Each year starting on Sept. 1 (World Day of Prayer for All Creation) until Oct. 4, the Christian family unites for the Season of Creation, a worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. It is a special season where we celebrate God as Creator and acknowledge Creation as the divine continuing act that summons us as collaborators to love and care for the gift of all that is created. As followers of Christ from around the globe, we share a common call to care for Creation. We are co-creatures and part of all that God has made. The Season of Creation biblical text for this year is Isaiah 32:14–18, and the theme is “Peace with Creation,” emphasizing the interconnectedness between humanity and the Earth and the need for healing and justice. Creation will find peace when justice is restored.
As your congregation celebrates the Season of Creation, don’t forget to include the youngest members. For children, the Season of Creation can be a meaningful way to learn about God’s Creation and their role in protecting it. Consider engaging children during this time through:
Nature Walks and Exploration: Encourage children to observe the natural world around them, noticing changes in plants, animals, and the weather.
Creative Expression: Invite children to draw, paint, or sculpt representations of Creation, or to write poems or songs about nature. Collect leaves, rocks, sticks or flowers to make nature-based artworks.
Acts of Service: Engage children in simple acts of caring for Creation, like planting seeds, making bird feeders, or cleaning up litter.
Prayers and Reflection: Pray together for the protection of Creation and for those who are most affected by environmental problems.
Amid the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, there can be a lot to despair. As people of faith, we are called to lift the hope inspired by our faith, the hope of the resurrection. To hope in a biblical context does not mean to stand still and quiet, but to act, pray, change, and reconcile with Creation and the Creator in unity, metanoia (repentance) and solidarity.
Credit to the Celebration Guide for the Season of Creation, which can be downloaded here.
Jessica Maudlin, Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care Concerns, Presbyterian Hunger Program, Interim Unified Agency
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff:
Princeton Abarahoa, Associate, African Immigrant Congregational Support, Interim Unified Agency
Christopher Abney, VP, Director of IT, Presbyterian Foundation
Let us pray:
Beloved Christ, who spoke “Shalom” to frightened hearts, stir us to compassionate action. Inspire us to work for the end of conflict and for the full restoration of broken relationships — with you, with the ecumenical community, with the human family, and with all Creation.
Prince of Peace, through your wounds, teach us to stand in solidarity with the woundedness of others, of Creation, and of the world. Through your resurrection, make us people of hope — with a vision of swords turned into ploughshares and tears transformed into joy. May we come together as one family to labor for your peace — a shalom where all your people may dwell in safety and rest in quiet places. Amen.
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