Environment Sunday
(formerly called Conservation Sunday)
8 June 2008
(Note - World Environment Day is 5 June)
Even if your church cannot hold a special event or service for this day, you can download a poster (or make your own) to remind people about the day.
The Sunday nearest to World Environment Day is celebrated as Environment Sunday
Environment Sunday was first chosen as the first Sunday in June by A Rocha. Christian Ecology Link encourages its members and others to support Environment Sunday, either on this Sunday or any other day that may be more suitable to a particular local church's situation.
A Rocha has produced materials for Environment/Conservation Sunday for several years. Last year it produced material with special concern about climate change. Two years ago it procuced material in a pack entitled "The Celts, Creation and the Bible"
The A Rocha pack to go with it in 2008 is called 'Planetwise' to accompany the book of
the same name by Dave Bookless (published 15th Feb by IVP)
For details of this pack visit http://en.arocha.org/ukconsunday/index2.html
Packs from previous years are also useful, as is other material produced by CEL described on the CEL resources page.
A Rocha states that it has chosen the first Sunday in June or the nearest Sunday to World Environment Day for Environment Sunday for three reasons:
- The time of year - early summer is most suitable for outdoor events. Flowers, butterflies, birds and other wildlife are easiest to see and enjoy.
- The Wildlife Trusts, a national network of country and regional trusts in Britain, promotes the first week in June as "wildlife week". We strongly encourage churches to link up with their local Wildlife Trust and plan joint events - nature walks, practical working parties, or perhaps an interview with a Wildlife Trust officer in youur Conservation Sunday Service.
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World Environment Day - the United Nations have declared June 5th as World Environment Day. In 2008 June 5th is the Thursday
To obtain this year's A Rocha pack send £10-00 to A Rocha UK, 13 Avenue Road, Southall, UB1 3BL tel 0208 574 5935
(Website http://en.arocha.org/uk/index.html
Please note that Christian Ecology Link also encourages people to support "Creation Time" the period between 1 September and the second Sunday in October by holding a service about the environment then. Creation Time is promoted by the European Christian Environment Network. |