God, the land and us
That was the topic of our service marking Earth Day at the end of April, and it is also the theme the Eco Church team hopes the Mint will develop in the coming year. Whilst parish churches and some Methodist chapels have land to care for right outside the church door –a graveyard or church garden –the Mint’s outdoor space is just a car park plus three other hard paved areas (Do you know where they are?).
But as an Eco church we are expected to be connected with land beyond our boundaries, and we want to develop ideas to achieve that together as a church as well as individually. The first way we can all be part of that is by learning more about the land and nature generally, not least so that we can pray in a more informed way regarding our environment’s wellbeing. TV programmes, books, online resources and opportunities for outdoor exploring are plentiful, and even those with very limited mobility can be part of this dimension of learning and engaging. We hope everyone is.
But here are five further suggestions we are making. First, there are things that we can do outdoors at the Mint. We are grateful to Alison for the work that has renewed those small flower beds next to the street entrance. They need ongoing care, and even the tarmac and walls need regular weeding for which the eco team would welcome new volunteers to join us. We’d like also to consider other enhancements like some planters, and perhaps a feeding station for small birds. Could you be part of making that happen?
Secondly, since we have minimal land of our own, we are seeking to establish a partnership between the Mint and a local green space where we can share in the work of conservation and/or growing. That way we can work alongside others who share a concern for the intelligent engagement with the land and its inhabitants. Watch out for further information soon.
A third thing we would like to trial is a “Walk and Worship” experience, where we choose a particular local landscape and do some easy discovery walking in it, concluding with some simple outdoor worship and a picnic. The first occasion would be a Saturday afternoon, though if we establish a regular pattern visiting different places, some could be on a Sunday when nothing else is planned for later in the day.