Archive: 2020 - Page 4 of 10 - Operation Noah

Caroline Harmon, Operation Noah’s Communications Officer, takes a listen to new worship album, Doxecology.

In a world where the environmental message is growing in volume and urgency, there is a distinct paucity of songs that reflect a coherent biblical theology of creation, or of our place as humans within it. Put simply, there are not enough songs that say, ‘We love you, God, and we love your world. – Introduction, Doxecology Study Guide

If you’ve ever found yourself standing in a church service on a Sunday morning (or sitting on your sofa watching an online service) and despaired at the lack of reference to creation care in the worship, or indeed any part of the service, then Doxecology is the album for you.

Two years in the making, Resound Worship has gone on an international search to find 13 songs which aim to bring together doxology (praise) and ecology and the results don’t disappoint. The album includes a range of songs suitable for use in our churches, from the uplifting God of immeasurable might and We are the tenants of the King through to laments such as Hear the Song of our Lament.

Where Doxecology really comes into its own is all the extra materials that accompany it. As well as everything you need to use the songs in your own church (scores, backing tracks, videos demonstrating how to use the songs with limited instruments) there is also a Study Guide for use with small groups and by individuals. It features an impressive list of contributors, including Jack Wakefield from Tearfund, Dave Bookless of ARocha International and Jeremy Williams of Christian Climate Action. The guide even includes three service plans with prayers, poems, all-age activities, song suggestions, videos and more. Perfect if you’re planning a Climate Sunday for your church.

Operation Noah even gets a mention. One of the songs on the album, Tenants of the King, was inspired by Operation Noah’s small group study guide of the same name!

Doxecology and accompanying resources are available from Resound Worship

This autumn, we invite you to join our webinar series to find out how Catholic religious orders, dioceses and other organisations can use their investments to accelerate the clean energy transition and support a green recovery.

Part 1: Fossil fuel divestment: Accelerating the clean energy transition

Part 1 happened in September. View the webinar recording.

This webinar gave an overview of how Catholic religious orders, dioceses and other organisations can divest from the fossil fuel industry and support a just recovery from Covid-19. It wwas an opportunity to find out why the Vatican recommended divestment from fossil fuel companies in June 2020.

Speakers included:

• Fr Augusto Zampini, Co-Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
• Dr Lorna Gold, Vice Chair of the Global Catholic Climate Movement
• Br Stephen Power SJ, former Treasurer of Jesuits in Britain
• Sr Susan Francois CSJP, Assistant Congregation Leader and Congregation Treasurer, Sisters of St Joseph of Peace
• James Buchanan, Bright Now Campaign Manager, Operation Noah

Part 2: Investment for a green recovery: Innovation in impact investing
Wednesday 21 October 2020, 4.00-5.30pm
Register to join the webinar

The webinar will give an overview of how Catholic religious orders, organisations and individuals can make investments with positive environmental and social impacts.

Speakers include:

• Lord Deben, Chair of UK’s Committee on Climate Change
• Dr Sr Gemma Simmonds CJ, Director of Religious Life Institute at University of Cambridge
• Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy and Communications at CAFOD
• Sr Pat Daly OP, former Executive Director of Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment
• Shaun Cooper, Head of Finance at Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood
• Victoria Carrion, Director of Membership and Partnerships at the Catholic Impact Investing Collaborative

This webinar series is sponsored by Operation Noah, Catholic Impact Investing Collective, the Global Catholic Climate Movement, CAFOD, Trocaire, Conference of Religious, Association of Provincial Bursars, National Justice & Peace Network and Justice and Peace Scotland.

Register to join the webinars

For more information about the webinars and to register for your place:

• fossil fuel divestment webinar 
•  impact investing webinar

Read our August Newsletter

We have news of new trustees, a Methodist motion to divest from fossil fuels and Climate Sunday is just over a month away now!

To receive future newsletters straight to your inbox, please use the email sign-up form on the left or click here.

Marking the start of the annual season of Creationtide, the Climate Sunday initiative begins on Sunday 6 September with local churches across Britain and Ireland holding climate-focused services to explore the theological and scientific basis of creation care and of action on climate, to pray and to commit to action.

With the climate crisis accelerating and greater public support for a green recovery post COVID-19, there has never been a more crucial time for UK churches to come together to pray and act on the climate crisis. Over 700 churches registered before the year-long initiative has begun, so the organisers are hoping that there will be thousands of local Climate Sundays, with congregations from every denomination and tradition.

