Join Christians Across the World in Praying for COP31
9-20 November 2026, Turkey
COP (Conference of the Parties) is the UN’s annual global climate summit, bringing together world leaders, scientists, businesses and civil representatives to agree and advance action on climate change. You’re encouraged to pray for the conference and the impact it will have on caring for God’s creation.
How to pray with Tearfund’s team as they speak up for people in poverty at the UN’s annual climate conference, COP31.
Smallholder farmers produce a third of the world’s food, but climate shocks and unjust food systems are cropping them out. Crops are failing, climate disasters are becoming more severe and more frequent, and the very people trying to grow food are at risk of extreme hunger themselves.
COP31, this year’s annual UN climate conference, gives us a vital opportunity to stand up for smallholder farmers, speak up for our global neighbours, and put our care for God’s creation into action.
Read more here about COP31, including why Tearfund will be there, what we’ll be doing, and who we’ll be taking with us.
We’d love for you to pray with us before, during and after COP31, so we’ve put together some suggestions below to help guide you as a starting point. Feel free to share them with your church, small group, friends, and on social media.
We really value your prayers and ongoing support for our climate work alongside people living in poverty. Thank you. READ MORE
Season of Creation 2026 – Welcome and Hospitality
While Creationtide is coming to an end, it’s important to remember that whenever we care for God’s creation, we reflect God’s character and demonstrate love for our neighbours and future generations. God’s promise of renewal can inspire our present action.
Water is at the heart of hospitality, providing refreshment and welcome.
CAMEO
Senior citizens Come And Meet Each Other on the third Tuesday of every month here in the Itchen Valley. A short communion service offers an opportunity to participate in a church service for those who find the normal services difficult to get to or intimidating. The service is followed by a lunch to cement the pleasure of an outing. The idea was devised by Andrew Micklefield and Lavinia Owen in 2013 and has succeeded in bringing in a large number of new church goers among the elderly. It is non denominational and open to the whole parish. Regular visitors now include those who have moved to local care homes and helpers.
Season of Creation 2026 – Rivers of Justice
This week we explore how caring for God’s creation also means caring for God’s people. Millions of people around the world still lack reliable access to safe water, while climate change is making the situation increasingly difficult for many communities. Read about how St Luke’s Church, Sway, raised funds for rainwater tanks in Rwanda here
Season of Creation 2026 – Renewal and Restoration
As followers of Christ, we can participate in God’s work of healing damaged environments and renewing communities.
Read about how one man’s faith is being put into action to protect local waterways here
Watch a Reflection for Harvest from Our Agricultural Chaplain
Hear from our Agricultural Chaplain, Gillian Gray Knight, as she reflects on the season of Harvest. She reminds us that it is a time not only to praise and thank God for His continued grace, but also to recognise and give thanks for all those who work in industries that demand long hours, solitary working, and often hazardous conditions, as well as financial uncertainty as they prepare for the coming seasons.
Season of Creation 2026 – Baptism
Not every parish has a river running through it and it seemed to us that we should take advantage of our beautiful surroundings by using the River Itchen for baptisms. Our first baby, Raife was baptised in 2019. His parents were keen for it to take place in the river when they heard about the idea and so the arrangements were made. We decided not to go for complete immersion in this case, we felt that it would have been too much to dunk him entirely in the freezing river!
The initial event took a lot of planning (risk assessments, insurance enquires and detailed recces etc.) and we thought that we were about to lose all our efforts in the one day of rain, after a couple of weeks of scorching sunshine. But our prayers were answered and the rain held off all morning. Over 80 people attended the service in the field next to the river.
Some have asked ‘why’ conduct a baptism in the River Itchen? Of course, Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan so there is no better scriptural precedent for river baptism than that! Even today many new members of the Orthodox church celebrate Epiphany by being baptised en masse in the River Jordan. Also, there is something powerful about the picture of the repentant sinner being dunked in flowing water, which then figuratively washes away their previous life of sin and passes away into the sea. The new Christian rises out of the water figuratively washed and spiritually cleansed, renewed and reborn, by the Holy Spirit.
We have since baptised more children in this way and we would love to carry out a full immersion in the river in the future.
Statement from +Rhiannon About the New Forest Fires
After the fires that took place in the New Forest, Bishop Rhiannon shared the following statement: “I am deeply saddened by the devastating fires in the New Forest which have destroyed hundreds of acres of precious landscape and caused the loss of countless animals and habitats. The New Forest is a place of extraordinary natural beauty, cherished by local communities and visitors alike. At times like this, we are reminded how fragile creation can be and how much we depend upon the care and stewardship of the natural world entrusted to us by God.
“My prayers are with all those affected, including the firefighters, emergency services, Forestry England staff, farmers, local residents and volunteers, including many from our churches, who have worked tirelessly to bring the situation under control.
“As communities across our region reflect on this loss, let us also recommit ourselves to caring for God’s creation and supporting efforts to restore and protect this unique and treasured landscape for future generations.”
Talk: Where Your Treasure Is
9 June, 7pm, Ascension Church Southampton
Join Sarah Edwards from JustMoney for a talk about current unsustainable economic systems from a faith perspective and how we can use our spending power to reduce environmental harm and social inequalities. There will also be a discussion panel to address questions. For more information click here.
Registrations Open for Churches Count on Nature 2026
6-14 June 2026
Churches Count on Nature is a great chance to explore the biodiversity around our church, engaging directly with nature. If you’d like to run an event, you can now register it with Caring for God’s Acre and add it to their map of events.
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