This is an annual Christian celebration to pray, hear, and respond as a community to the cry of Creation. This year’s Season begins on 1^st September and draws to a close on 4^th October.

The theme this year is ‘To Hope and Act with Creation’, with the symbol of ‘The Firstfruits of Hope’, inspired by Romans 8: 19-25. Here is the celebration guide, a means by which you can follow along, equipped with prayers, reflections and ideas for celebration.

Learn more about the events lined up, and the links for you to join in, here.

Awaken, people of God! Season of Creation is back.

The Celebration Guide will be launched on June 5, 2023.

• New York: 09:00
• Geneva: 15:00
• Manila: 21:00

It will be broadcast live on both Facebook and Youtube:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/989401655386954
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F1i609k5Ko

“Let Justice and Peace Flow” is the theme chosen for Season of Creation 2023, the ecumenical celebration held on September 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

Here’s a video introducing this year’s theme:

More details will follow regarding the Season of Creation event in September, but you can check out the website for updates!

The Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Network is committed to the idea that healing God’s creation is not going to happen because of governments or huge organizations, but because of many thousands of small efforts by Christians in congregations around the world.

One such report has come to us from Katie Young, an American missionary in Marseille, France:

I am just sending along anyway a few photos from the weekend for the creation that we had here in Marseille, France, 8-9 October 2022. I am an American missionary here for the last 30+ years. I am also an ambassador with A Rocha and Eglise verte (Green church). This is the first time we had a weekend like this. Our church just joined the Green church program three years ago. 

Jean-François Mouhot, directeur A Rocha France, spoke to a small group of people on Friday afternoon, then at ‘la Pastorale’ (pastors in our area of the city) Friday night, then on Saturday we heard from our young people’s groupe, Pollen, then planted at our “terrain visa vert”, then came back for a finger food apéro, the conference was after that and our chorus opened it up with 3 songs. Sunday, JF spoke again at Bible classe, had a creation themed worship time, then we even had a vegan pot luck meal. In the afternoon we had ateliers zéro waste toothpaste, face lotions and laundry soap. A lot of people came, and it was awesome to meet other christians from other churches who are interested in caring for the creation. I announced the start of a ‘groupe local A Rocha Marseille’ in January, meaning getting together among Christians concerned for the environment and learning and planning things together. Many were interested. It was a great weekend and we thank the Lord!

Thank you so much for what you do !

Blessings-

Katie Young

Katie sent us a lot of pictures. Here are just a few:

Tell us about your local activities, too!

The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration of prayer and action for our common home. Together, the ecumenical family around the world unites to pray and protect God’s creation.

The season starts 1 September (this week!), the World Day of Prayer for the Care of
Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.

Check out the video below and click over to the Season of Creation website, where you’ll find a host of resources, a list of events around the world (and a form to register your own event).

Season of Creation was started by our friends in the Orthodox churches a number of years ago, then picked up by Pope Francis and a number of protestant churches and denominations. We don’t see why they should have all the fun. This is a great opportunity for evangelical congregations around the world to remind our own people of the beauty – and fragility – of God’s creation, as well as to reach out to our brothers and sisters in other faith traditions in support of what is truly “our common home”.

Season of Creation is almost upon us again. The period from 1 September through 4 October is observed by Christians and churches all over the world as a time to celebrate and work toward healing God’s creation.

This year’s theme is “A home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God”. Oikos, Greek for “Household”, is the root of both Ecology and Economy – two concepts often but unnecessarily at war with each other.

Here’s what the Season of Creation people have to say:

Amid crises that have shaken our world, the global Christian family was awakened to the urgent need to heal our relationships with creation and with each other during the ecumenical Season of Creation.

During the 2021 Season of Creation, from 1 September through 4 October, thousands of Christians on six continents united for a time of restoration and hope, a jubilee for our Earth, and discovered radically new ways of living with creation.

More than ever before, the global Christian family united to pray and take action for our common home.

We urge each of you to encourage and support your own church leaders in setting this time aside for God and his creation.

More information here, and a one-page printable announcement sheet here.

Enjoy it here, and download to share with your own church family during this Season of Creation:

Speakers include a global line up, several of whom are well known to us at LWCCN:

• Ruth Valerio, Tearfund
• Rei Crizaldo, Micah
• Martin Kopp, Greenfaith
• Fr. Joshstrom Knreethadfam, Vatican
• Ruth Padilla deBorst, Latin America Theological Fellowship
• Moderators: Chad Rimmer, Lutheran World Federation and our own Dave Bookless, A Rocha

Zoom registration link is here.

PDF Announcement slide (if you want to share this information) is here.

Kenya – Nairobi: We thank God that Karen Community Church celebrates care of creation under missions month beginning today. Professor Mbaabu and I come from county in Meru where rivers and streams are drying up. We are pushing the community to become proactive in taking measures that mitigate redemption of water and vegetation on the eastern slopes of mount Kenya. We trust God to stand with us at this critical moment. God bless you and his work.

UK – Bristol: Redland Parish Church is featuring a full, month-long Creationtide program. This is a first for this Anglican church, and the program looks amazing! If you’re in that area, they would love to have you visit. Featured talks and presentations include:

• “Is God Green” (various answers throughout the month)
• “Urban Trees, Plastic Waste and drinking water fountains”
• “Why the Gospel Matters to Tree Frogs”
• and many more!

Click here for a look at the program or here for the Creationtide website.