The month of Creationtide is almost over for another year and our chaplaincies have been busy using the time to look at ways to increase their commitment to the environment.  Here are two such chaplaincies:
 
 
Prayerful Nature Walks in Luxembourg
All Saints Anglican Church of Luxembourg is developing a rhythm of prayerful nature walks along the river Pétrusse, in the valley just below the church building. After a walk at Ascensiontide this year, a group reconvened to walk, pray and act with creation, during Creationtide. Three members of the church community wrote prayers for the walk, and along with pauses for prayer, there were many informal conversations about nature, faith, prayer, environmental action and miracles! The changing beauty of the valley over two seasons has inspired the group to arrange more seasonal walks through the valley, to pray in winter as well as during the sunnier days. 
 
Paula wrote this prayerful beginning for each walk: 
 
Creator God, Our Father in Heaven, 
We have awakened to your world this morning, 
We listen to your world 
We gaze at your world 
We breathe in your world 
We feel your world 
We rejoice in your world. 
Bless our walk together through your beautiful creation. 
Let us recognize your presence in all that we see, 
all that we hear, 
all that we smell, 
all that we touch. 
Guide us in all we say, and in the silence we keep. 
May we take every step in your name, Jesus. 
Amen. 

Contributed by Rev Alison Heal, Assistant Curate at All Saints Anglican Church

The Nature Walk 'Cathedral'

The Nature Walk discussion and prayer
 

A Win-Win at St Margaret’s 
One member of the congregation at St Margaret’s, Budapest, has come up with a way to help boost church funds while raising awareness of environmental issues. Botond Halász has registered St Margaret’s with the new Hungarian deposit refund system and is encouraging the rest of the community to join him in cutting waste and supporting the church through a few simple steps. 

Botond Halász with the QR code

As of I July 2024, all PET drink bottles and aluminium cans sold in Hungary must feature the logo of the refund system, REpont, indicating that a deposit of 50 forints (about 10 pence) has been added to the price of the product. The deposit can be reclaimed at any of the reverse vending machines newly installed around the country. Plastics and aluminium that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill thus become raw material for producers, the aim being to eliminate waste and contribute to the circular economy. 

The deposit refund can be claimed in the form of a voucher, printed by the REpont take-back machine, which can then be used when making a purchase. Alternatively, the refund can be paid directly into a nominated bank account, registered via the REpont app. Botond has created a QR code that can be scanned by the recycling machines, transferring the deposit fee to the church’s bank account at the click of a button. A win for the environment, and a win for the work of St Margaret’s. 

Contributed by Rachel Hedig, St Margaret's, Budapest