Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Minute for Mission: World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

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Earth Care
Water credit: Kayla Eickholtz

Each year, starting on Sept. 1 (World Day of Prayer for All Creation) until Oct. 4, the ecumenical community unites for the Season of Creation, a worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. In this season, 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. 

The Season of Creation Biblical text for this year is drawn from Ezekiel 47:1–12, which portrays God’s life-giving water flowing from the temple of God. The river grows deeper and deeper restoring barren land, reviving waters, and sustaining flourishing ecosystems. This vision invites human responsibility: recognizing ecological damage, embracing interconnectedness, we are called to immerse ourselves in the water, and actively safeguarding and working for the renewal of Creation so that environmental healing and human well-being may flourish together.

The Season of Creation is a perfect opportunity to include the entire congregation, from the oldest to the youngest members. Some ways to do that could be:

Nature Walks and Exploration: Encourage participants to observe the natural world around them, noticing changes in plants, animals and the weather. 

Creative Expression: Invite participants 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 art works.

Acts of Service: Engage 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. 

Creditto the Celebration Guide for the Season of Creation, which is available to help congregations and can be downloaded here.

Please join the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Creation Justice Ministries on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 at noon Eastern time for a webinar to launch the Season of Creation with special guest Queen Quet, Chieftess and Head-of-State of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. 

Jessica Maudlin, Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care Concerns, Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Life & Witness

Let us join in prayer for:

Shonita Bossier, VP, Operations, Presbyterian Foundation
Terri Bowman, Customer Service Lead, Hubbard Press, Administrative Services Group (A Corporation)  

Let us pray:

Holy God, whose Spirit hovered over the waters at the beginning, we gather as part of your community of all Creation, thirsty for your grace. May God who brought water from the rock sustain us in the desert. May Christ our Lord who is Living Water refresh us for the work of restoration. And may the Holy Spirit carry us on currents of grace until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amen.

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Minute for Mission: World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

Image Water credit: Kayla Eickholtz Each year, starting on Sept. 1 (World Day of Prayer for All Creation) until Oct. 4, the ecumenical commu...