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Walkers and worshippers urge climate action

  • Ellen Teague

John Rutter's 'For the Beauty of the Earth' was sung at two services on Sunday which celebrated God's creation and prayed for action on the climate crisis.

A "moving" Young Pilgrim's Service at Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, led by Bishop Hugh Nelson, prayed especially for young people of the Young Christian Climate Network (YCCN), setting off in a young person's relay from the G7, which was concluding nearby, to Glasgow's COP26 UN climate conference in November. A 'Wave of Hope' hand decorated the altar and a large banner of a sail read, 'Rise to the moment'. Some of the congregation, who were socially distanced, wore Christian Aid and CAFOD tee-shirts.

The opening prayer, written by the Archbishop of York for COP26, said: "Grant us to hear the groaning of creation and the cries of the poor." Bishop Nelson invited the congregation to confess poor stewardship of creation and to work for justice, peace and a renewal of creation. On-screen testimonies from the Philippines and Kenya highlighted the need for climate action. The first said, "we are in small islands with large waves eating our lands, and we need to live Laudato Si' and change our mindsets." There were calls for big corporations not to finance climate wrecking industries and for nature-based solutions. The second witness, "born and bred on slopes of Mount Kenya", highlighted glaciers disappearing, rivers drying up and increasing weather-related disasters facing the East African country. The choir sang Sing2G7, an ambitious initiative to encourage children and young people to get their voices heard by the G7 world leaders with a song created and written by Sir Tim Rice and Peter Hobbs.

Cornish Christian Activists read out their message for world leaders meeting in Cornwall, saying that "profit is too often chosen ahead of people and planet." They wanted warming kept below 1.5 degrees, an end to funding of fossil fuels, and greenhouse gas emissions cut to net zero. Prayers led by the YCCN called for more compassion in the hearts of decision-makers, and more money for communities "harmed by our greed for fossil fuels." Then, six members of YCCN, forming the first stage of the four and a half month relay and carrying a 'Relay of COP26' banner, were given a rousing send-off. As they walked down the aisle and out the back door the congregation raised hands to bless them and then clapped them. The organ played the South African chant, 'We are marching in the light of God'.

The same Sunday, 13 June, saw a Climate Sunday Mass at Salford Catholic Cathedral, celebrated by Bishop John Arnold, lead bishop on the environment for the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. In his homily he said there is much to be done to repair the climate and biodiversity but reminded that Pope Francis feels there is always hope. He found hope in the G7 leaders listening to Environmentalist David Attenborough that morning and in the actions Christians are taking to care for creation. CAFOD and its volunteers were thanked for helping Catholics to see the connections between environmental problems and poverty. "Let us celebrate creation" he said, "but with a responsibility to repair the damage so that future generations can enjoy the gift of creation." At the final blessing he prayed for the leaders gathered in Cornwall, "that they may see the need for a radical response to Climate Change".

LINKS

Truro service - www.youtube.com/watch?v=-baE9iwzOt0

Climate Sunday Mass 2021 template: https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Prayer-resources/Climate-Sunday-Mass

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