London churches to pray and fast for climate healing

Communities linked to one hundred churches in the Episcopal Area of Edmonton are preparing a day of fasting and prayer - as a way of intensifying their own awareness of creation and of the impact of over-consumption on rising greenhouse emissions and climate change.

The day of fasting was triggered by Operation Noah, the Christian climate change campaign, and will take place throughout the area on Saturday. Christians will take part from across 100 churches in the Edmonton area, which covers the London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield and Haringay.

The day is organised by the Edmonton Area Social Justice Committee, with support from the Bishop of Edmonton and Operation Noah, to coincide with the beginning of Lent.

The Bishop of Edmonton, the Rt Rev Peter Wheatley, asked: "How do we live the Gospel more profoundly? This is a simple and necessary question. Attention to climate change we now know is a prerequisite of care for some of the poorest of the world who bear the consequences of our affluence."

Rev Oliver Osmond, chair of the Edmonton Area Social Justice Committee said: "Climate Change poses an enormous challenge and it is easy to feel there is absolutely nothing we can do that will make any real difference. Jesus encourages us, when faced with an apparently impossible situation, to regard prayer as a positive way forward.

"We hope that this Day of Prayer and Fasting may help each Christians in the area to see how they can contribute to the alleviation of this great threat, as well as being in itself a powerful spiritual resource that may directly contribute to the healing of our increasingly stricken climate."

Rev Osmond thanked Operation Noah: "I am immensely grateful to Operation Noah, both with help in planning this day and for making available so much valuable and thought-provoking material on this crucial issue."