Climate and Buildings

Climate-Focused Service

Ideas for thinking about managing your church building in the context of worship and creation care
 

We know that care for creation is an integral part of our worship and how we live out our faith as individual Christians and as a church. We know we need to reduce our carbon emissions as part of this expression of faith - our individual emissions and our corporate ones. The energy used to heat and light your church and church hall makes up the largest part of your church’s corporate carbon footprint, so it’s really important to make sure we are using energy as efficiently as possible, and not wasting any. There’s lots of practical advice and guidance about this below.
 

But how to incorporate this into a climate-focused service? Including our church buildings in a service is not easy at this time, when the use of our buildings is restricted. We can’t move about if we’re in a service, and many of us are worshipping at home. So, some of these ideas could be done virtually, using photographs if you have them, or stock images if you don’t, or just using your imagination.
 

Think about the different parts of your building and what they are used for. Start with the spaces used for hospitality. This might be the first space that people come into when they enter the building, or the kitchen, the coffee lounge, or the welcome area. How do you make people feel welcome? How, as a church, do you build community? Have you thought about the food you serve - check out the resources from December on climate and food. Pray for the people who join your community and pray that you will be a welcoming church. Jesus was clear that welcoming people we don’t know is a demonstration of our love for him (Matthew 25:31-46).
 

Think about the main space in your church, where the people sit for the service. What is it about this space that helps you to worship? Many churches were built to inspire awe and wonder, or have introduced elements to do this. Spending time in nature has been shown to increase our appreciation for nature, and nature itself inspires wonder at the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). We often bring nature into churches in the form of flowers, but you might be able to think of other ways to do this. Or perhaps your building has commemorations to those who have already run the race, encouraging us to persevere (Hebrews 12:1). Who are your environmental encouragers?
 

Which part of the church do you use for preaching, reading from the Bible and leading prayers? As you think about the pulpit, the lectern, or any other spaces, pray for those who preach and lead in your church. And ask yourself, how often do you hear about climate change, or the environment, or biodiversity in the sermons, readings and prayers in your church. Could this happen more often?
 

Do you have a special place in your building where you prepare and receive the bread and wine? For many Christians, this is the most holy place in their building. It is also the place where the whole family of God comes together symbolically as the body of Christ. Our true and proper worship is to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). This could be the moment to recommit to doing everything we can in our daily lives to cherish and nurture God’s gift of creation.
 

Finally, think about the door in your church, the exit. At the end of a service, we are sent out into the rest of the world to continue our lives as witnesses and disciples. Think about what your next steps might be to better care for creation. As a community, decide how you will come together to make sure the way you look after your building is a part of this. Perhaps a small group can be commissioned to take this forward and follow up the practical ideas below. And pray for this group of people too.
 

Prayer:

An act of commitment for the care of creation

‘While all creatures stand in expectation, what will be the result of our liberty?’

(Thomas Traherne)

 

As the whole of creation looks with eager longing for the redemption of humankind, let us pledge ourselves anew to serve our Creator God, the Father who is the maker of all things,

the Son through whom all things are made, and the Holy Spirit,

the giver of life, who renews the face of the earth.

 

Let us stand to affirm our commitment to care actively for God’s creation.

All:  Lord of life and giver of hope,

we pledge ourselves to care for creation,

to reduce our waste,

to live sustainably,

and to value the rich diversity of life.

May your wisdom guide us,

that life in all its forms may flourish,

and may be faithful in voicing creation’s praise.

 

May the commitment we have made this day be matched by our faithful living.

All:  Amen. Amen. Amen.
 

copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2020.

 

Commit

Resources to help you commit to change as a community
These resources come from our experience of trying to reach net zero in the Church of England, but the principles apply to your buildings whatever your denomination.

 

What are we talking about? Click through to see what a Net Zero Carbon church might be like.

Take a tour of a net-zero carbon church on the Church of England website here.  You’ll find outside features from bike racks to solar panels, and inside features like low carbon heating and LED lighting, and explore the six principles which underlie become net-zero: