The Season of Creation, or “Creationtide”, as the Church of England calls it, is underway. The season spans between September 1, World Day of Prayer for Creation, and October 4, St. Francis Day. We hope you can join in the celebration again this year.
The celebration of Season of Creation grew from a proclamation in 1989 by Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I of Constantinople designating September 1 as a World Day of Prayer for Creation for the Orthodox Church. The day has now become a month-long observance by Christians of many denominations, including our own Anglican Communion, the Roman Catholic Church, the United Church, Lutherans, Methodists, and others.
The theme for the 2025 Season of Creation is “Peace with Creation,” inspired by Isaiah 32:14-18:
“For the palace will be forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, the joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks. Until a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness, and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” (NRSVUE)
The symbol for this year’s Season of Creation depicts the dove of peace hovering over the earth (pictured above).
The official site says: “There is hope for a peaceful Earth. Biblically, hope is active—it involves prayer, action, and reconciling with Creation and the Creator through repentance (metanoia) and solidarity. Isaiah 32:14-18 envisions a peaceful Creation where God’s people live only when justice is achieved.”
Look out for more information soon on our October 4 St. Francis Day visitto the Sisters of St. Joseph, in Brentwood, to round out this year’s Season of Creation. The Sisters of St. Joseph have an extensive campus (212 acres) with farms and gardens, and a ministry focus on ecology and education. We’re excited to have this guided tour to learn how to carry out more of the work of Creation Care in our parishes.
Season of Creation Resources
There are various resources available to help you celebrate the Season of Creation. Here are a few:
- The official Season of Creation site. Resources also available in Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian.
- Bishop Provenzano and other Episcopal bishops have approved a special lectionary and liturgies (created by the Diocese of Western Massachusetts) which can be used for the Eucharist and Daily Office during the period.
- The Episcopal Church has curated several resources which can be found here. A Spanish liturgical guide is included.
- Pope Leo XIV has issued “Seeds of Peace and Hope”, his first Season of Creation message, a follow up to Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si – itself an important resource for any Creation Care action. The Vatican has also recently promulgated a Mass for the Care of Creation.
- Resources from the Anglican Communion can be found here.
- Creationtide resources from the Church of England in English and Spanish.
- Green Anglicans from Southern Africa usually has Season of Creation resources in downloadable booklet form. Look out for the 2025 version, not yet posted as of this writing. A Year C Season of Creation booklet is available, however.