St Machar’s is an eco-congregation. This means that we accept our role as trustees of the natural world.

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors. We only borrow It from our children”: Native American Indian Chief.

 

A one per cent increase in lockblocked drives and hard landscaped front gardens leads to a nine per cent increase in run off and risk of flash  flooding. A bill before the parliament in Westminster aims to make front garden hard landscaping illegal unless planning permission has been obtained. There is as yet nothing similar in progress by the Scottish Government.

 

A thought for Creationtide:  If everyone in the world lived as we do in the UK, we would need 3 planets to support us. This is simply not sustainable or just. Eco-Congregations work for a world where everyone thrives within their fair share of the earth’s resources, while leaving space for wilderness and wildlife.  We all need to work towards a “One Planet Lifestyle”.

 

We believe that our living God loves the world and entrusts it to our care. We should, therefore, both individually and as an eco-congregation, be committed to the conservation and restoration of the natural world. Do we, as trustees, give enough thought to what this means in practice in our work and on our holidays?

 

Think Globally Act Locally: According to The Organic Way Magazine (formerly known as The Henry Doubleday Organization Magazine), transportation of food is responsible for 20% of the U.K`s carbon emissions and more than 30% of food is then wasted. There are quite a few local growers and producers in the Aberdeen area. Shouldn’t we all be supporting them!

 

Paula Clifford writes in All Creation Groaning: '"Christian hope... lies in the transformation of human activity at every level to restore and heal relationships between human beings, nature and God" 

 

An eco-tip to think about: Washing clothes at 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees reduces electricity consumption by 41%

 

This summer think about what modes of transport say about you as a person - as a Christian.  If you fly from London to Paris you are responsible for 244kg of carbon dioxide emissions; by train this reduces to 22kg.  Consider travelling by train and enjoy the journey as well as the destination.  www.seat61.com is a website that tells you how to travel anywhere in the world by train

 

In 2007 we successfully recycled.  Let our resolution for 2008 be to reduce our over -consumption and when we do go shopping, take our own bags. Lead by example and make 2008 a plastic bag- free year.  Reduce Reuse Recycle.

Cathedral Captures First Green Award

Lewis MacDonald MSP, presents the Eco-Congregation Award

to St Machar's Cathedral at 11am, Saturday 23rd October.

The holy man whose name they bear helped establish Christianity in Scotland. And now St Machar's in Aberdeen is bringing the message of environmental improvement to our nation - by becoming the first cathedral to receive the prestigious Eco-Congregation Award.

 

Organised by Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Society, Religion and Technology Project of the Church of Scotland, Eco-Congregation encourages and rewards churches who go the extra mile in caring for God's creation. And since that's what the flock at Saint Machar's have done - they'll receive their Award from Aberdeen Central MSP Lewis MacDonald at a special ceremony on Saturday 23 October.

 

"Churches are still at the heart of the community and by actively looking after the environment, can influence the rest of society and get them motivated too" said Margaret Warnock, Co-ordinator of Eco-Schools for Scotland. "By trying to curb air pollution and stop the plundering of natural resources we are also caring for each other with a bias to the poor, which is at the heart of the Christian message."

 

And the congregation at St Machars has certainly done its bit, with a raft of good green work, including:

 

• Running recycling initiatives to ensure everything from spectacles to printer cartridges don't end up as landfill
• Preparing organic lunches for their congregation
• Taking ownership of the local Perwinnes Moss nature reserve
• Holding an Eco-Congregation Open Day, bringing together green groups and local residents and,

Weaving environmental themes into their worship

 

In fact, the congregation have become so clued-up on conservation, that they've even started to care for the bats in their belfry!

 

Launched at a special dedication service at Dunblane Cathedral back in March 2001, Eco-Congregation has proved a hit with all denominations, with 54 churches now taking part. Concluded Margaret Warnock: "Often issues such as global warming and deforestation can seem like a million miles from our daily lives. But, as St Machars has proved, by making a few small changes to your routine you can make an enormous difference. I hope everyone takes inspiration from their example and begins to care for their environment, whether they believe it is their sacred duty or - just an act of kindness to others.