Operation Noah Day

Footprints and rainbows - obedience and hope

by Ruth Jarman

On July 5th, St. John's Church, Hartley Wintney was transformed into an Ark of climate awareness.

Following the 'launch' of Operation Noah Day by Cllr Denis Gotel, Chairman of Hart District Council, Mr Noah welcomed people into the Ark, politely insisting that they enter "two-by-two" and asking whether anyone had seen a unicorn !  

Inside, the Ark was buzzing, with playfully strewn footprint pledges, a variety of stalls showing ways to cut carbon footprints, face painting and fantastic craft activities using recycled materials, a puppet show and a youth and children's service with songs and drama. 

The Hogs Back Brewery, Mr. Whiteheads Cider Company, Denbies Wine Estate and Waitrose supported the day with lunch and beverage tasting.

Ruth and Josh had taken a giant petition - made of recycled bed sheets of course - to Dogmersfield C of E
Primary, Oakwood Infants, The Grey House and Greenfield's Junior School and had collected hundreds of brightly coloured signatures as well as hundreds of paper footprints, each with a child's pledge to do something to cut their carbon footprint which were strung around the church on Operation Noah Day. 

The petition was presented to James Arbuthnot MP on the Friday 4th July and would be delivered, by children representing the four schools, to 10 Downing Street on the 14th July. 

Ruth Jarman said, "The best antidote to climate despair is climate action, and who better to take the lead on this greatest moral and spiritual issue of our time than people of faith?"

The film An Inconvenient Truth was screened in the afternoon, and also in the evening when it was followed by a discussion chaired by Robin Ewbank.

Children relaxing with the puppets after the puppet show (see script)