The culmination of the campaign will be a national Climate Sunday event in Glasgow on Sunday 5 September 2021, to celebrate the commitments made by churches at local level over the previous year. We will also present the UK government with the combined commitments and calls, which all local churches have made, to show our political leaders that they have our support for acting boldly, justly and compassionately on this issue.

The Climate Sunday initiative, organised by CTBI’s Environmental Issues Network (EIN), is the UK’s largest joint project planned by UK Churches on Climate Change, with formal backing from almost 20 organisations. The idea for Climate Sunday was conceived by Operation Noah.

Andy Atkins, the chair of the coalition, said: “With the climate crisis accelerating and the UK due to host the COP26 climate talks in November 2021 in Glasgow, we believe the time has come for all churches across the UK to pray about and act on the climate crisis, as we have done in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our vision is to leave a lasting legacy of thousands of UK churches better equipped to address this critical issue as part of their normal discipleship and mission; and to make a very significant contribution to civil society efforts to secure adequate national and international action at the COP26 conference.”

Church congregations can register to participate in Climate Sunday and access service resources for a range of traditions by visiting the Climate Sunday website.

Christians to Take Part in Climate Crisis Protests

More than 100 Christians are expected to participate in climate crisis protests around the UK during late August and early September. Members of Christian Climate Action (CCA) will join with Extinction Rebellion and a number of other organisations as part of the September Rebellion, taking place from 28 August and themed around the slogan, ‘We Want to Live’.

• CCA, alongside a number of other faith groups, is organising Prayer Vigils in London, Cardiff and Great Malvern.
• The group is also organising an ‘At Home’ Vigil which people can participate in via Zoom.
• Local CCA groups will be joining and organising local actions around the country from 28 August and national actions in London, Manchester and Cardiff from 1September.

Melanie Nazareth, a barrister, mother of four and a CCA member, said, ‘Prayer is the foundation of everything we do in Christian Climate Action. It unites and sustains us and gives us the strength to act with loving purpose as we seek to be good stewards of God’s creation. In this vigil our prayers will help us to draw closer to God as we bear public witness to the message that God loves the creation that we are destroying.’

Community and Ecological Emergency Bill

One of the key demands of the protests will be that the UK parliament passes a Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill into law. This bill is calling for:

• A serious plan to deal with the UK’s fair share of emissions and to halt critical rises in global temperatures.
• Our entire carbon footprint to be taken into account, both in the UK and overseas.
• The active conservation and restoration of nature here and overseas, recognising the damage we cause through the goods we import.
• Those in power not to depend on future technologies to save the day; these technologies are being used as an excuse for us to carry on polluting.
• Ordinary people to have a real say on the right way forward in a Citizens’ Assembly with bite.

The CEE Bill has been developed with members of Extinction Rebellion, members of the successful Big Ask campaign that led to the Climate Change Act (2008) and Power for People. It has been written with contributions from prominent scientists and academics. The Bill has already received support from Kumi Naidoo, (International Executive Director of Greenpeace International (2009–2016) and Secretary General of Amnesty International (2018–2020).

Individuals can sign up to support the Bill here.

Why are Christians taking part?

Hannah Malcolm, an Anglican ordinand and member of CCA, said: ‘There is no uncritical time to face up to unfolding climate collapse, but the next six months hold a vital window for change as countries plan economic stimulus packages. If used well, these could accelerate global decarbonisation. Government responses to Coronavirus around the world have demonstrated that rapid, coordinated action is possible, and have also shown us the deadly consequences of indifference. The question is, do we have the courage to abandon the usual way of doing things in order to prevent further death and suffering, and to make way for life to flourish?’

 

Fr Martin Newell, a Catholic priest from Birmingham and member of CCA, explained why he is taking part: ‘We believe that being faithful means taking a stand on the biggest issue of our time. If you agree, please get involved – there’s lots of work to be done, both on the ground or from home if travelling isn’t viable. When Jesus said to James and John, “Follow me,” they stood up, dropped their fishing nets and did just that. As disciples of Christ, we are called to take action. Will you stand up and do what we are called to or will you remain in the boat?’

In 2018, Operation Noah produced a statement of our position on Extinction Rebellion. It can be read here.