On 5th September 2021, USPG participated in the Nations' Climate Sunday Service - a special service marking ‘Climate Sunday’ at Glasgow Cathedral, close to where the COP26 climate summit will take place in two months’ time. The Climate Sunday service was live-streamed to around 2,800 viewers and opened with representatives from the 40 denominations and Christian organisations processing into Glasgow Cathedral. As the service began, the bell of the cathedral rang, both as a call of welcome and call for climate justice, linking to the Celtic tradition of bells calling to account.The service closed in commending COP26 in prayer (including in Welsh and Gaelic) and pledging the nations’ churches to continue climate action.
Those who took part included members of the clergy, Christian charities and young people, with the aim of bringing the environmental commitments made by more than 1,950 congregations before politicians and the wider Church. Many of those involved were ‘speaking up’ for the first time, joining thousands in signing the ‘Time is Now’ declaration, which calls on the UK government to go further faster on climate action before hosting the COP26 summit in November.
USPG was represented at the service by the Vice-Chair of our Communion Wide Advisory Group, Esther Kazimani-Pale, and provided the Lord's Prayer for the service.
Above: The Nations' Climate Sunday Service in Glasgow Cathedral