Have you ever considered becoming an assessor for our new eco-awards? Perhaps you would like to join our volunteer team. Volunteer assessors work in pairs to read award applications, then visit a congregation to discuss the application in a friendly and supportive way. It’s a great way to find out what other eco-congregations are up to.
If you are interested, why not come along to a no-commitment award assessor training workshop to find out what is involved? The next workshop has been arranged for Wednesday 4th September, 7 – 9pm, in the Robertson Room, St. Anne’s Parish Church, Corstorphine, Edinburgh.
Places limited, so booking essential – please contact David Bethune, email@example.com to book a place.
Photo by Lorna Burgoyne
Here is Livingston United Parish Church family celebrating its’ recent Eco-Congregation Bronze Award. Neil Findlay MSP presented the plaque to the Eco-team and a daffodil mosaic to Hilary Henderson who retired after a decade of running the Traidcraft stall. The worship service planned by Eco members, Rev Stephanie Njeru and Rev Ron Greig incorporated a “Touch the Earth Lightly” practical theme of sprinkling water over plants, to bring new life; removing some garden weeds to represent cleansing; planting bulbs, which hold promise; mixing bird seed with peanut butter to represent feeding and the creation of a vine leaf prayer tree. The Eco-team are now working towards their silver award with a litter pick + Love our Street Trees community event on 30 September 2018.
Queensferry Parish Church are holding a coffee morning on the Saturday 26th May (10.00-12.00) about how not to use plastic. They will have stalls for the from Any But Plastic and the One World shop as well as information from Zero Waste Scotland, Changeworks, The Marine Conservation Society and others – so it promises to be very informative as well as getting a good cup of coffee in a non plastic cup!
St Ninians Craigmailen Church Linlithgow was recently awarded a Gold Eco-Congregation Award. This photograph shows the eco group from the church and a member of the Brownie Guides receiving their plaque. This is our highest award, currently only held by three congregations.
Our award assessors said:
“Clearly there is a strong, and enthusiastic, small team who lead and
initiate Eco-congregation activities. Overall, this congregation came across as being vibrant and
enthusiastic, providing good examples collectively and individually as well as clearly making a
difference locally, nationally and internationally. They deserve the Gold award and will provide a
good example to other churches of what can be achieved in a small to medium sized congregation.
Well done, may your enthusiasm continue to develop and inspire the next generation.”
To find out how your congregation can apply for an award click here.
Livingston United Parish Church is the latest congregation to win one of our new Eco-Congregation awards, at Bronze level.
The assessors particularly identified the following for commendation:
- The way this big dynamic ecumenical church communicates and has environmental work permeating through all services, groups and activities within the congregation.
- Communication is excellent.
- The spiritual living section was particularly impressive with lay leading and a recognition that
worship isn’t just a Sunday service but is Messy Church, Afternoon Teas, Youth Groups.
Here are some photographs of their recent work:
We’re pleased to welcome SS John and St Nicholas RC as our most recent Eco-Congregation. You can find out where they are on our map here