The Church Season of Creation began when the 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.
It 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, from the World Wide Pentecostals to the Anglican Communion, in prayer and action for our common home.
The World Council of Churches, of which our Church body the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a partner, 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 Churchs 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.
Please explore the world wide website The Season of Creation to learn more.
As an ongoing celebration of the great gifts of creations, did you know that San Diego is the most bio-diverse city (perhaps also the county) in the country. To get a picture of what this means, check out the recent PBS movie, "San Diego: America's Wildest City." The photography is incredible and you begin to see wildlife in action right here!