The Season of Creation

The Season of Creation is celebrated each year in September by Christians worldwide. Its purpose is to renew, repair, and restore our relationship with God, all creation, and each other. St. Luke’s will be celebrating the Season of Creation from September 11 to Oct 2.

Season of Creation offerings at St. Luke’s that are planned include: 

Sunday Services September 11–October 4 will feature creation-themed prayers and music.

Thursday E-Pistles on September 7–October 1 will feature creation-themed reflections written by members of St. Luke’s Public Policy and Environmental Action Team.

A book discussion on Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth will be held Monday nights on Zoom from 7-8:30 PM Mondays Sept. 12 and 26, Oct. 3, 10, 24, 31 and Nov. 7 and 14. Parishioners from St. Alban’s will be joining us.

-A Labyrinth Walk for Creation will be held 9–11 AM on Saturday September 17.

-A one-hour En-ROADS Climate Workshop will be held in Emmanuel Chapel following the 10 AM service on September 25.

-The Blessing of the Animals will take place on the State Street lawn beginning at 9:45 on St. Francis Day, October 4.

Thank you to PPEAT for taking the lead on these wonderful events

The Mission and History of The Season of Creation

The Episcopal Church urges action for climate justice, an end to environmental racism, and an end to the destruction of the Earth, and the Episcopal Diocese of Maine encourages us all to make Creation Care and Creation Justice a focus of our work.

The celebration of a Season of Creation began in 1989 when Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios of the Orthodox Church proclaimed September 1 as a Day of Prayer for the Earth. Subsequently, the World Council of Churches extended the day to a season in its present format. Finally, in 2015 Pope Francis published his encyclical, Laudate Si, and made the season official in the Roman Catholic church. During this season, communities of faith and all individuals are encouraged to participate in prayer, sustainability, and advocacy activities for the Earth and all beings, including the plants, animals, and all those affected by climate disruption. 

Each year the Ecumenical Steering Committee for the Season of Creation suggests a different theme. This year’s theme is Listening to the Voices of Creation. Its symbol is the burning bush on Mt. Horeb, not consumed by fire, from which God called Moses, that revealed God’s life-sustaining presence. 

This theme highlights the increasing destruction of fires caused by human-induced climate change and emphasizes God’s promise to be with us, especially as we work to restore relationships with those whose voices have not been heard in the discussion on climate devastation. 

These voices include indigenous peoples, whose wisdom can help us learn to live harmoniously with the Earth and all beings, the more-than-human species who have no say over our human actions, those living in areas most affected by climate change, and the poor.