ANDOVER — On Sunday, the bells at South Church and West Parish Church will ring 350 times.
And for whom do the bells toll?
"This is to call attention to the problem of climate change, and our need as a nation and the world to come together for effective action," said William Schroder, moderator at South Church at 40 Central St.
Schroder said the number of rings represents the 350 parts per million carbon dioxide that can stay in the atmosphere on a long-term basis. The current amount is 385, due to burning fossil fuels, and the number is climbing to 450.
The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, president of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, has called on all 400 congregations in the state to ring their bells between now and Dec. 15. South Church and West Parish are both members of the United Church of Christ.
Likewise, the Right Rev. Bud Cederholm, suffragan bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, has asked the 196 churches to do the same before Nov. 30, the first Sunday in Advent, the four weeks leading to Christmas.
Next month, Christ Episcopal Church, 41 Main St., and St. Paul Episcopal, 390 Main St., North Andover, will peal their bells for the environment.
"God created the Earth and the environment, so saving the globe is something we as Christians are committed to do," said the Rev. Stephanie Chase Wilson, interim pastor at St. Paul Episcopal.
The church is undergoing its stewardship campaign, and Wilson said caring for the environment should also be part of members' sharing of their time, talent and treasure.
"Stewardship is about using our given talents, and by polluting our bodies with drugs or by polluting the Earth are poor choices of stewardship," she said.
At South Church, students in the Sunday school will take turns ringing the bell.
"It's really for our children and grandchildren that we're doing this," Schroder said.
