A global ecumenical online prayer service launches the 2021 Season of Creation on Wednesday.
The details of their petitions were as different as the continents of the world.
Christians participating in Wednesday’s opening Season of Creation ecumenical prayer service requested prayers for the Indigenous People in Brazil, “for everything that is the breath of creation,” and that God’s love “may accompany us and give us strength in our daily lives.”
But the focus of all Christians during the prayer service was centered on the same thing: ensuring that we come together more than ever before during this year’s Season of Creation, the annual celebration of prayer and action for our common home that started Wednesday.
“We gather in the name of God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of the Earth and all its creatures! Praise be to the Holy Trinity! God is sound and life, Creator of the Universe, Source of all life, whom the angels sing; wondrous Light of all mysteries known or unknown to humankind, and life that lives in all,” said Fr. John Chryssavgis, Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, quoting Hildegard of Bingen.
WATCH: Global Ecumenical Online Prayer Service to launch Season of Creation
Faith leaders and the faithful from across the world united for the ecumenical prayer service to start the Season of Creation.
The annual celebration runs from today, 1 September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.3eeee
Throughout the season, thousands of Christians will participate through prayer, organizing sustainability projects, or by advocating.
- Prayer: Host an ecumenical prayer service that unites all Christians to care for our common home.
- Sustainability: Lead a clean-up project that helps all of creation thrive.
- Advocacy: Raise your voice for climate justice by participating or leading an ongoing campaign, such as the movement to divest from fossil fuels.
The faith leaders in Wednesday’s prayer service invited all Christians to join them in deep prayer and reflection for our common home before taking action later in the Season of Creation.
Rev. Dr. Isabel Phiri of the World Council of Churches said: “Creator God, look upon the creatures gathered here together and send us where you would have us go, so that we may embody the ministry of justice for your creation through our being and acts. Walk with us so that we may face the winds of change and walk the good road. Protect and renew our common home. Enlighten us. Sustain us. May God our Creator be with us this day and always. Amen.”
More about the 2021 Season of Creation