round the world. See: www.peoplesclimate.org/global