St. Andrews in Trowse, Norwich recently celebrated achieving an Eco Church silver award from A Rocha UK. Sarah Toothill tells us more.
The congregation of St Andrews continue to “do our bit” in helping to improve our environment:
Our Scones and Songs evensong had to be held inside as the weather was against us, but we still enjoyed homemade cakes and savouries and fellowship. Revd Rosie read the prophetic speech given by Chief Seattle in 1854 when the American government wanted to buy the land from the Native Americans, of which this is a section: He kidnaps the earth from his children, and he does not care. His father’s grave, and his children’s birthright are forgotten. He treats his mother, the earth, and his brother, the sky, as things to be bought, plundered, sold like sheep or bright beads. His appetite will devour the earth and leave behind only a desert. The full speech is available on the internet.
On Saturday 13 July about 20 adults and children enjoyed an environmentally themed messy church with six of us spending 15 minutes in the churchyard on the Big Butterfly Count. Sadly, we only saw three butterflies but our observations help to inform the state of the nation’s butterfly population. Butterflies were in abundance, however, inside the church. Beautiful pictures were created using painted leaves to print the wings and delicious buns were turned into butterflies with icing and sprinkles.
Grasses from the churchyard were identified and trees shaken to see what wildlife we could find.
The children really enjoyed looking at the spiders and beetles in special bug pots with magnifying lids.
The event was rounded off with a talk from Revd Rosie about looking after our world and enthusiastic singing from children and adults.
Have you started your Eco Church journey yet? Register as an Eco Church or find out more at: https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/
Sign-up for our Eco Newsletter here
Join the conversation on our Facebook group here
Watch the message from Bishop Graham here
For any further help, contact barbara.bryant@dioceseofnorwich.org