Dear Friends,  

COP26 has started in Glasgow a year later than originally planned and with the stakes even higher.  Just before it started, Boris Johnson said it’s the “last chance to save the planet”, which hopefully will focus the minds of the delegates to produce some hard and solid plans to help reduce the impact of rising temperatures across the globe.  It’s interesting to look back at the speed of how the world responded to the Covid pandemic with the production of vaccines in double quick time. The impact of coronavirus was immediate and affected our health, our way of life overnight, and action was needed quickly which we are all truly thankful.  

With climate change though it feels like it has been bandied around for quite a number of years but only now is the world really waking up to a possible future catastrophe for our whole way of life and wonderful world we live in.

I don’t know if you are like me but I am trying different ways to reduce my carbon foot print but it seems an uphill struggle when the    challenge across the world seems so great and immense.

At times like this I am reminded of the words of the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson who wrote ‘More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of’. These words encourage me to pray for God’s intervention that hearts and minds (including my own) will be changed so that we offer concrete hope to future generations.

So, please keep doing your own ‘bit’ for the environment and in the meantime I offer you this prayer for your use during the COP26 summit: 

Loving God,

We praise your name with all you have created.
You are present in the whole universe, and in the smallest of creatures.
We acknowledge the responsibilities you have placed upon us as rewards of your creation.
May the Holy Spirit inspire all political leaders at COP26 as they seek to embrace the changes needed to foster a more sustainable society.
Instil in them the courage and gentleness to implement fairer solutions for the poorest and most vulnerable, and commit their nations to the care of Our Common Home.
We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ your Son.
Amen

God bless and take care and stay safe and hope to see you soon. 

Glenn

Rev Glenn Coggins, Vicar of  the United Benefice of Stanley, Outwood and Wrenthorpe and Alverthorpe.