Engadine Uniting Church

CHURCH REWARDED FOR ADVOCATING FOR CLIMATE ACTION IN WORDS, ACTIONS AND STITCHES

Wildflower and bushfood walks, landscaping for birds, making climate aprons and scarves and turning tea towels into tote bags and travel rolls for chargers, have all played a role in earning Engadine Uniting Church three prestigious national environmental awards presented to the church on Sunday as part of a special Season of Creation service.

The Five Leaf Eco-Awards Basic Certificate, Eco Worship and Climate Activism Awards celebrate the many actions this church has taken, which also include their solar panels, green power, environmental worship and guest speakers, community workshops, letter writing and social media posts, MP meetings and events with politicians, Climate Action Project, participation in the Common Grace Knit for Climate initiative and the Season of Creation, and involvement in the Uniting Church Climate Action Network and the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change.

Congregation member Kathy Slade said, in accepting the awards:

“We love connecting with our community through our climate and environmental action. It’s wonderful to also be recognised by these awards and have the chance to share the story of what we are doing more widely.”

Loraine Holley and Church Council Chair Sue McKinnon agree, saying,

“We are very excited for Engadine Uniting to receive these awards, as they affirm the great work the congregation has been doing over many years, and the work to come.”

Graeme Randall from Leichhardt Uniting Church (who received their awards from Kathy and Loraine in August) visited the church to present their award. He said, “It’s wonderful to see what another church has done, and to be able to share our story so that both communities can aim higher and work towards the next awards in the program. This is one tangible way in which we demonstrate our faith in action.”