St Leonard’s Uniting Church Brighton Beach

LAMENT & HOPE: BRIGHTON CHURCH CELEBRATES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS AND ACTION

Sunday 29th of October 2023

St Leonard’s Uniting Church Brighton Beach has received two prestigious environmental awards for its climate and environmental action commitments.

The Five Leaf Eco-Awards Basic Certificate and Eco Worship Awards acknowledge the many actions the church has taken, including establishing an environmental action group, switching to GreenPower, putting environmental tips in their newsletters, a Green Film night with related children’s activities and artwork, a breakfast event on the theme of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration, preparing resources for their Presbytery to celebrate National Tree Day, participating in the Season of Creation and environment themed worship every year and publishing a wonderful book of payers by Rev Dr Jon Swales called Lament & Hope: Prayers for the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

St Leonard’s Environment and Action in Faith (LEAF) group seeks to inspire, embolden, and empower people within our church family and our local Bayside community to act on the emergency of climate change and environmental destruction in our precious God-given world.

LEAF member Vivienne Mountain says, “Our LEAF group emphasises, “I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; I will not neglect to do the something that I can do.” So that is what we have been doing, and we are very excited to receive these awards as recognition of our achievements so far. We are also keen to keep taking action and work towards further awards in the program.”

The Uniting Church in Australia has set a national target to become carbon neutral by 2040, a commitment that forms part of its Climate Action Plan for action across the church. This is inspired by the church’s vision to create flourishing for the whole of God’s Creation and all its creatures, while renewing damage and standing in solidarity with people impacted by human-induced climate change. St Leonard’s are proud to be playing their part in this vision. 

Rev. Deacon Andrea Mayes from Heatherton-Dingley Uniting Church (who received their Five Leaf Eco-Awards earlier in October) visited the church to present their award. She 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.”