Bertie Stirling sent ECI this report:
The NI Creation Care Network had their 17th meeting in Drumalis on Saturday 20th November. The meeting was opened with a prayer for reconnection and reconciliation with God and his creation.
Though numbers were small, exchange was exciting and encouraging. Of course COP26 and the Climate Justice Rally in Belfast were topics of conversation, both with their good and bad sides. A number of people also attended the Climate Justice Service in Central Church that morning.
Encouragement for all was when we exchanged what folks were involved in day by day, week by week. We learned of two more congregations starting to take positive action to care for God’s creation. Many new initiatives had popped up since we last met: Repair Cafes had opened up again; creation care was becoming a more regular topic in Bible studies and sermons; two new local initiatives where farmers were rewilding part of their land. We also heard about more schemes alongside Forest Schools, to raise awareness among young people. Other projects – from developing an interfaith programme bringing people together through creation care to planting 2000 trees, were discussed. Many tips, suggestions and contacts were also exchanged. Folks in the group were involved in so many activities that they just felt were worth doing. It reminded me of part of a quote from Vaclav Havel (Former President of the Czech Republic)
‘Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out.’
The meeting ended with an excellent meal together, provided by Drumalis and we express much thanks for this.