Report for 2023
ECO (EARTH CRIES OUT) NEWS
“War, this Winter” has been an on going campaign because of the escalating costs of living crisis, an energy crisis, and the on going climate emergency. These crises are connected. They share common causes, like fossil fuels, which make them all worse. They share common solutions to help, e.g, mass insulation of Welsh homes, and investment in low-cost,, clean, renewable energy.
Members of the congregation were asked to remember to clean bird feeders regularly to stop the spread of disease. They were encouraged to look at cleaning tips which do not use expensive products. E.g. Sodium Carbonate (washing soda/soda crystals)- for degreasing and tackling stains. Sodium Percarbonate (Green Bleach/Oxygen Bleach)- kills bacteria; brightens and whitens cloths; tackles stains. Citric Acid (Lemon juice) – descales kettles, baths and toilets.
During the year the group have discussed climate change and how it is of growing concern for all Christians and non-Christians. Nearly 95% of Christians who were asked agreed that “it’s part of the duty of the church to protect the planet”. Looking to the future nearly 70% of the people interviewed felt a failure to act on climate change would 2alienate younger generations”. UCS took part in the Big Plastic Count, organised by Green Peace, in March. We collected Soft plastic and bring it to church to be weighed. What is soft plastic? Some examples are fruit, veg and salad bags, bubble wrap etc. 11 pounds of plastic was collected. We continue to collect used stamps, batteries, spectacles, empty printer cartridges, empty tooth paste tubes, tooth brushes; DVDs and CDs as well as soft plastic, but this can now be taken directly to many more supermarkets than previously.We started to encourage No Mow May and discussed a “greener way to see the world” – to travel by air or not? Stay in 2green2 accommodation; visit eco-friendly destinations e.g, Scandinavian countries; pack light etc.
The group discussed 6 energy-saving devices – Air Fryers; Panini Press; Microwaves; Electric Streamer; Slow Cookers; Pressure Cooker. We summed them up into 2 categories- Great for and Don’t Bother With. Really the choice depends on what you are cooking and how many you are cooking for. The group also discussed heating and lighting, thinking about how environmentally friendly or not they are – Fracking; New Coal Mines; Solar Panels; Heat pumps. There was also discussion on technology- laptops, broadband, mobile phones etc. The group played Green Bingo – to how many questions can you answer YES e.g,I have solar, I recycle rubbish, I often travel by bus………..
Gardening continues, including mowing the grass, watering, and watching new plants flowering, which is a joy. Thanks to all volunteers.
Every month a Fairtrade stall is held.
The group discovered that there are now ethical brands which are owned by multi-national companies – Green & Black (now owned by Coca Cola); Pukka herbs (teas) (now owned by Unilever); Ecover (washing up liquid etc) (now owned by S E Johnson which uses Animals on which to test its products)
UCS took part in the annual Green Fair in the Waterfront Museum, Swansea. The first Christian organisation to do so
A Rocha (the charity which fronts ECO Church) offered tips for a green Christmas e.g, rent a Christmas tree; make cards from other used cards; why not give a gift from a charity e.g. All We Can, The Leprosy Mission, Action for Children etc.
In November, the Eco Group successfully applied for a stall at the annual Green Fair. Many people passed our stall, glanced at it and walked on. Some people were surprised that we were giving away wild flower seeds, peanuts, flower pots and corks. We had a rolling PowerPoint about our church garden and ways in which UCS has improved its insulation, installing solar panels etc. The afternoon session saw many more people pass our stall and conversations took place about green issues.
September Report 2022
The Eco group arranged a Seed Swap at the Save the Children Coffee morning, and on other occasions when church members have been meeting.
There will be no Eco Group meeting in October. In November the Eco group’s Coffee and Chat will include the topic of “Green Investments” and re-cycling Christ-mas…
April Report 2022
On April 9th 13 people attended first come and chat session to discuss eco matters. Ideas for future meeting included solar panels, electric vehicles, seed swaps and working towards a Green Fayre in 2023.
See details of the discussion held on ‘we are what we eat’ in the May 2022 magazine.
On Wednesday 4th May there will be a litter pick in the streets around the church. People meeting at 4pm.
The next Come and Chat meeting will be on Saturday 11th June when there will be discussion about electric cars. See article in May 2022 Magazine.
Details of Eco Church from 2021
ECO CHURCH? WHAT IS ECO CHURCH?
Until recently I was unaware of ECO CHURCH, what it is and what it does.
BUT
Several years ago Uniting Church Sketty started to recycle, in a small way. We collected spectacles, used postage stamps, batteries and printer cartridges. The spectacles are given to a local optician who is part of a scheme which sends spectacles abroad where they are used in developing countries, this giving people with sight problems, who could not afford to buy spectacles a new lease of life. Stamps have been given to various charities, although the market for used stamps isn’t as buoyant as it was. The cartridges and batteries are taken to the local authority recycling centre.
