Willesden Area Creation Care Celebration comes to St Anselm's 

Members from churches across the Willesden Episcopal Area came to St Anselm's in June to celebrate the first ever Creation Care Service in the Area. Here, our Vicar, Emma, reflects on this very special event. 

On the afternoon of June 7th Creation was celebrated and God honoured as we gathered at St Anselm’s church, Belmont – a Silver Award Eco Church on a journey.
 
Willesden Area Bishop, Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, presided a fair-trade Communion, and local Curate Revd Kailean Khongsai preached a word to all ages about climate change and its impact today, globally and locally.  Kailean also spoke of our need to connect with wider creation – even bringing a nature spot quiz on a match sheet the children could take home with them.  He underlined the importance of understanding the natural world around us, even here in London.  Potentially, especially here in London.
 
St Anselm’s choir with guest pianist, Anne Hutchinson, enriched our worship and two of our strongest readers, who happened to be primary school age, brought us the scripture.
 
We had originally intended to worship outside, though sadly, the threatening rain brought us in – though this didn’t stop children of all ages exploring our grounds, treasure hunt style, looking for flowers, bugs, creepy crawlies around our dead hedge, and our illusive newest resident – though I am not sure if anyone spotted our hedgehog – whose name is to be voted on in coming weeks.
 
With guests from all over the Willesden Area, together, our brains were challenged, and I believe, found strong as St Cuthbert's, North Wembley Vicar, the Revd Trevor Goddard quizzed us on creation care issues, past, present and future.  Though I must admit, despite some surprising revelations, my lingering memory of said quiz was finding out a good friend is the same age as the Wombles, and that these important cultural icons were unknown to Bishop Lusa – a situation I certainly hope he has rectified since!
 
And after all of this we shared a splendid bring and share afternoon tea.  None of which was wasted!
 
With thanks to all who contributed, too many to name here.
 

Photos

 

Our beautiful new mini wild meadow is taking shape. Its flowers are attracting an array of flying insects. 


Our newest resident will be named in a vote soon!