Every year on September 1st the Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, and Protestants of all stripes come together in unity to pray for God’s good creation. On what is now known as the Global Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation we at the Madison office of Care of Creation would like to invite you to take part as well.
A Bit of History: The vision for this day started in 1989 when the late Patriarch Demetrios II installed September 1st as a Day of Prayer for Creation for the Orthodox Church. Then in response to Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on creation care, Patriarch Bartholomäus invited the Catholic Church to be united in prayer for creation with the Orthodox Church on September 1st. This led to Pope Francis’ announcing the annual Global Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation for the Roman Catholic Church, and invited other Christians to adopt this day too.
Therefore, we plan to pray in the company of many faithful Christians around the world and invite you to do the same.
Join Us In Prayer: We encourage you to personally pray for the care of creation on September 1st. Organize a prayer meeting focused on creation care at your church, in your small group, or just among a few friends. If you are not able to lead a group or join a group, share specific creation care needs and concerns with your Christian friends on social media and invite them to pray for those issues with you [Hashtag: #seasonofcreation or #creationcare]. (If you want to find out what other people in your area might be planning already, check out the Season of Creation website – they have a cool map where you can see what is planned and even add your own event.)
Be creative and have fun! Go outside for a prayer walk at a local park, beach, riverbank, community garden, or in your own backyard. If it is evening, step outside and look up at the stars as you pray, or pray around a campfire. Perhaps enjoy a wonderful meal and gratefully enjoy the fruits of creation.
There is a longer version of this notice, along with specific suggestions for prayer, at the Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Network website.
Thank you for praying – and working – to Care for God’s Creation! We’re all in this together!