We usually associate church bells with the call to worship, weddings, and special national celebrations. But they have another historic function: to ring out warnings: to warn of fire, floods, or shipwrecks.
For nearly three decades the United Nations has been bringing representatives of many countries together for global climate summits – called COPs – which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’. In that time climate change has gone from a fringe issue to being important world-wide.
The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report tells us humans have contributed to the cause of unpredicted weather events. The UN Secretary General has signalled ‘Code Red for Humanity’ because the balance of the planet is changing, and it will influence how life will survive in centuries to come.
In our own part of NSW, extreme weather events have affected our normal weather patterns resulting in uncontrollable fires and unpredicted flooding, but as members of Grafton Cathedral community, we are also concerned with the millions around the world who are finding life difficult: the poor who have contributed the least to pollution of the air and insoluble waste.
The nations of the Global South are now experiencing the effects of changing weather patterns. The poor are affected by rising food prices, heat exhaustion and the inability to insure their homes and businesses against floods. Bees, plants, and creatures need us to create a safe environment.
From October 31 until November 12, in Glasgow, the UK is hosting the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference to address the Climate Crisis. And our Prime Minister is intending to attend.
We invite all people to pray for a good outcome for our climate and Mother Earth our home, because of this conference. Here at Grafton Cathedral (Christ Church Cathedral – Duke Street, Grafton) we add our voice with a banner on the Fitzroy Street side of the Cathedral precinct.
“PROTECT CREATION BOLD CLIMATE ACTION BY 2030 STARTING NOW”.
The bell of Christ Church Cathedral Grafton will toll on Saturday October 30 at 6pm to remind everyone that the International Conference will be commencing and to pray. The air we breathe, our valleys and our rivers are precious.
The Reverend Canon Camellia Flanagan TSSF.
Canon Pastor, Honorary Clerical Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Diocese of Grafton.