MK Eco Church Network – March 2025 Update

Dear MK Eco Church Network Friends

I hope this March Update finds you well. I trust there’s at least one item in this month’s update that will be of interest to you!

A Date for Your Diary! The next MK Eco Church Network meeting will be held at Queensway Methodist Church in Bletchley on Saturday 5th April 2025 between 10.00am – 12.30pm. The address is: Queensway, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2HB.

The first half of the meeting will focus on sharing lessons about members’ Eco Church journeys, under the guidance of the Eco Church Group at Queensway. The second part of the meeting will include a talk about “Opportunities to Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle in Milton Keynes”, given by Marion Cole and Philippa Tipper, who lead the Repair Café movement in MK. The talk will be followed by group discussions about the role that churches can play in this movement. More info including agenda here.

Understanding Home Solar and Batteries – A Free Drop-In Event on 22nd March

Discover how solar panels and battery storage can transform your home’s energy efficiency at the Solar Surgery on Saturday 22nd March 10:30am to 2:30pm, being organised by MK Community Energy in The Old Bath House, Wolverton.

For more information: https://homenergymk.org/

Climate Café MK – Driving a Green Future – Saturday 22nd March 2.00 - 4.30pm

The next Climate Café will be held at York House Centre, London Road, Stony Stratford, MK11 1JQ. The Forum and discussion will focus on the future of transport. 

Earth Hour 2025 – Saturday 22nd March 8-30-9.30pm

Earth Hour is an annual event organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), when people and organisations across the world switch off their lights at home for one hour “to help raise awareness on the most urgent issues facing our planet”. People are encouraged to participate for one hour by switching off some lights and devices and perhaps taking time to pray. In addition, WWF is encouraging people to spend 60 minutes doing something - anything - positive for our planet: https://www.earthhour.org/about/the-biggest-hour-for-earth.

Milton Keynes Parks Trust Community Litter Picks

The MK Parks Trust organises community litter picks every month in different locations across the city. Please consider getting involved in one of the following:

• Wednesday 2^nd April, at 10.30 am: National Spring Clean, in Campbell Park

• Thursday 17^th April, at 10.30am: Family Litter Pick: Teardrop Lakes

• Thursday 19^th June at 10.30am: Great Linford Manor Park

• Friday 18^th July at 10.30am: Canal Broadwalk

For details: https://www.theparkstrust.com/events/?Event+Category=Volunteering

New animation and guide offer tips for churches to reach net zero carbon

The Church of England Environmental Programme has produced a new animation and guide offer tips for churches to reach net zero carbon. The two minute animation, highlights steps such as insulating pipes, draught-proofing doors and buying heated seat cushions to help churches on their journey to net zero carbon. The animation has been launched alongside a digital practical guide which features a handy flowchart, a list of heating solutions and a checklist.

Historic churches article

There is an informative article on decarbonising church heating in the Building Conservation Directory’s Special Report on Historic Churches. The energy audit programme described in the article is similar to the one we offer (further details).

Growing Hope: Church action for sustainable land use webinar

The Christian climate change charity Operation Noah will relaunch their Church Land Use campaign by sharing their vision for sustainable land use with a webinar on 24th March at 1pm. This will feature inspiring speakers involved in local actions and promoting resources to grow positive action at local, regional, and investment level. Sign up for the webinar here.

Sermon resources: Preaching for God's World

Sermon notes and ideas for every week of the Lectionary from the perspective of creation care and ecological justice: Preaching for God's World. For weekly inspiration sign up here.

Milton Keynes Eco Church Network website

The MK Eco Church Network now has a website that is hosted on the Churches Together Milton Keynes website under the ‘Mission’ menu: https://www.ctmk.church/p/eco-church-network.html Please go and check it out.

Acknowledgements: Grateful thanks go to the inspirational staff working in the Oxford Diocese Environmental Programme for several of these items and to their colleagues in the CofE National Environmental Programme.

Please do share this email with other people who may be interested.

 

Thanks and warm wishes

 

Stuart Kean

MK Eco Church Convenor

email: mkecnetwork@ctmk.church