Eco Blog - St. George's Berlin

 Christopher Jage-Bowler has kindly given permission for his sermon from last Sunday (Lent 1) to be posted here. I specifically requested this sermon, because it emphasizes one of the themes of this blog, which is that simple everyday acts in our lives affect the environment and thus God's creation. As he says: "...giving up chocolate or beer or wine for Lent is rather small fry." We face larger challenges, not just during Lent but afterwards as well. Sermon 21/02/2021 Lent 1 Genesis 9. 8 – 17; 1 Peter 3. 18 – 22; Mark 1. 9 - 15   Jesus said: “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly”.  Lent 2021! It feels a bit like we began Lent before Christmas – with the lockdown, the “great shut down”. We have been giving up all sorts of things on and off for a year now. Is this now second lap Lent?  The church’s call to mark the 40 days before Easter has, in recent years, fallen on deaf ears. The idea of intentionally doing without, entering into ...

 We have received several messages from the Diocese about ecological issues. One is from our Bishops The Right Reverend Dr. Robert Innes and The Right Reverend Dr. David Hamid, and it warns:   "Much human activity, in its sometimes careless domination of God’s gift of creation, produces carbon dioxide (among other greenhouse gasses) as a by-product. The science tells us that, unless we manage to reduce these emissions, there will be an irreversible consequence:   the temperature rise in our planet’s atmosphere will have very serious effects on all life, human or otherwise."  A second message offers a list of suggestions aimed in particular at church  buildings. These include obvious actions such as maintaining the roof and the gutters, and looking for greener ways to provide heat in the building. Insulation is, of course, one of the recommendations.  They also suggest considering whether to very the times for services to adjust them...