Christians to hold day-long rally against climate change

Christians of all denominations will be holding a rally and prayer services London next Saturday, 4 November, to campaign against climate change. Operation Noah and Christian Ecology Link will be organising a gathering point from 10am at Grosvenor Chapel, 24 South Audley Street W1K 2PA, and a service of Worship from 11.15 to 11.45. The Rt Revd Richard Chartres, Bishop of London is to give the address at the service. Dudley Coates (Vice President of the Methodist Conference) and Fr Joe Ryan (Chair of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission) are also taking part in the service. After the service participants will walk together to Grosvenor Square for the Campaign Against Climate Change Rally at 12noon with speakers who include George Monbiot, Caroline Lucas MEP, Norman Baker MP, Colin Challen MP and Zac Goldsmith. The march is due to leave Grosvenor Square between 12.45 and 1pm and to arrive in Trafalgar Square by 2pm. ON/CEL will provide placards to carry on the march from Grosvenor Square to Trafalgar Square. If you cannot reach Grosvenor Chapel in time for the service at 11.15am, look for the Operation Noah logo and 'Cut the Carbon' on our placards and come and join us on the march. Tearfund, Christian Aid and the BMS are organising another service at St Martins-in-the Fields from 12.30 to 1.15 for those who prefer to skip the march and go direct to Trafalgar Square. Both the Grosvenor Chapel and St Martins-in-the-Fields services will use a prayer written for the day by David Pickering, chair of Operation Noah Executive Committee. Two versions of this prayer are given below a short and long version. Please try to persuade your own church to use this prayer on Sunday 5 November. Stop Climate Chaos are organising the 'I Count' rally in Trafalgar Square. The main part of the rally is from 2pm to 3pm. The Rt Revd James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, is one of the speakers. After the 'I Count' rally everyone is invited to St Paul's Church, Bedford Street, from 3.30 to 4.30 for refreshments and information on what Christian organisations are doing on climate change. A 'Pause for the Planet' interfaith silent gathering takes place at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation, 78 Bishopsgate from 5pm to 7pm. Come and show that Christians care about climate justice, for our children's sake, for the earth's sake, for God's sake! For more information, and a flyer to print and circulate, go to the CEL website www.christian-ecology.org.uk/scc.htm Prayer of Commitment (short version) For the Earth's sake, for our children's sake, for God's sake Oceans warming Ice caps melting Calming, caring God Help us act to still the storm for now, for ever. Storms destroying Chaos reigning Calming, caring God Help us act to still the storm for now, for ever. Planet shaping Hope rising Calming, caring God Help us act to still the storm for now, for ever. Prayer of Commitment (long version) For the Earth's sake, for our children's sake, for God's sake Oceans warming Coral dying Sea rising Land disappearing Ice caps melting Polar bears dying Waters overwhelming Calming, caring God Help us act to still the storm for now, for ever. Storms destroying Chaos reigning Cities flooding People moving Disease spreading Homes disappearing Crops failing Hope fading Calming, caring God Help us act to still the storm for now, for ever. Planet shaping World creating Life forming Spirit breathing Law guiding Cradle birthing Cross bearing Hope rising Calming, caring God Help us act to still the storm for now, for ever.