Good News for God's Earth
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MARCH – APRIL – MARCH 2017 Good news for God’s earth Creation Care: join the revolution PAGE 6 Greening our churches PAGE 10 Comment: Act justly: Churchyards: Pints and prayer: a sense of place climate change stepping stones Poringland 4 16 for wildlife 24 PubChurch 35 Norfolk Wildlife Trust has been looking after Norfolk’s wildlife and Help support our wild places for ninety years. Our Churchyard Conservation work in Norfolk’s Scheme has surveyed many of Norfolk’s 800 historic churchyards, churchyards: helping their communities learn about and preserve these special places. This work continues through our County Wildlife Action initiative, and is now involving as many local people as possible in observing and Join today! recording their churchyard wildlife. The support of our 35,000 members is vital. From as little as £2.50 per month you can visit all our nature reserves, learn more about our work and events in our magazine, and receive a free 128 page handbook in your joining pack. To help us continue our work in Norfolk churchyards, join today by visiting www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/membership or calling 01603 625540 and quoting code DN1. Thank you for your support. Saving Norfolk’s Wildlife for the Future DEVLIN PLUMMER STAINED GLASS We work on glass dating from the early SPECIALISTS IN 14th century to the present day, the repair ALL TYPES OF of casements and ferramenta, supply and installation of window protection. Many of STAINED AND our commissions come direct from PCC’s LEADED GLASS whilst many others are initiated by architects. To discuss conservation, protection or commissions of stained glass in any space in the UK or further afield please contact our studio.01379 677111 www.devlinplummer.co.uk BE SEEN You can advertise in The Magazine (with an estimated readership of over 20,000) at very reasonable cost, reaching a great audience of individuals and parishes throughout Norfolk and Waveney. The online version takes readers direct to your website from your advert. Multiple placement discounts are available. To find out more, contact Sally on01603 882322 or email [email protected] From the Editor Contents THE MAGAZINE | MARCH - APRIL 2017 s I write, the news has just to see in caring for creation. Likewise broken that 2016 was earth’s Christian Aid (pg 16), Simon Court hottest year on record. The (pg 5) and young Christians (pg 15) 5 FACE TO FAITH: Simon Court last year below average challenge us to respond. Matthew temperature was 1976 and it’s been Mc Dade also gives us some practical climbing steadily ever since. Regardless pointers towards “greening” our church ofA where you stand on climate change, buildings (pg 10). these are stark facts. It’s also the first few That’s what this issue is about – taking weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency a pause to drink in God’s presence in of the USA and those concerned with 6 the great outdoors, and realising our FEATURE: environmental issues are pessimistic stewardship of this beautiful, generous about his intentions. His administration Creation environment in which we have been has instructed the Environmental Care - join the placed is more important now than Protection Agency to remove the climate revolution ever. What will our response be? change page from its website. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the complexities Blessings, and scale of the issues. In the midst of editing this issue, I went for a swim in the sea at Cromer. I took up 12 REVIEW: Books on outdoor “wild swimming” last September with church and environment a friend, partly as a challenge to myself. Barbara Bryant But pausing during a swim in icy waters 13 SOUL SPACE: Outdoor Editor yesterday, I appreciated the vastness of spirituality - some tasting notes the ocean I was in, the vivid blue of the PS – Don’t forget to display The sky, the sun disappearing behind the Magazine in your church or other 15 Young Christians lead the cliffs and for a few brief moments (before community venues in the specially- challenge for ethical lifestyle the cold urged me into movement again) designed stand, available for just I felt a connection with the Creator £2.00 + p&p 17 Mrs Burrington writes of all this. There is something about www.shop.dioceseofnorwich.org/ products/stand connecting with God through our natural or phone 01603 880853 26 ONE DAY: Adam Jackson environment that is like nothing else. – Christian eco-camp Jacquie Burgess (pg 4) and Richard entrepreneur Woodham (pg13) and two members of the Dawes family (pg 14) touch on this. 28 Preservation versus mission? In Reedham they are literally taking the gospel outdoors as they prepare their 29 Julian of Norwich first Passion Play (pg23). The main feature (pg 6) urges us to consider the Biblical basis to become the change we wish The Magazine design: 30 Get in touch Adept Design www.adeptdesign.co.uk FOCUS ON: 01603 882348 (Editor) Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily Seven churches [email protected] those of the Diocese and the acceptance of advertising does not indicate editorial endorsement. Diocesan House, 109 Dereham Road, Easton, Norwich NR9 5ES Cover photo: Pupils at Great Witchingham Church of England Primary Academy working in the kitchen garden www.dioceseofnorwich.org/magazine and saving food-miles! facebook.com/dioceseofnorwich @DioceseNorwich The next issue (deadline Wednesday 32 Video resources – top websites 15 March) is being guest-edited by a group of young people. 