Press Releases01 Sep 14

Church of Ireland members take to the sea to pray for climate justice

Members of seven Dublin churches, including Whitechurch and Rathfarnham Church of Ireland parishes, took to the sea on 31st August 2014 on Killiney Beach, Co Dublin, to stand in solidarity with people suffering from the impacts of climate change.

The worshippers, who also included members of the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), joined in prayers, hymns and a Celtic lament to remember people both here and overseas who are affected by rising sea–levels, floods, droughts, poverty and famine caused by extreme weather events.

The Eco–Congregation Ireland (ECI) prayer service was one of dozens of similar events held around the world in the run up to the UN Conference on Small Island Developing States, which takes place in Samoa from 1st to 4th September 2014. Photos of all the events, including a similar prayer service held at Loughros Point, Donegal, earlier in the month, have been sent by the global campaign group, Our Voices, to the UN conference as a sign of support.
 
‘Praying in the Sea is a dramatic way of demonstrating our concern as Christians for those most by affected by climate change: the poorest people of the world’, says ECI chairperson, Ven Andrew Orr. ‘We particularly think of those living in island communities and in low–lying coastal areas who are in real danger of losing their homes, their livelihoods and even their entire countries. Those most affected by climate change are often those who have done least to cause it. Praying in the Sea reminds each of us in the developed world that we need to take a very hard look at our lifestyles, which are directly affecting our fellow human beings and the planet. Finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint is an urgent task for all those who believe in protecting God’s creation.’

ECI is an inter–church project that encourages churches to take an eco–friendly approach to worship, lifestyle, property and finance management, youth ministry, community outreach and contact with the developing world. For further information see www.ecocongregationireland.com

Photo above: Members of seven Dublin churches who took part in a Praying in the Sea event on Killiney Beach standing in solidarity with people suffering as a result of climate change