A 'GREEN communion' will be held at Worcester Cathedral in its morning service on Sunday, February 5 to affirm its commitment to the care of creation.

All churches have been encouraged to hold a ‘green’ service on the same day to celebrate the Eco Church Award scheme, which recognises churches who are working to care for God’s creation.

The service in the Cathedral will include special prayers, and a green altar cloth will be used as a visual reminder of the purpose of the morning.

Canon Michael Brierley, Cathedral precentor, has worked to organise the service.

He said: "We are delighted to be involved in this initiative, which is an opportunity to highlight the importance of caring for God’s creation in everything we do.

"It’s been quite fun to plan the service and make sure the words we’re saying are as appropriate as possible.

"The hymns have also been especially chosen for the occasion."

The Revd Charmian Manship, who will be the preacher at the service, said: "Having a special Sunday set apart for environmental concerns gives us an opportunity to stand still and rekindle a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty and glory of creation.

"Perhaps that can inspire us to engage with the daily remembrance of routine acts of energy saving, recycling, cleansing, so that in the words of St Francis we: ‘start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly we are doing the impossible.’"

The Eco Church Award Scheme was set up for churches to demonstrate how they are caring for God’s earth in different areas of their life and work.

They do this by filling out a survey that takes them through five key areas of church life - worship and teaching, management of church buildings, management of church land, community and global engagement, lifestyle.

Churches are then supported through the scheme as they make their way through the three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold.