ASHFIELD — In anticipation of the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP26) that begins on Oct. 31 in Glasgow, Scotland, Faiths 4 Climate Justice has invited houses of faith all over the world to take some action over the weekend of Oct. 17. In response to this call for global action, Ashfield’s two churches, First Congregational and St. John’s Episcopal, will offer a brief joint service for climate justice on Ashfield’s Town Common on Sunday, Oct. 17. Congregants from each church will meet on the Town Common at 11 a.m. where the Rev. Vicki Ix, Vicar of St. John’s, and the Rev. David Jones, minister at the First Church, will lead a 15-to-20-minute service of prayer, poetry and song.
“This public witness of faithful people is already registered on a global map so that the leaders at COP26 will have a measure of our commitment to God’s creation,” said Rev. Ix. “Faith gives us hope that must be shared as we face this global challenge.”
Rev. Jones continued, “Our two churches are actively working to reduce our carbon footprints, to encourage our communities to advocate for policies that will protect all species, and to increase our commitment to socially responsible investing. St. John’s has a Green Team, and our church supports Citizen Climate Lobby, an advocacy group that supports a carbon tax. Two weeks before global climate negotiations, we want to join with people of diverse religions and rise to send a message: destroying the planet is against our religion.”
All are welcome. Bring banners and signs of support for climate justice. Information is available at each church’s website: First Church – www.ashfielducc.org; St. John’s – www.stjohnsashfield.org