Season of Creation

(September 1, 2019 – October 4, 2019)

From Sept. 1 to Oct. 4, the Diocese of Western Massachusetts will unite with Christians around the world in celebrating a special season of prayer and action to protect God’s creation.

“Season of Creation” begins on September 1, a date chosen in 1989 by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church — and now embraced by the wider ecumenical family — as the World Day of Prayer for Creation. Creation Season ends on October 4 with the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the man who is often called the patron saint of ecology.

We observe this special season in the hope that caring for Creation will increasingly be woven into every aspect of congregational life. Through preaching and prayer, and in sacrificial acts of generosity and bold public witness, we hope to strengthen our Christian response to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, recently signed Faith leaders’ invitation to join the Season of Creation. The invitation ends with these words:

“As the environmental crisis deepens, we Christians are urgently called to witness to our faith by taking bold action to preserve the gift we share. As the psalmist sings, ‘The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein’ (Psalm 24:1-2). During the Season of Creation, we ask ourselves: Do our actions honor the Lord as Creator? Are there ways to deepen our faith by protecting ‘the least of these,’ who are most vulnerable to the consequences of environmental degradation?

“We invite you to join us on a journey of faith that challenges and rewards us with fresh perspective and deeper bonds of love. United in our sincere wish to protect creation and all those who share it, we join hands across denominations as sisters and brothers in Christ. During this season, we walk together towards greater stewardship of our place in creation.”

WHAT WILL YOUR CONGREGATION DO THIS CREATION SEASON?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?