37 What’s On listings To advertise in The Magazine please contact Sally on 40 Shoot the vicar! Church photo 01603 882322 or email [email protected] competition 3 A sense of place t was the first Saturday of 2017 Human relations with the natural world ethical responsibility and duty. Dr Albert and I was driving to Oulton for a are always in flux, contingent on the Schweitzer famously described these public consultation on the second needs, demands and pressures of the values as the ‘reverence for life’. His draft of the Broads Local Plan. I was time. But at the same time it is possible revelation came one day in autumn 1915, just thinking about how the meeting to recognise some consistent threads as he plodded alongside a family of hippos would go when I turned right at the in the values – the ideas of right and who appeared as tired and world-weary IAcle roundabout and headed out across proper conduct – which underpin the as himself: ‘I realised at once that…a Halvergate marshes towards Great ways these relations are expressed. system of values which concerns itself only Yarmouth. Dominant values focus on maximising with our relationship to other people is the utility of natural resources to improve incomplete and therefore lacking in power This was a murky morning. Tendrils of the material well-being of individuals, for good. Only by means of reverence mist hung over the pastures, decorating groups and societies. Such values drive for life can we establish a spiritual and the gateposts and cattle paddocks, and technological innovation, exploitation humane relationship with both people and marking out the geometry of the dykes. of global ecosystems and contribute to all living creatures within our reach’. Normally the caps and towers of the wind the increasing severity of environmental pumps catch my eye. But this morning I hope the readers of this edition of The problems around the world. it was the small heaps of white feathers Magazine will find joy in their own special signifying sleepy swans who clearly felt Less prominent in public debate but places and inspiration to do more in our the morning wasn’t far-enough advanced equally, if not more important for our wonderful wetland landscape. to warrant getting their beaks out just yet. psychological, social and spiritual well- being are other values such as those I felt overwhelmed for a moment by relating to the beauty and inspiration Jacquie Burgess is an the love I feel for these flat, wet and to be found in particular places and emeritus Professor of marshy landscapes. I love the way the Geography. She is landscapes. Our landscape is designated land meets the sky and how the water currently Chairman of the as the Broads National Park because it Broads Authority which and reeds stitch the two together; the embodies special aesthetic qualities looks after the Broads feelings they evoke from my childhood; society wishes to see protected and shared National Park. Jacquie and especially, the way they speak of a also chairs National Parks with present and future generations. history of deep entanglements between UK, the organisation of all 15 members of the National Park people and nature which has created At the same time being in the world family who protect and promote these very special and maintains them. speaks to a more profound sense of landscapes. www.broads-authority.gov.uk Tendrils of mist hung over the pastures, decorating the gateposts and cattle paddocks, and marking out the geometry of the dykes. 4 Simon Court A degree in Environmental Science, a career in teaching, and volunteering for many different charities has contributed to Churchwarden Simon Court’s passionate concern for environmental issues. How did you come What are your hopes to faith? for the future? I came to faith gradually and mostly I hope Christians engage in pursuing an unspectacularly. I was brought up environmentally sustainable future by in a Christian family, learning about adapting our lifestyles and challenging God and Jesus in church, through an economic system which fails to value Pathfinders and church youth work. our planet or meet the needs of all.