Stories
Ngā Kōrero
Contact us to add your story to the collaborative Eco Church NZ puna mātauranga / pool of knowledge.
Introducing Diana Johnston: Our new Christchurch-based Eco Church Coordinator
We’re excited to welcome Diana Johnston to the Eco Church team as our new Christchurch-based Regional Coordinator! In her new role, Diana will be focusing particularly on churches based in the Christchurch region - supporting, encouraging, and equipping them as they explore what it means to care for creation as part of their discipleship and mission.
Taradale Anglican creates space for community recycling centre
All Saints Anglican Church in Taradale, Napier has made space for a community recycling centre in their building. Taking advantage of being in a central and accessible place in their suburb, All Saints has partnered with Sustainable HB (Hawkes Bay) to create a recycling centre that is well organised, with well-labelled shelves and crates and even explanations of what happens to the materials that are collected!
St Columba’s campaign to reduce soft plastics
As an expression of their commitment to care for the environment, the St Columba Havelock North Eco Group (SCHNEG) have launched an awareness and advocacy campaign focused on reducing the use of single-use plastics. The campaign invites eco churches to work together to promote awareness regarding soft plastics and responsible practices in recycling. This initiative not only helps protect the planet but also fosters a spirit of unity and responsibility — reminding everyone that caring for creation is a shared mission. Read on as the SCHNEG team outlines the issue and invites churches to join with them to take action.
St Pauls ‘Cup Sunday’
St Paul's Symonds Street is on a journey to reduce the number of disposable cups they use on Sundays. One Sunday parishioners were presented with a string of disposable cups that stretched about 30 meters in length to help create awareness about the amount of waste that was being generated by using disposable cups.
Eco Church gathering in the Hawkes Bay
The Hawkes Bay Eco church gathering on Saturday 22nd February showed that there’s a whole lot of energy for the Creation Care Kaupapa in the Hawkes Bay! 35 people from 8 different churches gathered to hear from several speakers about conservation and the what/why/how of being an eco church, as well as share with each other the joys and challenges they’re experiencing as they take steps on their eco church journey.
Caring for creation in the deep south: Eco Church in Southland
Last week, I had the privilege of traveling to Te Taurapa – Southland to connect with churches and individuals passionate about creation care. It was a trip filled with deep conversations, theological reflections, and inspiring stories of churches living out their faith in practical ways. It was an incredible experience to talk about the care of creation while being surrounded by the beauty of God’s good creation. The setting of St Luke’s in the Bush reinforced the message that our faith must be deeply rooted in the land we inhabit.
A Rocha at Festival One
I had the incredible privilege of being part of Festival One, which is a unique festival that celebrates faith, community, creativity and creation. Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to lead two sessions titled “Eco Church – Why We Must.” Alongside these talks, I also led three reflective nature walks, inviting participants to step into creation with fresh eyes. We spent time in the bush, pausing to reflect on Romans 1:15 and considering how creation can reveal the heart of our Creator.
Being an Eco Church with your community – it’s all about partnership!
With over 1000 attendees from churches all over the country, it was a privilege to have the opportunity to hold an Eco Church workshop at the New Wine Festival held at Wairarapa College this January. Anna Baird and Steve Thawley from the Tribe Church in Masterton led the workshop with help from Eco Church Regional Coordinator Mo Morgan.
Building a low-cost bike rack at St Paul’s Church, Kāpiti Anglican Parish
Lots of research, one afternoon, and $70 for timber and bolts resulted in a low-cost bike rack for St Paul’s Church, Kāpiti Anglican Parish.
St Matt’s Taitā ‘CaptureCreationComp’ inspires people of all ages to engage with God’s Creation in their neighbourhood
Holding a photo competition during the Season of Creation this year was a great way for St Matt’s Anglican Church in Taitā to encourage people to explore God’s Creation in their local neighbourhood with new eyes.
Bringing climate awareness to life: Viewing of The Week at St Heliers Presbyterian Church
At St Heliers Presbyterian Church to help enable their congregation’s Eco Church journey, an Environmental Justice team was formed and one of their first initiatives was hosting The Week. Edina Kuki reflects on The Week - three hour-long documentaries which was followed by a group conversation to debrief and process what’s been heard.
Season of Creation Retreats 2024
Anne Albers shares her reflections from the Season of Creation Retreats #1 and #2 to mark the beginning and the end of the liturgical season. And Rebecca Webb shares a poem she wrote from the first retreat.
Search Stories
Type in keywords to search for stories that interest you, or use the CATEGORY list on the right to filter relevant stories.
Select below to filter stories by CATEGORY
- A Rocha Eco Orgs 1
- Advocacy 10
- Biodiversity 38
- Calendar of Environmental Days and Events 6
- Carbon Calculators 5
- Children and Families 20
- Christmas 3
- Climate and Community Resilience 5
- Community Engagement 46
- Community Gardens 16
- Compost 7
- Cycling 9
- Eco Church Action Planner 2
- Eco Church Events 11
- Eco Church Team 1
- Eco Tips 5
- Eco-Anxiety and Wellbeing 6
- Education and Engagement 65
- Energy 8
- Food 25
- Global Campaigns 3
- Green Spaces 29
- Matariki 3
- Practical Conservation 49
- Prayer 13
- Purchasing 14
- Resource Recovery 22
- Season of Creation 21
- Sermons 8
- Small Group Resources 6
- Sustainable Buildings 6
- Sustainable Lifestyles 16
- Transport 14
- Videos 1
- Waste 47
- Water 12
- Worship 19
- Youth 24