CLIMATE JUSTICE COP26 is fast approaching. Churches across the UK and the world are joining together to speak out against the injustice of the climate crisis. We can be a part of this and join in. Please let me know if you are interested in being part of a prayer vigil, writing prayers and messages on how we feel about climate change and praying for our future world. Let me know anytime you can make during the first two weeks of November while the UN conference is going on and let God’s spirit guide the decisions of world leaders for the good of all people. Thank you, Teresa Please contact Teresa on 01449 744120 or email teresalester47@gmail.com
Thank you to all those who participated and came to our ‘Climate Sunday service’ in June. Our collected from this service went to Tearfund, helping those across the world who are directly affected by their changing climate. This is just part of our response to climate change as a church.We have much to be thankful for the environment we live in here in Suffolk but there is still so much more we can do. As part of the Eco Church project for June and July we will be looking over how we can use our Church land more effectively; how we care for it and how we use it. As individual churches and as a benefice, we will be asking questions, such as, what can we use our churchyards for? Can we use them for our worship, our recreation or community events? How can we be more creative in the way we use our church land?I will be contacting each of our parishes for discussion and comments, bringing them all together as a benefice and come up with some plans and ideas for the future. It is only by moving forward, involving our church and parish communities that we can help make a difference and show our love for God and our neighbour. If you would like to be involved with this project in anyway please contact me on 01449 744120 or teresalester@gmail.comBlessings,Teresa Lester Lay Reader for the Benefice
Update 2021In February I held an online meeting with several people around the Benefice to talk about the Eco Church project. Looking at how becoming an Eco Church can help us live in a more environmentally friendly way, as a church community and as individuals. I am arranging a prayer week, beginning on Monday 12th to Friday 16th April, when you can make a pledge to pray for 30min, an hour or more during that week. You can pray in your own homes or wherever you wish, where you are safe. You could join together on Skype, WhatsApp or zoom, with friends if you like. Go outside if the weather is good.You can make your pledge to prayer online athttps://www.24-7prayer.com/signup/3d7306You do have to log in and make a password, or just let me know and I’ll add you on. The idea is that we have people praying through out the day. Each day at 2pm you can join me online for a chat and some prayer time together.I will send out prayer resources nearer the time and each day we will concentrate on a different theme for caring for creation and the Eco Church project. Prayer comes in many forms so be imaginative, write your own prayer or poem to God, draw or paint a picture, make something, sing or dance.I have attached with your newsletter, a leaflet from GreenChristian, with many ideas for you to think about and act upon, over Easter.Don’t forget to make your prayer pledge.God Bless,Teresa Lester, Lay Reader and Eco Church Leader for the BeneficePlease contact me on 01449 744120 or teresalester@gmail.com if you have any questions.Eco Church: Working together to Net Zero Recently I joined an online conference for churches to learn how Eco church can help us cut carbon emissions and care for creation. The urgency from our changing climate shows us that we have the opportunity to make a difference if we just make a few changes to our lifestyles. There are two things we should do less of or try to avoid altogether – using fossil fuels and eating meat. As since the 1970’s these have caused 60% of habitats to be wiped out. So, we all need to act, and Eco church can help us. What do you love about nature, and what about our world do you really care about? The way the ‘West’ lives, is causing a problem by producing high carbon emissions while the poorer countries are living with these consequences, climate change. So, it is unjust; an issue of social justice. It is important that we recognise we need to change; we need to speak out and we need to do something. What we are doing here within the Bildeston benefice? I have started at St. Mary Magdalene church at Bildeston and I will be looking at all the parishes, seeing what they are doing and how they can each progress to become an Eco Church. Bildeston church is on its way to its first award and these are a few of the things we have started doing - 1. We have set aside part of the old graveyard to grow freely, encouraging wildlife and we will be planting some wildflowers in the spring. 2. We are looking into reducing/offsetting our carbon footprint. 3. We are reducing our waste and buy ethically. Next year, I hope to hold an ‘Eco Church’ open day for the whole benefice. Here are a few ideas to enjoy a green Christmas · Send e-cards / have a communal card at church and work / recycle your Christmas cards or use them for gift tags. · Try to buy local, fairly traded, or second-hand presents · Make your own presents and re-use wrapping paper · Put your Christmas lights on a timer or have them on for a shorter time. I hope these are useful and help us to grow greener together. If you have any questions or are interested in joining our Eco church teams across the benefice, please phone or email me. God bless, Teresa Lester 01449 744120 teresalester47@gmail.com********************************************************************************************
<span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">The Archbishops of Canterbury and York and a number of senior church leaders are inviting Christians across the nation to participate in the month of prayer – launching today – as a second lockdown in England comes into force.</span> Throughout the month, Christians will be encouraged to pray daily for a specific area of national concern, wherever they are, culminating into a collective moment of prayer at 6.00pm each evening, with cathedrals and churches across the country invited to ring a bell at this time. You are invited to follow a simple seven-day prayer cycle, praying for a specific area each day including the NHS and frontline workers, the bereaved, and those struggling with physical and mental ill-health, and for children and young people.Full details including the Archbishops letter can all be found on the Church of England website: churchofengland.org/PrayerForTheNation. Prayers and other resources will be shared on social media with the hashtag #PrayerForTheNation.