After we started recycling these items I was made aware of ECO CHURCH. I downloaded their survey to learn more.
About two years ago we expanded our recycling efforts to include crisp packets, Pringle tins, baby food pouches and toothpaste tubes.
I felt at this time that we could complete the survey to apply for the BRONZE AWARD, which is the first award you can attain if you meet the criteria set by A ROCHA, the charity which champions ECO CHURCH.
The survey consists of 5 categories – WORSHIP AND TEACHING; BUILDINGS; LAND; COMMUNITY AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT and LIFESTYLE.
The WORSHIP AND TEACHING category proved no problem. An example of a question is – Caring for God’s earth is preached in our church.
The BUILDINGS category is much more detailed. Our church was built in 1876, but we had recently had an extension which enhanced our chances of ticking more boxes. An example of a question is – Our church premises (main church) are insulated as follows – all walls and lofts/ceilings; some walls only; some walls and lofts/ceilings; all lofts/ceilings only; all walls only; some lofts/ceilings only; not at all; not applicable (listed status). Here you can see that this category is more complicate and needs the knowledge of your property stewards etc.
Shortly we will be starting PROJECT HALL during which the original church hall will be modernised, including having solar panels on the roof. This will stand us in good stead when we apply for our next award.
The LAND category could be contentious. Does your church face straight onto a street with no land around it at all? If so you are exempt from completing this category. However, if your church has a small amount of land e.g. some flower beds, you have land. After much thought we had to admit that we had land, even though it is only a small area. One of the questions is – our church land contains a pond or wetland area that is good for wildlife. You may answer – yes; no; not applicable. Our land does not have a pond and is not likely to as we don’t have enough land for one. SO, should the answer be NO or NOT APPLICABLE? Firstly I decided the answer should be NO. Then I had a rethink and changed it to NOT APPLICABLE as we are never likely to have a pond. A Rocha questioned this change, but understood when I explained. In fact I was asked…..are some of the answers listed ambiguous? I said they were, so was asked to think how they could be more clearly stated.
COMMUNITY AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT many people would agree is a large part of what should be in the forefront of any church’s mind. One of the questions is – our church participates in the Tearfund/Cord “Toilet Twinning” scheme. The answer to this question for UCS was a definitive YES, as our young people raised enough funds through craft sales etc., to TWIN all our toilets.
The final category is LIFESTYLE. This category refers to recycling, carbon footprints, reduction of car use, communal Christmas and Easter card schemes, the types of food used when eating meals together, ethical investments and environmental lifestyle audits etc.
In December 2019 we gained our BRONZE AWARD.
We are now working towards achieving our SILVER AWARD. It’s surprising what you can do towards this even during lockdown.
Perhaps the most difficult one we had to decide upon was the LAND category. One the one hand our congregation does not walk out of the building straight on to a pavement. But, on the other hand, we do have some flower beds and a small area of grass, so, being honest we couldn’t say we didn’t have any land. Yet, on the other hand, we haven’t got enough land, for example, to grow trees. Eventually we decided we had land and we would have to look at ways of using it as creatively as we can, now and in the future.
In August 2020 UCS attained a SILVER ECO AWARD, from A Rocha, the charity which encourages churches to become more environmentally friendly.
At the time of writing, UCS is the only Methodist URC church in Wales with a Silver Eco Award.
Even though we have been in lockdown for several months, it has been possible, by “thinking outside the box” to work towards this award.
During the late winter and early spring, new plantings were made in the church flower beds, to attract butterflies, bees and other insects. The flowers which were planted, and have flourished, include poppies, rudbekia, nicotiana, cranesbill geranium and sedum.
As UCS does not have enough land to grow trees, we have joined a scheme initiated by the City and County of Swansea, where you can pay to adopt a tree or buy a new tree. The church meeting agreed to the purchase of a Liquid Amber tree (related to the Canadian Maple), which will be planted in a local park next winter.
Our church related Community Worker (URC Swansea Region of Churches), Adella Pritchard, has started a Unity in Diversity clothing bank for asylum seekers, who are now living in our community. However, asylum seekers don’t just need clothes, so the project has extended its remit by appealing for items such as desks and chairs for older children to do their school work and for cots and prams for babies and toddlers.
Many of the sections of the ECO survey were already being undertaken at UCS regularly. Each month our magazine includes “Pray Without Ceasing”, which includes prayers for people in our locality, the environment and current issues.
During Creationtide, this autumn, we plan to experiment by meeting outside in two local parks and on a local beach. These services will be similar to worship indoors in that we will use prayer, meditation and contemplation to marvel at God’s creation. We have devised prayer walks for use in parks and on beaches, so those will be used. We will also include activities for all ages, based on the five senses. Whilst on the beach we hope to do a litter pick if needed!
To learn more about Eco Church awards visit www.arocha.org.uk
