One thing people of faith are so good at is celebrating special events.  For a number of congregations, World Environment Day presented a wonderful opportunity to do something different.  Taken from SAFCEI’s new resource booklet: Eco-drama, a collection for Eco-congregations, two churches in Gauteng share their stories.

Fiona Maskell from St Luke’s Anglican Church in Johannesburg writes:

Just as we were putting together the liturgy and service plans for our eco-Sunday, which took place in the week of World Environment Day (June 5) and a week or two before Rio+20 (June 20-22), inspiration arrived in the form of an eco-drama pack from Kate Davies, eco-congregation champion at SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities’ Environmental Initiative). We chose a short one called ‘Caring for God’s Creation’ (written by Adrian and Lucy Thompson of the John Ray Initiative  ), which looked just right for the day. And so it turned out –simple but masterfully communicative.

Requiring just two actors, Christa in smock and beret, played the omni-Creative Painter and Master of the Universe, and Michael, in jeans, tackies and a moving-around-head baseball cap, played Adam, briefly and with rather doubtful success taking over the painting of Creation.

Much enthusiastic help was received from our community in getting ready – art goodies, as easel, brushes and palette, from artist friend Jenny, a stunning colour A1 poster NASA ‘east’ view of Earth (with the Horn of Africa and Rift Valley ‘rising’)  made by our church secretary, Shirley, for the closing part of the drama; and wonderful support with worship songs and leadership on the day from our worship portfolio leader Sue.

It was performed in the sermon slot to our 7.30am congregation with organ and hymns, and then to the family service at 9.30, with piano, violin and singers. We made use of the World Environment Day liturgy, and a wooden bowl with clay chalices for the Eucharist. One woman, coming into the church from the beautiful but freezing cold Highveld morning advised us not to talk about Global Warming that day!

Our Rector, David, asked, as is his habit, for prophecy or feedback after the sermon. One immediate, poignant, and thought-provoking response was that ‘for the first time I know that we don’t have to worry anymore’. Thought-provoking because it reveals the unexpressed anxiety at the catastrophe unfolding around us, and poignant because  it shows what hope comes from connecting our faith to this most fundamental and intractable of issues, Caring for God’s Creation.

Trinity Church in Lynwood, Pretoria, experimented with another drama: Noah’s Ark II – a tale of global warming. Jessica McCarter, the eco-congregation champion and priest for the day told us that she narrated the drama in place of the regular Sunday sermon. Accompanying the story line was a magnificent collection of visual images that were projected onto a large screen in the church.

The story concludes:

Noah…                 was a man who liked to strategise.

Should he build another ark to escape the water?

Should he pray?

Should he start by changing his lifestyle?

Should he join voice with others who remember to care for God’s creation?

And culminates with a challenge to the congregation:

What will you do?

 The stunned audience were left with no doubt about the task facing our human family. The impact of this simple message at Trinity Church was profound.

Drama is a wonderful tool for sharing a message.   SAFCEI is hoping to make this presentation available on a DVD and add it to our collection of resources. If anyone would like copies of SAFCEI’s Eco-drama: A collection for eco-congregations or has other skits or dramas that they would be willing to share, please contact us at kated@safcei.org.za . We would also love to know how you use or adapt this material. Please share your stories and photographs with us so that we can share them with others.

 

Jill Daugherty from St Francis of Assisi Anglican Church, in Waterkloof, Pretoria told us about their World Environment day celebrations. Special readings, prayers and liturgy supplied by the Anglican Province were used at both the morning services. Afterwards the congregations were invited to view an exhibition in the parish centre set up by the Environment Committee. This consisted of SAFCEI posters and flyers supplemented by pictures provided by Elizabeth Bojé. Guided by her granddaughter Christine, she gave structure to the display by dividing it into two sections (God’s Creation / Our Responsibility) and used arrows and other devices to highlight various aspects. Hank Doeg set up a board  explaining how a Geyser Management System can save electricity, while Lou Pretorius brought part of his worm farm to illustrate a poster on composting. Recycling through Waste Plan and other facilities was promoted. The exhibition was well received and will be followed up by articles on it in the next issue of The Franciscan, their church newsletter.