Season of Creation – a short article for a parish magazine
Never heard of Season of Creation? 
Barbara Echlin explains:
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From September 1st to October 4th, Christians around the world unite to pray and care for creation. It’s the “Season of Creation”, and it’s happening from London to Lisbon, Lagos to Las Palmas. The theme for 2018 is “walking together”. (Go to the Season of Creation website for prayers and actions. https://seasonofcreation.org/).
In 1989 the Ecumenical Patriarch proclaimed September 1st as a day of prayer for the environment.
In 2007 the World Council of Churches invited churches to observe a “Time for Creation” through prayers and action for five weeks.
In 2015 Pope Francis designated September 1st as a World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation for the worldwide Roman Catholic Church.
In 2016 Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew released special messages for what has become a month-long “Season of Creation” celebrations, supported by the major Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant and Anglican churches and organisations around the world, to pray and act on ecological issues. October 4th has long been the day to commemorate Francis of Assisi and many animal blessing services are held that day. This is a time when many churches traditionally celebrate Harvest and give thanks for the food that we have, and to take action for those in need.
For 2018 the Church of England has produced a calendar of daily prayer and action on food. They point out that our food is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions from UK households. At the same time, it is an area of our lives where we can all make a difference. Globally, even without climate change, the world food system faces a challenge: experts estimate that global food production will need to increase to feed a growing population and satisfy shifting diets. See the Shrinking the Footprint website to join the Creation-tide actions and reflections. http://www.churchcare.co.uk/shrinking-the-footprint//
According to Pope Francis, “This Season offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation on this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvellous works that he has entrusted to our care, invoking his help for the protection of creation and his mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”
World Day of Creation prayer:
“Eternal God, You crown the year with goodness, and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season. Grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need, and for our own wellbeing. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
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