Each year, ACT Alliance members join other Christians around the world to pray, act and advocate for our common home, Earth, by celebrating the ecumenical Season of Creation.
The Season of Creation begins on September 1, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends on October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. This year’s theme, “A home for all? Renewing the Oikos (home) of God,” is symbolized by Abraham’s tent, and is a call to care for all creation as an act of radical hospitality.
An ecumenical online prayer service on Wednesday, September 1 will mark the beginning of the Season.
Climate Justice
“This year is a critical moment to leverage ambitious targets and momentum on implementation in the international negotiations,” the authors note in the Season of Creation Celebration Guide. Two United Nations meetings fall just after the Season of Creation ends: COP 15 on biodiversity, October 11-24; and COP 26 on climate change in Glasgow UK, November 1-12. ACT Alliance and its members have been working on Climate Justice and preparing for COP 26.
The Guide suggests getting involved in Pray and Act for Climate Justice, which is circulating a petition of climate justice demands to be presented to world leaders at COP 26. You may consider including promotion of the petition in your Season of Creation celebrations as a concrete activity geared to COP 26.
How to participate
The Guide also contains resources for faith communities. There are resources for an ecumenical prayer service; ideas for a Creation walk or pilgrimage; and suggestions for sustainable initiatives at both the personal and institutional level. Everyone is invited to pitch a tent at their local church as a “sign of hospitality for all who are excluded.”
A special Resources tab on the Season of Creation website features worship resources organized by denomination. Some include bulletin inserts, social media cards and other ways of promoting Season of Creation celebrations locally.
Follow ACT Alliance Twitter and Facebook accounts for the latest news about the Season of Creation.
