St John's Methodist, Conwy

'Spiritual' activities:

  • initial discussion at Leadership Team Away Day (Minister, Lay Worker and Stewards). 

  • members attended “Hope for Planet Earth” evening in Chester

  • launch of “Green Team” at morning service on 9th March 08 - appeal for people to commit to green issues by signing up as members of the team (initially to complete Green Audit)

  • follow-up article and further appeal for help published in Newsletter (Easter 2008) As a result of this approach 25 people signed up to be team members (from a total church membership of 130). However considerable interest and engagement has also been shown by non-team members.

  • Environment Sunday (1st June 08) marked by special service

  • General Church Meeting (1st June 08). Film produced by A Rocha shown. Formal agreement and affirmation of commitment to Green Issues by Church Council.  Suggested actions following audit discussed and decisions made on immediate actions 

  • 22nd June - Service led by Sunday School, on the theme of Creation Care, with sketches and activities involving the whole congregation (e.g. production of a “praise collage” with pictures from the natural world. Short film from A Rocha shown and a sequence of pictures used for meditation. Reading from Genesis using a version which stresses humanity’s responsibility for creation.)

  • Film evening, showing “An Inconvenient Truth”, followed by candlelight discussion (19th August 08) - 30 people attended and responses were very positive – good discussions stimulated.

  • “Green Service” led by Local preacher on 31st August 08.

Practical activities:

  • Church Audit completed by different groups within the church (e.g. Property Committee, Mission Secretary, Sunday School Leaders).

  • Establishment of Recycling for paper, cardboard, and plastic (in addition to tins and bottles which are collected by local council as kerbside recycling) Different Green Team members responsible for recycling of different materials

  • Weekly Notice Sheets now include “Green Tips” – ideas for recycling, energy efficiency etc. – regularly, whenever space allows. This helps to keep green issues at the forefront of people’s minds

  • The green tips for the weekly notices were initially supplied by members of the Green Team, but in August a table was placed in the foyer which carries printed environmental materials, and also a Suggestions Box (made by the Sunday School from recycled materials) where anyone may submit ideas and suggestions.

  • Church property and day-to-day running issues:

    • Low-energy light-bulbs are used wherever possible
    • Foil backing on radiators installed, especially on outside walls.
    • Minimise paper usage: (e.g. re-usable orders of service prepared for Baptisms)
    • Crockery used instead of disposable items
    • Agreed that heating should be switched off completely during summer months.
  • The result of these measures, together with raising of awareness from the activities described in part 1 has resulted in a general shift of attitudes among the congregation as a whole. For example people now regularly question “do we really need all the lights on?” or “Can we share transport to this meeting?”

Reaching out: 

  • We are a Fair Trade church.

  • Harvest Festival has been planned somewhat later than usual (25th/26th October) in order to coincide with a local community event: “Conwy Feast”. This is a local food festival and attracts both residents and visitors. St. John’s Conwy hosted a social event on the Saturday evening in conjunction with a circuit service and Harvest Supper, with the main Harvest Festival service on the Sunday. 

  • New major project – Solar Energy for COPA communities It was agreed that St. John’s should focus its overseas mission activities for the foreseeable future on a project which has a strong environmental aspect. The project chosen was to support the COPA communities in the Dominican Republic via the provision of Solar Energy equipment. This project was chosen because the church already has involvement with COPA and also expertise in the field of Photovoltaic Solar Energy. COPA (see www.copa.org.uk ) has provided and helped to sustain two schools and clinics in the Dominican Republic, but electricity supply is both inadequate and unreliable – and often absent altogether. The community is also vulnerable to catastrophic storm and hurricane damage, and badly needs a robust energy source for essential services and communications.     

    • The first fundraising event for this project was a film evening, showing the Al Gore film “An Inconvenient Truth” followed by refreshments, information on COPA and a candlelight discussion.  Over £100 was raised at this first event.

  • major fundraising event: “Green Christmas” event. This included performed sketches, invited talks, demonstrations of arts and crafts (e.g. Chistmas cards, gift tags etc.) made from recycled materials and information from EST and elsewhere on issues such as Christmas trees, Christmas lights and the current trend towards annual replacement of decorations. The event wasopen to all circuit churches and visitors as well as members of St. John’s Conwy.

  • talk to another local church on “How to establish a Green Team”.

  • St. John’s supported a local Cytun Event , where Sir John Houghton was speaking