Season of Creation 2024 Theme:
To Hope and Act With Creation
"In the letter of Paul the apostle to the Romans, the biblical image pictures the Earth as a Mother, groaning as in childbirth (Rom 8:22). Francis of Assisi understood this when he referred to the Earth as our sister and our mother in his Canticle of Creatures. The times we live in show that we are not relating to the Earth as a gift from our Creator, but rather as a resource to be used.
And yet, there is hope and the expectation for a better future. To hope in a biblical context does not mean to stand still and quiet, but rather groaning, crying, and actively striving for new life amidst the struggles. Just as in childbirth, we go through a period of intense pain, but new life springs forth." |
"The symbol for 2024 is the first fruits of hope. Hope is an instrument enabling us to overcome the natural law of decay. Hope is given to us by God as a protection and guard against futility. Only through hope we may realize the gift of freedom in fullness. Freedom to act not only to achieve enjoyment and prosperity, but to reach the stage in which we are free and responsible. Freedom and responsibility enable us to make the world a better place. Only when we work together with Creation can the firstfruits of hope emerge."
What is Season of Creation?
"The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join our sisters and brothers in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home. Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I proclaimed 1 September as a day of prayer for creation for the Orthodox in 1989. In fact, the Orthodox church year starts on that day with a commemoration of how God created the world. The World Council of Churches was instrumental in making the special time a season, extending the celebration from 1 September until 4 October. Following the leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I and the WCC, Christians worldwide have embraced the season as part of their annual calendar. Pope Francis made the Roman Catholic Church’s warm welcoming of the season official in 2015. In recent years, statements from religious leaders around the world have also encouraged the faithful to take time to care for creation during the month-long celebration.
The season starts 1 September, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations. Throughout the month-long celebration, the world’s 2.2 billion Christians come together to care for our common home." |
Click the button below to visit the official Season of Creation website and access videos and blog posts from recent years!
Season of Creation Resources |
Check Out the Season of Creation Webinar ReplayCreation Justice Ministries in partnership with One Home, One Future, a coalition effort of US faith denominations and organizations for visible and collective creation care and climate action by faith leaders, hosted a webinar to introduce the Season of Creation and show efforts that churches and denominations are making to celebrate the season as a central part of the liturgical calendar. The Faith and Climate resource produced by the SALT Project to use as a possible guide throughout the season is also highlighted in this webinar.
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Join our Weekly Vespers Services this September!During each Monday of the season of creation, Creation Justice Ministries invites you to join us for a short Vespers service. This brief online gathering will include a time of music, prayer, and reflection as we meditate on the themes of the SALT Project's “Faith and Climate” resource. All are welcome to this ecumenical time of prayerful meditation. The services are held each Monday in September at 7:00pm.
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