PNK: An Eco Church
The Eco Team at PNK includes members and leaders of Young Kirk, our Property Convenor, Treasurer, Caretaker, Minister and members of the Congregation. We work together to ensure we look after God's creation both within our grounds and buildings, our local area and the wider global community.
We are an accredited Fairtrade Church and are delighted to have achieved the Eco Congregation Scotland Silver Award. The certificate can be viewed below.
Our current Action Plan is outlined below:
1. To become a Fairtrade Church-apply via Fairtrade website
2. To take responsibility for the garden areas with regard to planting, weeding and buying/creating flower tubs at the front of the church-to plan times throughout the year to do the gardening.
3. To begin to change to eco products e.g., cleaning, toilet roll, kitchen roll, bin bags etc-to meet with the Caretaker and Treasurer.
4. To organise 2 events a year that focus on environmental issues-organise once Covid19 restrictions are lifted.
5. To host a Fairtrade event each year during Fairtrade Fortnight and make a donation to Fairtrade-organise once Covid19 restrictions are lifted.
6. To have a member of the Eco Team on the Resources Committee-this will start again once Covid19 restrictions are lifted with regard to meetings.
7. To write/create prayer stations within the garden areas to the front and side of the Church building-plan into Young Kirk Sunday mornings so members can write the prayers.
8. To invite more speakers to Church services and Young Kirk during the year -plan for a speaker for Young Kirk, one for the Christian Aid service before summer 2022 and investigate the Eco Chaplain to visit by the end of 2022
What The Bible Says About God's Love For Creation
He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate- bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers.
Psalm 104 vs. 10-17
The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax. He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. Then people go out to their work, to their labour until evening. How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Psalm 104 vs. 18-24
Recycle your cashmere
Turtle Doves is a company based in Shrewsbury which not only sells items made from recycled cashmere but also accepts your unwanted cashmere jumpers, which they will then recycle into new gloves. See their website for more information:
turtle-doves.co.uk
Do you have finished, unwanted candles?
therecycledcandlecompany.co.uk will accept your used candles (any type of candle including tealights) in the post and they will recycle both the wax and aluminium into new candles.
See their website for more information.
Local foods and crafts
If you’re looking for locally farmed/grown food and hand-made crafts then look no further than the Storehouse which is located on Penicuik’s High Street. They sell a variety of Fairtrade and eco-style goods, together with craft items made by people in the local community and there is a café too. For more information check out their website penicuikstorehouse.org
Calculate your carbon footprint
If you’d like to find out more about the amount of greenhouse gases used for the life you live, why not have a look at the WWF’s (World Wide Fund for Nature) online questionnaire to calculate your carbon footprint? There is also a phone App for tips on how to reduce your cardon footprint too. For more information go to footprint.wwf.org.uk
Fairtrade Fortnight
There are many local stores in Penicuik who sell Fairtrade items together with our own Open Door Fairtrade Café which serves items including the Fairtrade filter coffee from the Edinburgh Tea and Coffee Company (www.etcc.co.uk). Within PNK, Anne Thomson is our Fairtrade ambassador and has seasonal catalogues for you to order from throughout the year.
