Making a difference - How one small church focused on sustainability during the Season of Creation

Education and EngagementSeason of Creation

29 Sept

Written by Abby Smith, Opoho Presbyterian Church, Dunedin

Opoho Presbyterian Church on a lovely Spring Day in Dunedin (Photo: Abby Smith)

Opoho Presbyterian Church is a small church in a small suburb of a small city – but we are seriously committed to our role as a Light on the Hill. Located on the slopes of Signal Hill in Dunedin, we provide a focus for a neighbourhood that has neither shops nor a community hall (though there is a primary school).

When it was decided that we were not holding a church fair this year, we saw an opportunity to do something different – a Sustainability Fair! We imagined the church hall full of stalls that offered advice and connections, rather than jams, books, and cakes. And we set out to make it happen.

We sent out invitations to various experts and discovered the talent and enthusiasm we have on our doorstep. So we set up a programme of talks to lead up to the Fair, which we had by then renamed a “Sustainability Circus” (so people didn’t think we were selling something). Eight experts came to speak to us (two each evening) during the week of 20-27 September – events that buzzed, even with only 20 to 25 people in the audience (affected by Level 2 restrictions). In the same week we had dynamic guest ministers who focused on their Wilderness Sunday and River Sunday themes.

All leading up to the Circus (at Level 1, thank goodness): where 12 local organisations, ranging from the Community Garden to the City Council to Extinction Rebellion to City Sanctuary to a local student group, all set out their leaflets and plants and traps and information for the public to take away. The hall was open from 10-12 but the foot traffic never stopped, and we reckon 50-60 people came in.

Some practical details: Once the programme was set, we needed to let people know. We hand-dropped over 900 leaflets into letterboxes in the neighbourhood, as well as getting into the local free paper and onto Otago Access Radio. Talks were held at 7pm and 7:30 pm, with a break for a cuppa, and then a general discussion, concluding by 8:30 each evening. The circus only needed tables and extension cords, so set-up took less than 45 minutes before the doors opened. We were all cleaned up 30 minutes after we closed, so the total time was 9:15 to 12:30. The church itself provided cups of tea and coffee at all five events, with a box asking for a Koha or Donation – we collected about $200 which should cover the heating and power.

It’s a challenging time in a difficult world and every day more bad news comes in. In the face of climate, extinction, pests, pollution, flooding and fire, plastics, danger and damage, it is hard for a person to know what to do. Our theme was “Make a Difference” and each of our events helped people to find ways they could change, even if only a little, to make the world a better place, and to help care for God’s creation.