The Council for World Mission (CWM) is inviting its member churches to join the global ecumenical family in marking the Season of Creation from 1 September to 4 October, uniting in prayer and action to care for Creation.
The Season of Creation is an annual Christian celebration to pray and respond together to the cry of Creation.
As part of the event’s ecumenical steering committee, CWM is encouraging its member churches to participate in the month-long global expression of prayer, reflection, and action under the 2026 theme, “Living Water.”
Inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12, the theme draws on the biblical vision of living water flowing from God’s sanctuary, bringing healing and renewal to the land, water, biodiversity, and the whole of Creation. The symbol for the year, “Immersion in Living Water,” invites Christians into spiritual reflection and action for the renewal of Creation.
Reflecting on Ezekiel’s prophetic vision, CWM General Secretary Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum said: “In the prophetic vision of Ezekiel, where living water flows from the sanctuary to renew the earth, we encounter God’s enduring promise of healing, justice, and the restoration of all creation.”
Defining creation care as a missional calling to participate in God’s work of nurturing life-flourishing communities, Keum emphasised that the church’s actions must be grounded in justice, shared abundance, and ecological integrity.
An ecumenical movement across traditions
The Season of Creation has developed through decades of ecumenical commitment to prayer and care for Creation.
In 1989, Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I proclaimed 1 September as a Day of Prayer for Creation for the Eastern Orthodox Church, reflecting an ancient Byzantine liturgical tradition associated with God’s creation of the world.
The observance was embraced by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2002 and the European Christian Environmental Network in 2006. In 2015, Pope Francis established the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the Roman Catholic Church.
The WCC officially invited its member churches to observe the season in 2008, while the Anglican Communion endorsed it through a resolution in 2012. Pope Francis encouraged Roman Catholics to participate in the ecumenical Season of Creation in 2019.
Today, Christians across traditions are invited to make the season a space for contemplation and care for Creation, action towards a more just and life-giving world, and solidarity with communities affected by environmental degradation.
The 2026 Season of Creation will open with an online prayer service with global faith leaders on 1 September and conclude on 4 October with an online event featuring youth voices from around the world.
Resources, including the Celebration Guide, prayer materials, videos, and information on global events, are available at SeasonOfCreation.org.
